Provolone Cheese vs Provolone Valpadana Cheese
Provolone Cheese is a semi-hard, artisan cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Provolone Valpadana Cheese is compact, may have slight and rare holes and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Provolone Cheese?
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk with a stretched curd. It runs from the very sharp piccante, aged at least four months, to the mild dolce.
What Is Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
Provolone Valpadana is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk by the pasta filata method. It holds protected designation of origin status in the European Union and comes in a mild dolce version and a sharp piccante version, some of them smoked.
What's the Difference Between Provolone Cheese and Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
- Texture: Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan), Provolone Valpadana Cheese (Compact, may have slight and rare holes)
- Aging: Provolone Cheese (at least 4 months for piccante), Provolone Valpadana Cheese (Two to three months for Dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for Piccante)
- Taste: Provolone Cheese (tangy), Provolone Valpadana Cheese (Delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provolone Cheese | Provolone Valpadana Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Campania, Italy | Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Province Of Trento |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Pasteurized or thermized |
| Texture | Semi-hard, artisan | Compact, may have slight and rare holes |
| Rind | — | Smooth, thin, light yellow, golden, or sometimes yellow-brown (smoked version allows for paraffin use) |
| Aging | At least 4 months for piccante | Two to three months for Dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for Piccante |
| Taste | Tangy | Delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses |
Taste Comparison: Does Provolone Cheese Taste Like Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
Provolone Cheese reads as tangy, while Provolone Valpadana Cheese brings delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses character. On the nose, Provolone Cheese offers pleasant, contrasted with Provolone Valpadana Cheese's rich. Aging plays into this as well. Provolone Cheese at at least 4 months for piccante develops a different profile than Provolone Valpadana Cheese at two to three months for dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for piccante.
Can You Substitute Provolone Cheese for Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
In most recipes, Provolone Cheese and Provolone Valpadana Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect semi-hard, artisan bite and body where the recipe calls for compact, may have slight and rare holes. Flavor-wise, Provolone Cheese reads as tangy while Provolone Valpadana Cheese brings delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses notes.
Which Is Better, Provolone Cheese or Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-hard, artisan cheese, go with Provolone Cheese. For a compact, may have slight and rare holes profile, Provolone Valpadana Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Provolone Cheese suits recipes that want tangy notes, while Provolone Valpadana Cheese fits dishes calling for delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Provolone Cheese the same as Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Provolone Cheese is typically aged at least 4 months for piccante, Provolone Valpadana Cheese two to three months for dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for piccante.
Is Provolone Cheese similar to Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Provolone Cheese for Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Provolone Cheese taste like Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
Provolone Cheese reads as tangy, while Provolone Valpadana Cheese is delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses. Aromas also diverge. Provolone Cheese leans pleasant, and Provolone Valpadana Cheese is closer to rich.
What is Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged at least 4 months for piccante. It originates in Italy.
What is Provolone Valpadana Cheese made of?
Provolone Valpadana Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or thermized), using calf rennet for dolce, kid or lamb rennet for picca rennet. It's typically aged two to three months for dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for piccante. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Provolone Cheese or Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan, while Provolone Valpadana Cheese is compact, may have slight and rare holes.