Pecorino Cheese vs Stracchino Cheese

Pecorino Cheese is a hard sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Stracchino Cheese is very soft, creamy and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

What Is Pecorino Cheese?

Pecorino is an Italian hard cheese made from sheep's milk, and its name comes from pecora, the Italian word for sheep. Six main varieties carry PDO status, with Pecorino Romano the best known outside Italy.

What Is Stracchino Cheese?

Stracchino, also called crescenza, is an Italian cow's milk cheese made in Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Liguria. It is eaten very young, with no rind, a soft creamy body and a mild, slightly acidic flavor.

What's the Difference Between Pecorino Cheese and Stracchino Cheese?

• Milk type: Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk), Stracchino Cheese (cow)
• Texture: Pecorino Cheese (hard), Stracchino Cheese (very soft, creamy)
• Aging: Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato), Stracchino Cheese (eaten very young)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Pecorino Cheese Taste Like Stracchino Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato develops a different profile than Stracchino Cheese at eaten very young.

Can You Substitute Pecorino Cheese for Stracchino Cheese?

Pecorino Cheese can stand in for Stracchino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for very soft, creamy.

Which Is Better, Pecorino Cheese or Stracchino Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard cheese, go with Pecorino Cheese. For a very soft, creamy profile, Stracchino Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pecorino Cheese the same as Stracchino Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk; Stracchino Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Pecorino Cheese is typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato, Stracchino Cheese eaten very young.

Is Pecorino Cheese similar to Stracchino Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Pecorino Cheese for Stracchino Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Pecorino Cheese taste like Stracchino Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Pecorino Cheese made of?

Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato. It originates in Italy.

What is Stracchino Cheese made of?

Stracchino Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged eaten very young. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Pecorino Cheese or Stracchino Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Pecorino Cheese is hard, while Stracchino Cheese is very soft, creamy.