Mont d'Or Cheese vs Saint-Nectaire Cheese

Mont d'Or Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or, or Vacherin Mont d'Or, is a seasonal, soft cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of France. Available from September to May, it has a delicate, creamy texture and a rich, earthy flavor. Mont d'Or is traditionally eaten warmed in the box it comes in, making the interior deliciously runny.

What Is Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Saint-Nectaire is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the volcanic region in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France. Made from cow's milk, it has a creamy, supple texture with earthy notes and hints of nuts and mushrooms. Saint-Nectaire is typically aged for at least six weeks, during which it develops a distinctive orange-pink rind.

What's the Difference Between Mont d'Or Cheese and Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier)
• Texture: Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Soft and tender)
• Rind: Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Washed-rind)
• Aging: Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (At least twenty-eight days)
• Taste: Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Delicate hazelnut)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Mont d'Or Cheese Taste Like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut character. More specifically, Mont d'Or Cheese shows known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese leans toward nutty. Aging plays into this as well. Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days develops a different profile than Saint-Nectaire Cheese at at least twenty-eight days.

Can You Substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

In most recipes, Mont d'Or Cheese and Saint-Nectaire Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft and tender. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut notes.

Which Is Better, Mont d'Or Cheese or Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Mont d'Or Cheese. For a soft and tender profile, Saint-Nectaire Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese suits recipes that want resinous, mild to pungent notes, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese fits dishes calling for delicate hazelnut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mont d'Or Cheese the same as Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Mont d'Or Cheese is typically aged 21 to 60 days, Saint-Nectaire Cheese at least twenty-eight days.

Is Mont d'Or Cheese similar to Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Mont d'Or Cheese taste like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is delicate hazelnut.

What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

What is Saint-Nectaire Cheese made of?

Saint-Nectaire Cheese is made from cow milk (raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier). It's typically aged at least twenty-eight days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Mont d'Or Cheese or Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mont d'Or Cheese is soft, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender.