Romano vs Parmesan Cheese: Difference and Comparison

Romano and Parmesan cheese are two widely known names of the hard cheese family. They both are an essential part of an Italian pasta and pizza dish.

They are almost the same in appearance and very hard to identify without trying them. The strong flavours of Romano and Parmesan cheese are enough to make any pizza or pasta dish more delicious.

Key Takeaways

1. Parmesan cheese is made from cow’s milk, while Romano cheese is made from cow’s and sheep’s milk.
2. Parmesan cheese has a nutty and fruity flavor, while Romano cheese has a sharper and saltier flavor.
3. Parmesan cheese is commonly used for grating and sprinkling on pasta dishes, while Romano cheese is used in Italian dishes like lasagna and pizza.

Romano vs Parmesan Cheese

Romano cheese is a hard cheese that is  made from sheep’s milk. It originated in the Lazio region of Italy. Parmesan is an Italian hard, granular cheese produced from cows’ milk and aged at least 12 months. The price of this cheese is exorbitant due to the lengthy ageing process and the fact that it can only be found in Italy.

Romano cheese is available in both fresh and dehydrated forms. The name of the cheese originated from its area of origin, Rome.

This cheese has a sharp, tangy, and salty flavour. The appearance of the cheese is milky white. An Italian Romano cheese is made from ewe’s milk.

Parmesan cheese is mostly used to diversify flavours in pizza and pasta dishes. It is famous among cheese lovers for its sharp and nutty flavour.

This hard cheese comes in both fresh and dried forms. Parmesan is a light yellowish cheese with a hard texture.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Romano Cheese	Parmesan Cheese
Origin of Names	The name of the cheese, Romano, comes from its area of origin, Rome.	The name Parmesan comes from the Parma region of Italy.
Colour	It has a milky white appearance.	Parmesan cheese is yellowish.
Texture	Romano cheese has a hard grating-type texture.	Parmesan cheese has a hard and granular texture.
Age	That cheese is aged for five to six months longer.	Parmesan is aged over 10 months.
Flavour	Sharp, salty and tangy flavour.	Less salty, sharp, and fruity flavour.
Production method	Romano cheese is mainly made from sheep’s milk (ewe’s milk).	Parmesan cheese is made from full cream, grass-fed cow’s milk.

What is Romano Cheese?

Romano is a famous name for the hard cheese family. In the U. S and Canada, it is known as Romano cheese and very similar to Pecorino Romano cheese which is an Italian product.

Romano cheese can be manufactured from goat, cow, or sheep’s milk. The flavour of the cheese is saltier and stronger, which gives pizza an extra punch.

As per the rules and regulations of the FDA, the Romano cheese must contain a minimum of 38% milk fat and less than 34% water. This cheese is grated over various types of pizza and pasta dishes.

Furthermore, the domestic version of Romano cheese is made from cow’s full cream milk, giving the dishes a milder flavour.

The strong flavour of Romano cheese sometimes makes a dish more salty and tangy. Not everyone enjoys the sharp flavour of Romano cheese.

This cheese originated near Rome. Romano cheese is made with the technique called ‘rummaging cured,’ and it must be aged at least 5 months before it is sold.

What is Parmesan Cheese?

The name Parmesan originated from the Italian province of Parma. Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as Parmesan cheese, is a famous Italian hard cheese. The city is traditionally considered the birthplace of that cheese.

This granular cheese is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. For this cheese-making process, the milk of grass or hay-fed cow is used, which is why the cheese’s colour is yellowish.

The only additive agent in this cheese is salt. An original Parmesan cheese has a sharp, fruity, and nutty taste.

Parmesan is commonly used over kinds of pasta and soup dishes. It can also be grated over other dishes like salads and pizza. Parmesan cheese is aged over ten months.

It comes in both fresh and dehydrated forms. It is one of the most sold cheeses all over the world.

Parmesan cheese is a great source of vitamins A, D, potassium, and iron. The fat content in Parmesan cheese is 25.83 g/100 g., and the calcium content is 1184 mg/100 g.

The hard, gritty texture and the fruity taste of Parmesan cheese can make any pizza or pasta dish more enjoyable. The mild flavour of Parmesan cheese makes it the most famous cheese of all time.

Main Differences Between Romano and Parmesan Cheese

1. The name Romano derives from its area of origin, Rome. On the other hand, the name Parmesan is derived from the Parma provide of Italy, the area of its origin.
2. Romano cheese is whitish. While Parmesan cheese is golden white.
3. Romano cheese has a salty and tangy flavour. On the other hand, Parmesan cheese has a fruity and nutty flavour.
4. Parmesan cheese is more famous than Romano cheese for its mild flavour.
5. Fresh Romano cheese contains more fat and moisture than Parmesan cheese.
6. Romano cheese is made from ewe’s milk (sheep’s milk). While Parmesan is made from full cream milk of a grass-fed cow.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095869460400281X
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1994.tb14703.x

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023