Pepper Jack Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese

Pepper Jack Cheese

Red Leicester Cheese

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

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

Pepper Jack Cheese Overview

Pepper Jack cheese is a derivative of Monterey Jack that includes spicy chili peppers, bell peppers, and herbs. This American cheese is known for its mild, creamy texture contrasted with the lively heat of the peppers. It's popular in sandwiches, on burgers, and melted in dishes where a spicy kick is desired.

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

Pepper Jack Cheese comes from United States. Red Leicester Cheese originated from United Kingdom.

Milk Type and Treatment

Pepper Jack Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized. Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Pepper Jack's texture can be described as "semi-soft". Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of . Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly".

Taste and Aroma

Red Leicester Cheese has a caramel, sweet taste. Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild".

Appearance and Aging

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

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

Ranking

Pepper Jack is ranked #123 out of 996 types based on community views. Red Leicester is ranked #67 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

Pepper Jack Red Leicester
Best Pairings Chorizo No pairings listed.
Other Good Pairings IPA, Tacos No additional pairings listed.

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

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Pepper Jack Cheese Red Leicester Cheese
Country of Origin United States United Kingdom
Specific Origin Not Specified Leicestershire
Milk Type Cow's milk Cow's milk
Milk Treatment Pasteurized Unpasteurized (Sparkenhoe Farm), Pasteurized (others)
Fat Content Not Specified High
Moisture Content Not Specified Medium
Rind Not Specified Clothbound (Sparkenhoe Farm), Plastic (industrial)
Texture Semi-soft Hard, similar to Cheddar but more moist, crumbly
Taste Not Specified Caramel, sweet
Aroma Not Specified Mild
Colors Not Specified Reddish-orange
Forms Not Specified Traditional cylindrical, industrial block
Age Not Specified 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial
Rennet Type Not Specified Animal

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a semi-soft cheese, go for Pepper Jack. But if you enjoy a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly consistency, Red Leicester might be the better pick.

Compare Pepper Jack Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses

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