If you’ve ever actually cooked with authentic parmigiano reggiano you would understand why. It’s absolutely fantastic stuff.
I used to cook with just whatever old cheddar was on sale at the big box stores. Then my father bought me a couple wedges of authentic parmesan and pecorino romano for my birthday. I will never go back. It’s not even comparable. I always have them on hand now.
You’re comparing cheddar to parmigiano. Those are two completely different styles of cheeses. Try the same recipe with a parmigiano and a grana padano, and it will be much closer, and you very well may appreciate the difference in price between the two.
Implying that all cheeses of the same type are roughly equal is insanity if you actually cook. Even between different producers of the same region in the same country you can get wildly different texture, humidity, flavor, behavior when heated, etc.
That wasn’t the implication I was trying to make. I was saying that if you’re used to cooking with cheddar, you don’t replace it with parmigiano, and vice versa. They don’t serve the same purpose in cooking. If you’re cooking carbonara with cheddar, you’re obviously going to be disappointed in the result. If you cook a carbonara with grana padano instead of parmigiano, you’re like 90% of the way there, and most people won’t know the difference. They’re not equivalent but they’re similar.
Cooking cheese makes it lose a lot of taste. If you really want to appreciate the specificities of cheese, you should eat it raw. Also don’t forget to take it out of the fridge 30 min before so the fat is not cold and carries more flavor.
I think you’re understating the difference between cheap Cheddar and authentic Parma.
It’s like when the recipe calls for a glass of dry white wine, but the person exchanges it for Colt 45 malt liquor and thinks the recipe was the problem.
I understand that those are completely different but most people don’t buy authentic Parmigiano, pecorino romano or grana padano(I need to try this one). They use the regular plain cheese you buy in the big box stores. So to the average person putting a micro chip in a cheese wheel (which I read wasn’t even true) is an absurd notion. But I was pointing out that the regular cheddar/mozzarella the average person buys is bland garbage compared to these cheeses. I think people should try them and they will realize why they care so much about its authenticity.
You might as well say that “Hamburger patties are bland garbage compared to pickles”
Softer cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar have a totally different job than hard cheeses like Romano and Parmesan. Mozzarella and cheddar provide body, texture, a neutral flavor, and lots of calories. Romano and Parmesan provide only flavor, and can be used to complement - not replace - the milder soft cheeses
This poster seems to just be saying if you’ve had cheap regular cheese you are amazed when you have legit authentic cheeses like these. A lot of the cheese people buy, in the US at least, is just some basic shit often called ‘cheddar’ or whatever but not truly authentic cheddar or mozzarella.
I agree that people should try them, and they are superior to cheap, mass-produced supermarket cheeses. But even a cheaper imitation parmigiano (I’m not talking about the powdered “cheese” you get in a Kraft bottle) is close enough to “certified” stuff that if you want to save some money, you can approximate it with something nearly equivalent for half the price. And if you don’t have an especially sensitive palate, you may not even be able to tell the difference.
I always buy what in my country is typically called “Italian Hard Cheese” for legal reasons. It’s as you say, a very close approximation to the real thing if you’re not too discerning. Main reason for me is that I don’t like parmigiano’s insistence on using rennet from calves.
I’m sure that’s true. I’ve never had the imitation stuff so I don’t know how they compare. I’ve just been blown away by how good they are that it justifies the price for me. They are very strong cheeses so you don’t need to use much. I vacuum seal them after every use so they last forever.
On a semi-related note, Guanciale is ridiculously expensive and that I can’t justify buying no matter how much I want to make authentic Carbonara.
It has so much more flavor! I’ve cooked dishes that I’ve made dozens of times and the only thing I changed was the cheese used. Those dishes tasted better every single time. It’s hard to describe because I also thought that it wouldn’t make much of a difference. But when I tried it, I was blown away.
I’ll never be able to explain it through a comment. I would recommend that everyone at least try it. You can usually find a small wedge of it at some grocery stores, shouldn’t be too expensive. Then make a dish that you’ve made many times but use those cheeses instead. You will see the difference right away.
“Instead”? I’ll be honest man, comparing parmigiano reggiano to cheddar is like comparing dinner rolls to donuts. If switching improved your food, it was user-error, not the cheese
What are you even saying. They are both cheese. Take macaroni and cheese for example. Most boxed macaroni and cheese uses cheddar and so do many people when they make it themselves.
But I’ve made it with a combination of Parmigiano and pecorino romano and it was fantastic. Much better than when I made it with cheddar. Same thing with scalloped potatoes, made them with cheddar many times but they were never as good as when I made them with the Italian cheese.
I do Parmesan Romano gnocchi pretty often, and you’re right, it’s delicious! I didn’t mean to imply that hard cheeses can never replace soft ones, just that it’s not a 1-to-1 substitution. I don’t recall ever eating a real pizza without mozzarella, and good cheddar is amazing in it’s own right. Basically, I’m just disagreeing with you that mozzarella and cheddar are “bland garbage”, because it’s all how you use them.
I agree that cheddar is not bland garbage. I was just trying to make a point of how vastly different the flavors between the two were. I’ve had 4 year aged cheddar and it is fantastic. I guess I was mostly comparing the authentic high quality cheeses to low end mass produced crap. Not really a Parmigiano vs cheddar thing I guess. I’m sorry if I gave that impression.
Also, that’s a great idea. I have some homemade gnocchi in my freezer, I should try it with Parmigiano and pecorino.
If you’ve ever actually cooked with authentic parmigiano reggiano you would understand why. It’s absolutely fantastic stuff.
I used to cook with just whatever old cheddar was on sale at the big box stores. Then my father bought me a couple wedges of authentic parmesan and pecorino romano for my birthday. I will never go back. It’s not even comparable. I always have them on hand now.
