‘Cheese was created accidentally’. This fact of cheese became known to the world, and we got different varieties of cheese.
And the two most famous are Mozzarella and Parmesan. Mozzarella cheese is a traditional item for the Italians.
The cheese is made from Italian buffalo milk by the pasta filata method.
On the other hand, Parmesan cheese is another famous variety of cheese. The Parmesan cheese is produced from cow’s milk after ageing it for about 1-3 years.
The name of Parmesan has a history behind it and came up after the producing areas, the provinces of Parma.
Key Takeaways
- Mozzarella is a soft, mild cheese made from cow’s milk or buffalo milk and used in a variety of dishes, while Parmesan is a hard, aged cheese made from cow’s milk and is primarily used as a seasoning.
- Mozzarella has a creamy texture and a mild, slightly sweet taste, while Parmesan has a dry, crumbly texture and a strong, nutty flavor.
- Mozzarella is commonly used in pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, while Parmesan is grated over pasta dishes, soups, and risotto.
Mozzarella vs Parmesan
Mozzarella is a semi-soft, fresh cheese that originated in Italy, made from the milk of water buffalo or cows, and it has a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Parmesan is a hard, aged cheese that originated in Italy; made from cow‘s milk and has a sharp, salty flavour that intensifies with age.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Mozzarella | Parmesan |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Time | The Mozzarella Cheese is a soft cheese that does not require much processing time. | The Parmesan Cheese is a hard cheese that requires about 1-3 years of storage for processing into its final product. |
| Milk Used | Buffalo milk is used to make Mozzarella cheese. | Cow’s milk is used to make Parmesan cheese. |
| How Easy to Cook | Because of its soft texture, Mozzarella is easy to cook. | Parmesan cheese is one of the examples of hard cheese, which makes it a little tough while cooking. |
| Uses | Due to its softness, Mozzarella cheese is mostly used in foods like pizzas or any other food that has a cheesy taste. | Parmesan cheese, due to its hardiness, is mostly used as toppings on salads and spaghetti. |
| Types | Mozzarella has got two types of cheese: fresh and aged cheese. | Parmesan cheese does not have any types, but when it is kept for a longer period, then there is a little change of taste in them. |
| Flavour | Regular | Strong, just a little part can lend a cheesy essence. |
| Popular delicacies made | Pizzas | Pesto |
What is Mozzarella?
Mozzarella is a type of cheese that falls under a variant of cheese.
Mozzarella cheese is a soft cheese mostly made of buffalo’s milk.
The cheese has a spongy-like texture, making it very different from Parmesan cheese. The Parmesan cheese is hard.
Mozzarella cheese also has two kinds: they are fresh and aged. The fresh Mozzarella cheese is hand-moulded into a ball shape, then it is stored in brine and served soon when it is made.
On the other hand, the aged Mozzarella cheese has a slightly yellow colour in them. If aged properly, it sharpens the flavour, making the texture softer.
Over-ageing makes the cheese too soft, which becomes difficult for chefs to use as toppings or chop or slice it.
However, milk from cows can also be used to make this cheese. It is the procedure of making that makes all the difference.
Making Mozzarella cheese is easy because you do not need to store it for a long period and keep it for several months in the storage room.
The milk the cheese is made of is stored carefully in the storage area for the formation of cheese curds and then taken out after it reaches a preferable appearance.
And for the old Mozzarella cheese, the milk is to be kept for much longer.
What is Parmesan?
Parmesan cheese, on the other hand, is another type of cheese that is a bit hard than Mozzarella cheese. The Parmesan cheese falls under the hard type of cheese.
The Parmesan cheese is largely used for toppings for this reason only. Due to their hardness, it makes them difficult to cook.
However, the flavour is strong in Parmesan than in Mozzarella. Maybe due to their long storage process, the flavour comes in as a strong one.
If you try a small part from the whole, you can get a string essence from it and will not need any more.
The Parmesan cheese was made of Buffalo’s milk, but nowadays, it can be made from cow milk too.
Parmesan’s long-time procedure for storage makes them an expensive cheese variant.
| # | Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| 365 by Whole Foods Market, Parmesan Grated, 5 Ounce | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 |
| Mitica Parmigiano Reggiano 24 Month Raw | Check Price on Amazon |
Main Differences Between Mozzarella and Parmesan
- Mozzarella cheese is a softer cheese than Parmesan cheese. However, if you want the cheese’s strong flavour in your delicacy, you must go for Parmesan cheese.
- Mozzarella cheese was traditionally made of buffalo milk, and Parmesan cheese was also made of buffalo milk. But, nowadays, cheese is made of cow’s milk only.
- Both these cheeses have got different uses in different delicacies. Mozzarella cheese is mostly used in pizzas as an ingredient, whereas Parmesan cheese is used as toppings only.
- Both these cheeses have got very high nutritional value.
- These cheeses have got two different tastes. You cannot use one instead of the other; however, both are very similar.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643818302433
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030294771198
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