Mascarpone Cheese vs Manchego Cheese

In this article, we’ll explore the answers to the most common questions about Mascarpone Cheese and Manchego Cheese, including:

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

Mascarpone Cheese Overview

Mascarpone is a creamy, soft Italian cheese made from cream, coagulated by the addition of citric acid or acetic acid. It has a very rich, buttery texture and a slightly sweet taste. Mascarpone is a key ingredient in desserts like tiramisu and can also be used in dips, spreads, and sauces.

Manchego Cheese Overview

Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, often with a slight piquancy in older cheeses. Manchego is aged for a minimum of two months and up to two years, developing a deeper flavor and harder texture with time.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Ranking

Mascarpone is ranked #51 out of 377 types.

Manchego is ranked #34 out of 377 types.

Country of Origin

Mascarpone Cheese comes from Italy. Manchego Cheese originated from Spain.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Mascarpone is not a protected cheese. Manchego Cheese has a PDO (1984).

Milk Type and Treatment

Mascarpone Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically heated. Manchego Cheese is made with sheep milk that is typically raw or pasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Mascarpone Cheese has a fat content of 60 to 75 percent. Mascarpone's texture can be described as "soft, spreadable". Manchego's texture can be described as "compact".

Flavor and Aroma

Mascarpone Cheese has a buttery to slightly tangy flavor. Manchego Cheese has a slightly acidic flavor.

Appearance and Aging

Mascarpone Cheese's appearance is colored white . Manchego Cheese has a color of white to yellowish ivory , comes in cylindrical with flat faces and has an aging period of fresco (2 weeks), semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), curado (3-6 months), viejo or anejo (1 year) .

Rind and Rennet Type

Manchego Cheese's rind is described as pleita and flor imprints , with animal rennet.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Compare Mascarpone Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Manchego Cheese to Other Cheeses