You’re comparing cheddar to parmigiano. Those are two completely different styles of cheeses. Try the same recipe with a parmigiano and a grana padano, and it will be much closer, and you very well may appreciate the difference in price between the two.
Implying that all cheeses of the same type are roughly equal is insanity if you actually cook. Even between different producers of the same region in the same country you can get wildly different texture, humidity, flavor, behavior when heated, etc.
That wasn’t the implication I was trying to make. I was saying that if you’re used to cooking with cheddar, you don’t replace it with parmigiano, and vice versa. They don’t serve the same purpose in cooking. If you’re cooking carbonara with cheddar, you’re obviously going to be disappointed in the result. If you cook a carbonara with grana padano instead of parmigiano, you’re like 90% of the way there, and most people won’t know the difference. They’re not equivalent but they’re similar.
Cooking cheese makes it lose a lot of taste. If you really want to appreciate the specificities of cheese, you should eat it raw. Also don’t forget to take it out of the fridge 30 min before so the fat is not cold and carries more flavor.
I think you’re understating the difference between cheap Cheddar and authentic Parma.
It’s like when the recipe calls for a glass of dry white wine, but the person exchanges it for Colt 45 malt liquor and thinks the recipe was the problem.
I understand that those are completely different but most people don’t buy authentic Parmigiano, pecorino romano or grana padano(I need to try this one). They use the regular plain cheese you buy in the big box stores. So to the average person putting a micro chip in a cheese wheel (which I read wasn’t even true) is an absurd notion. But I was pointing out that the regular cheddar/mozzarella the average person buys is bland garbage compared to these cheeses. I think people should try them and they will realize why they care so much about its authenticity.
You might as well say that “Hamburger patties are bland garbage compared to pickles”
Softer cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar have a totally different job than hard cheeses like Romano and Parmesan. Mozzarella and cheddar provide body, texture, a neutral flavor, and lots of calories. Romano and Parmesan provide only flavor, and can be used to complement - not replace - the milder soft cheeses
This poster seems to just be saying if you’ve had cheap regular cheese you are amazed when you have legit authentic cheeses like these. A lot of the cheese people buy, in the US at least, is just some basic shit often called ‘cheddar’ or whatever but not truly authentic cheddar or mozzarella.
They can be used to replace, I just put less. Not sure why you would say that. You don’t use a soft cheese when you make authentic Carbonara.
Good point, I guess I mean it’s not a 1-to-1 replacement
I agree that people should try them, and they are superior to cheap, mass-produced supermarket cheeses. But even a cheaper imitation parmigiano (I’m not talking about the powdered “cheese” you get in a Kraft bottle) is close enough to “certified” stuff that if you want to save some money, you can approximate it with something nearly equivalent for half the price. And if you don’t have an especially sensitive palate, you may not even be able to tell the difference.
I always buy what in my country is typically called “Italian Hard Cheese” for legal reasons. It’s as you say, a very close approximation to the real thing if you’re not too discerning. Main reason for me is that I don’t like parmigiano’s insistence on using rennet from calves.
I’m sure that’s true. I’ve never had the imitation stuff so I don’t know how they compare. I’ve just been blown away by how good they are that it justifies the price for me. They are very strong cheeses so you don’t need to use much. I vacuum seal them after every use so they last forever.
On a semi-related note, Guanciale is ridiculously expensive and that I can’t justify buying no matter how much I want to make authentic Carbonara.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Cheese
This is the kind of culinary finesse I’m on the level of in this thread.
Food taste good me like
Food taste icky me no eat
I mean I’m not surprised by it at all. Olive oil is a huge market for fakes, cheese is even more lucrative
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Cheddar tastes nothing like parmigiano. They’re completely different cheeses, and it’s a pointless comparison using them in the same recipe.
Try it and you’ll see!
It has so much more flavor! I’ve cooked dishes that I’ve made dozens of times and the only thing I changed was the cheese used. Those dishes tasted better every single time. It’s hard to describe because I also thought that it wouldn’t make much of a difference. But when I tried it, I was blown away.
I’ll never be able to explain it through a comment. I would recommend that everyone at least try it. You can usually find a small wedge of it at some grocery stores, shouldn’t be too expensive. Then make a dish that you’ve made many times but use those cheeses instead. You will see the difference right away.
“Instead”? I’ll be honest man, comparing parmigiano reggiano to cheddar is like comparing dinner rolls to donuts. If switching improved your food, it was user-error, not the cheese
What are you even saying. They are both cheese. Take macaroni and cheese for example. Most boxed macaroni and cheese uses cheddar and so do many people when they make it themselves.
But I’ve made it with a combination of Parmigiano and pecorino romano and it was fantastic. Much better than when I made it with cheddar. Same thing with scalloped potatoes, made them with cheddar many times but they were never as good as when I made them with the Italian cheese.
Not sure what point you are trying to prove?
I do Parmesan Romano gnocchi pretty often, and you’re right, it’s delicious! I didn’t mean to imply that hard cheeses can never replace soft ones, just that it’s not a 1-to-1 substitution. I don’t recall ever eating a real pizza without mozzarella, and good cheddar is amazing in it’s own right. Basically, I’m just disagreeing with you that mozzarella and cheddar are “bland garbage”, because it’s all how you use them.
I agree that cheddar is not bland garbage. I was just trying to make a point of how vastly different the flavors between the two were. I’ve had 4 year aged cheddar and it is fantastic. I guess I was mostly comparing the authentic high quality cheeses to low end mass produced crap. Not really a Parmigiano vs cheddar thing I guess. I’m sorry if I gave that impression.
Also, that’s a great idea. I have some homemade gnocchi in my freezer, I should try it with Parmigiano and pecorino.