Red Leicester Cheese vs Swiss Cheese

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

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

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.

Swiss Cheese Overview

Swiss cheese in the United States refers to a group of cheeses that resemble the Emmental cheese from Switzerland, known for their medium-hard texture and distinctive holes or "eyes." American Swiss cheese is mild, nutty, and sweet, with a smooth, creamy texture, making it popular for sandwiches and burgers.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Red Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Swiss Cheese originated from United States.

Milk Type and Treatment

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

Composition and Texture

Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of medium. Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly". Swiss Cheese has a fat content of ~28-32% and a moisture content of medium. Swiss's texture can be described as "semi-firm".

Taste and Aroma

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

Appearance and Aging

Red Leicester Cheese's appearance is colored reddish-orange , is available in traditional cylindrical, industrial block and is aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial . Swiss Cheese has a color of pale yellow , comes in block, sliced, shredded and has an aging period of typically 1-3 months .

Rind and Rennet Type

Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) and uses animal rennet. Swiss Cheese's rind is described as none , with microbial or vegetarian rennet.

Ranking

Red Leicester is ranked #67 out of 996 types based on community views. Swiss is ranked #77 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

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

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cheese, go for Red Leicester. But if you enjoy a semi-firm consistency, Swiss might be the better pick. Red Leicester has a caramel, sweet taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Swiss offers a mild, nutty, slightly sweet profile, ideal for different meals.

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Swiss Cheese to Other Cheeses