Provel Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese

Provel Cheese is a soft, processed cow-milk cheese from United States, while Red Leicester Cheese is hard, crumbly and made from cow milk, originating in United Kingdom.

What Is Provel Cheese?

Provel is a white processed cheese that blends cheddar, Swiss and provolone with liquid smoke. It melts at a low temperature, tastes buttery, and is the traditional cheese on St. Louis-style pizza.

What Is Red Leicester Cheese?

Red Leicester is an English cow's milk cheese from Leicestershire, close to Cheddar but crumblier. Annatto gives it its orange colour, and four to nine months of ageing takes it from mild and mellow to tangy and slightly nutty.

What's the Difference Between Provel Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese?

• Origin: Provel Cheese (United States), Red Leicester Cheese (United Kingdom)
• Milk treatment: Provel Cheese (pasteurized), Red Leicester Cheese (Unpasteurized (Sparkenhoe Farm), Pasteurized (others))
• Texture: Provel Cheese (Soft, processed), Red Leicester Cheese (Hard, crumbly)
• Rind: Provel Cheese (plastic), Red Leicester Cheese (Clothbound (Sparkenhoe Farm), Plastic (industrial))
• Taste: Provel Cheese (buttery), Red Leicester Cheese (caramel, sweet)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Provel Cheese Taste Like Red Leicester Cheese?

Provel Cheese reads as buttery, while Red Leicester Cheese brings caramel, sweet character. On the nose, Provel Cheese offers smokey, contrasted with Red Leicester Cheese's mild. More specifically, Provel Cheese shows buttery, smoky; a blend of cheddar, swiss and provolone with liquid smoke, while Red Leicester Cheese leans toward mild and mellow when young, stronger and tangier with age, slightly nutty with a sweet aftertaste.

Can You Substitute Provel Cheese for Red Leicester Cheese?

In most recipes, Provel Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft, processed bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, crumbly. Flavor-wise, Provel Cheese reads as buttery while Red Leicester Cheese brings caramel, sweet notes.

Which Is Better, Provel Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, processed cheese, go with Provel Cheese. For a hard, crumbly profile, Red Leicester Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Provel Cheese suits recipes that want buttery notes, while Red Leicester Cheese fits dishes calling for caramel, sweet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Provel Cheese the same as Red Leicester Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Provel Cheese originates in United States, while Red Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom.

Is Provel Cheese similar to Red Leicester Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Provel Cheese for Red Leicester Cheese?

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

Does Provel Cheese taste like Red Leicester Cheese?

Provel Cheese reads as buttery, while Red Leicester Cheese is caramel, sweet. Aromas also diverge. Provel Cheese leans smokey, and Red Leicester Cheese is closer to mild.

What is Provel Cheese made of?

Provel Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It originates in United States.

What is Red Leicester Cheese made of?

Red Leicester Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized (sparkenhoe farm), pasteurized (others)), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial. It originates in United Kingdom.

Which should I choose, Provel Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provel Cheese is soft, processed, while Red Leicester Cheese is hard, crumbly.