Gruyère Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Gruyère Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese, including:

• "What is the difference between Gruyère Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese?"
• "Is Gruyère Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese the same?"
• "How does Gruyère Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese cheese?"
• "How does the taste of Gruyère Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese?"
• "Is Gruyère Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese better?"

Gruyère Cheese Overview

Gruyère is a famous Swiss hard cheese, known for its rich, creamy, slightly nutty flavor. It is typically aged for six months or more and has a dense, slightly grainy texture. Gruyère is a staple in fondue and is also used in French onion soup, croque-monsieur, and various baked dishes.

Red Leicester Cheese Overview

Red Leicester is a traditional English cheese made from cow's milk, similar to cheddar but with a more moist, crumblier texture and a milder flavor. It's notable for its vibrant orange color, achieved by adding annatto to the milk. Aged Red Leicester develops a slightly nutty taste, making it a favorite for cheese platters and grating over dishes.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Gruyère Cheese comes from Switzerland. Red Leicester Cheese originated from United Kingdom.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Gruyère Cheese has a AOP (2007), PGI (2007), GI (2011). Red Leicester is not a protected cheese.

Milk Type and Treatment

Gruyère Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically raw. Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Gruyère Cheese has a fat content of around 32-35% fat in dry matter, which translates to about 45-50% overall fat content. and a moisture content of approximately 35-37%, characteristic of its dense texture.. Gruyère's texture can be described as "dense, moister". Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of approximately 35-37%, characteristic of its dense texture.. Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly".

Taste and Aroma

Gruyère Cheese has a nutty, complex taste. Gruyère's aroma can be described as "earthy, fruity, possibly barnyardy". Red Leicester Cheese has a caramel, sweet taste. Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild".

Appearance and Aging

Gruyère Cheese's appearance is colored varies , is available in cylindrical and is aged 5 months to 24+ . Red Leicester Cheese has a color of reddish-orange , comes in traditional cylindrical, industrial block and has an aging period of 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial .

Rind and Rennet Type

Gruyère Cheese's rind is described as natural, orangy and uses animal rennet. Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) , with animal rennet.

Ranking

Gruyère is ranked #34 out of 996 types based on community views. Red Leicester is ranked #69 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Gruyère and Red Leicester pages.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a dense, moister cheese, go for Gruyère. But if you enjoy a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly consistency, Red Leicester might be the better pick. Gruyère has a nutty, complex taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Red Leicester offers a caramel, sweet profile, ideal for different meals.

Compare Gruyère Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses