Provolone Cheese vs String Cheese

Q: Is Provolone Cheese the same as String Cheese?

No. Provolone Cheese and String Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Provolone Cheese for String Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Provolone Cheese for String Cheese, though the result will shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Q: Does Provolone Cheese taste like String Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. See the side-by-side table above for details.

Q: Which should I choose, Provolone Cheese or String Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Provolone Cheese is a semi-hard, artisan cow-milk cheese from Italy, while String Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk.

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 String Cheese?

String cheese is any cheese made so the milk proteins line up and the cheese peels into strings. In the United States that means snack sticks of low-moisture mozzarella, while versions from Mexico, Slovakia, Turkey and Armenia take other shapes.

What's the Difference Between Provolone Cheese and String Cheese?

Texture: Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan), String Cheese (semi-hard)
Aging: Provolone Cheese (at least 4 months for piccante), String Cheese (60 days for Georgian tenili)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Provolone Cheese	String Cheese
Country of Origin	Italy	—
Specific Origin	Campania, Italy	—
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Cow's milk
Texture	Semi-hard, artisan	Semi-hard
Aging	At least 4 months for piccante	60 days for Georgian tenili
Taste	Tangy	—

Taste Comparison: Does Provolone Cheese Taste Like String Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Provolone Cheese at at least 4 months for piccante develops a different profile than String Cheese at 60 days for georgian tenili.

Can You Substitute Provolone Cheese for String Cheese?

In most recipes, Provolone Cheese and String 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 semi-hard.

Which Is Better, Provolone Cheese or String 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 semi-hard profile, String Cheese is the better fit.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Provolone Cheese the same as String Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Provolone Cheese is typically aged at least 4 months for piccante, String Cheese 60 days for georgian tenili.

Is Provolone Cheese similar to String Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Provolone Cheese for String Cheese?

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

Does Provolone Cheese taste like String Cheese?

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

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 String Cheese made of?

String Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 60 days for georgian tenili.

Which should I choose, Provolone Cheese or String Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan, while String Cheese is semi-hard.