Mahón-Menorca Cheese vs Ricotta Salata Cheese

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Ricotta Salata Cheese, including:

• "What is the difference between Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Ricotta Salata Cheese?"
• "Is Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Ricotta Salata Cheese the same?"
• "How does Mahón-Menorca Cheese compare to Ricotta Salata Cheese cheese?"
• "How does the taste of Mahón-Menorca Cheese compare to Ricotta Salata Cheese?"
• "Is Mahón-Menorca Cheese or Ricotta Salata Cheese better?"

Mahón-Menorca Cheese Overview

Mahón-Menorca is a cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. It has a square shape with rounded edges and is known for its orange rind and soft to hard texture depending on age. The flavor is slightly salty and tangy, with buttery notes in younger cheeses and a sharper taste in older ones.

Ricotta Salata Cheese Overview

Ricotta Salata is a pressed, salted, dried, and aged version of ricotta, which turns it into a firm, crumbly cheese with a mild, milky flavor and a slightly salty bite. It's frequently grated over pasta, salads, or used in cooked dishes where a gentle cheese flavor is desired.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Mahón-Menorca Cheese comes from Spain. Ricotta Salata Cheese originated from Italy.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a PDO (1996), PDO (1985). Ricotta Salata is not a protected cheese.

Milk Type and Treatment

Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw. Ricotta Salata Cheese is made with sheep milk.

Composition and Texture

Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm". Ricotta Salata's texture can be described as "semi-hard, whey".

Taste and Aroma

Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a salty and spicy taste. Mahón-Menorca's aroma can be described as "lactic, buttery".

Appearance and Aging

Mahón-Menorca Cheese's appearance is colored ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray , is available in parallelepiped shape and is aged tender: 21-60 days, semi-cured: 2-5 months, vintage: >5 months .

Rind and Rennet Type

Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish and uses vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet.

Ranking

Mahón-Menorca is ranked #223 out of 996 types based on community views. Ricotta Salata is ranked #69 out of 996 types based on community views.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a firm cheese, go for Mahón-Menorca. But if you enjoy a semi-hard, whey consistency, Ricotta Salata might be the better pick.

Compare Mahón-Menorca Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Ricotta Salata Cheese to Other Cheeses