Red Leicester Cheese vs Shropshire Blue Cheese

Red Leicester Cheese is a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cow-milk cheese from United Kingdom, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk, originating in United Kingdom.

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 Is Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Shropshire Blue is a British blue cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk, coloured orange with annatto and veined with Penicillium roqueforti. It is made much like Stilton but tastes sharper, and it matures for 10 to 12 weeks.

What's the Difference Between Red Leicester Cheese and Shropshire Blue Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Red Leicester Cheese (Unpasteurized (Sparkenhoe Farm), Pasteurized (others)), Shropshire Blue Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Red Leicester Cheese (Hard, similar to Cheddar but more moist, crumbly), Shropshire Blue Cheese (semi-hard)
• Rind: Red Leicester Cheese (Clothbound (Sparkenhoe Farm), Plastic (industrial)), Shropshire Blue Cheese (natural)
• Aging: Red Leicester Cheese (6 months (traditional), varies for industrial), Shropshire Blue Cheese (10 to 12 weeks)
• Taste: Red Leicester Cheese (caramel, sweet), Shropshire Blue Cheese (sharp and strong)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Red Leicester Cheese Taste Like Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Shropshire Blue Cheese brings sharp and strong character. On the nose, Red Leicester Cheese offers mild, contrasted with Shropshire Blue Cheese's slightly tangy. More specifically, Red Leicester Cheese shows mild and mellow when young, stronger and tangier with age, slightly nutty with a sweet aftertaste, while Shropshire Blue Cheese leans toward sharp, strong, slightly sour, sharper than stilton, creamy. Aging plays into this as well. Red Leicester Cheese at 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial develops a different profile than Shropshire Blue Cheese at 10 to 12 weeks.

Can You Substitute Red Leicester Cheese for Shropshire Blue Cheese?

In most recipes, Red Leicester Cheese and Shropshire Blue Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard. Flavor-wise, Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet while Shropshire Blue Cheese brings sharp and strong notes.

Which Is Better, Red Leicester Cheese or Shropshire Blue Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cheese, go with Red Leicester Cheese. For a semi-hard profile, Shropshire Blue Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Red Leicester Cheese suits recipes that want caramel, sweet notes, while Shropshire Blue Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp and strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Leicester Cheese the same as Shropshire Blue Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Red Leicester Cheese is typically aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial, Shropshire Blue Cheese 10 to 12 weeks.

Is Red Leicester Cheese similar to Shropshire Blue Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Red Leicester Cheese for Shropshire Blue Cheese?

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

Does Red Leicester Cheese taste like Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is sharp and strong. Aromas also diverge. Red Leicester Cheese leans mild, and Shropshire Blue Cheese is closer to slightly tangy.

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.

What is Shropshire Blue Cheese made of?

Shropshire Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using vegetable rennet. It's typically aged 10 to 12 weeks. It originates in United Kingdom.

Which should I choose, Red Leicester Cheese or Shropshire Blue Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Red Leicester Cheese is hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is semi-hard.