Frederic Melton
Cheddar and mozzarella are two of the most popular cheeses in the world, each with its own distinct characteristics. While cheddar is a firm, yellow cheese that originates from England, mozzarella is a soft, white Italian cheese made from water buffalo milk. Cheddar has a sharper taste and a longer lifespan, while mozzarella is milder and softer, with a higher moisture content. Nutritional differences also set them apart, with cheddar offering more protein, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, while mozzarella is lower in calories and fat, and sodium.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Cheddar is a firm and smooth cheese. Mozzarella is a soft, chewy, and stretchy cheese. |
| Colour | Cheddar is yellow. Mozzarella is white. |
| Taste | Cheddar has a sharper taste. Mozzarella has a milder flavour. |
| Melting | Mozzarella is stringy when melted. Cheddar has a fatty texture when melted. |
| Source | Cheddar is made from cow's milk. Mozzarella is traditionally made from the milk of water buffalos, but it can also be made from cow's milk. |
| Origin | Cheddar originates from England. Mozzarella originates from Italy. |
| Lifespan | Cheddar can be preserved for more than 6 months. Mozzarella lasts for about a month when refrigerated. |
| Calories | Cheddar has more calories and fat. |
| Protein | Cheddar has more protein. |
| Sodium | Mozzarella has less sodium. |
| Vitamins | Cheddar has more thiamin, pantothenic acid, and folate. Mozzarella has more niacin. |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Cheddar has more DPA. Mozzarella has more ALA. |
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What You'll Learn
Taste and texture
Cheddar cheese, originating from Somerset, England, has a sharp taste and a crumbly, harder texture than mozzarella. Its colour ranges from yellowish-white to yellow, depending on how long it is aged. Mild cheddar is aged for 2 to 4 months, while sharper varieties mature for 6 to 9 months. For an even more robust taste, some cheddars are aged for over 6 months to 2 years. Cheddar's thickness and texture make it a popular choice for sandwiches, burgers, grilled cheese, and as a topping for baked goods. When heated, it transforms into a crispy, golden delight. Grated cheddar melts quickly, making it ideal for dishes like macaroni and cheese, lasagna, and nachos.
Mozzarella, on the other hand, is a soft, white Italian cheese made from water buffalo milk. However, nowadays, it is also commonly made from cow's milk. It has a smooth, shiny surface and a delicate milky flavour. It is not an aged cheese, which contributes to its softer texture. It is also quite chewy and melts easily when heated, making it a popular choice for pizzas, salads, and cooked dishes. Fresh mozzarella is known for its low fat and sodium content, as well as its unique flavour, which is difficult to substitute.
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Origin
Cheddar cheese was first discovered in the village of Cheddar, located in Somerset County, South-West England. Cheddar has since become popular worldwide, with many countries producing it, including the US, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.
Cheddar is traditionally made by pressing whey out of the cheese by stacking blocks of curd on top of each other, binding them together. These stacks are then re-stacked until the cheese becomes acidic and stringy. The next steps involve cutting the cheese into chips, salting them, and pressing them into hoops. There are several types of cheddar cheese of various ages, such as mild, semi-matured, matured, and vintage.
On the other hand, mozzarella is a soft, white Italian cheese that originated in Italy and is made from the milk of water buffalos. However, the source of milk is not always water buffalo, and cow's milk is also used in the process nowadays. Fresh mozzarella is known for its unique flavour and soft, chewy texture. It is often used fresh in recipes like salads or cooked dishes, and shredded mozzarella is commonly used in pizzas and other Italian dishes.
Mozzarella has a shorter lifespan than cheddar, lasting up to one month if refrigerated. Meanwhile, cheddar can last more than six months due to pasteurization. However, to preserve cheddar for longer periods, it must be stored in special storage facilities with a constant temperature and better packaging.
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Colour
Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses differ in colour, with the former being yellow or orange, and the latter being white.
Cheddar cheese is typically yellow in colour, although the exact shade can vary from a bright yellow to a more mellow yellowish-white. The colour of cheddar can also vary depending on its strength, with mild cheddar being a little stronger than white cheddar, and sharp cheddar also being referred to as old cheddar. White cheddar is described as drier, crumblier, and sharper in taste than regular cheddar.
Mozzarella, on the other hand, is a white cheese. It is made from the milk of water buffalos, although cow's milk is also sometimes used. The colour of mozzarella can differ slightly depending on the animal's diet, turning a pale yellow.
The difference in colour between the two cheeses is due to a variety of factors, including the type of milk used, the production process, and the length of ageing. Cheddar is typically aged for more than a year, which can affect its colour, while mozzarella is not an aged cheese.
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Nutrition
Cheddar and mozzarella are two of the most popular cheeses in the world. Both are made from cow's milk, although mozzarella was traditionally made from the milk of water buffalos. While both cheeses are high in calcium, protein, and vitamins, there are some nutritional differences between the two.
Cheddar has 23% more calcium than mozzarella, with 710mg of calcium per 100 grams, compared to 575mg in the same quantity of mozzarella. Cheddar also has 27% more calories than mozzarella, with 403 calories per 100 grams, compared to 318 calories in the same quantity of mozzarella. This is mainly due to its higher fat content, with cheddar containing 21% more saturated fat than mozzarella. Cheddar also has more sodium, although the exact quantity is unclear.
Mozzarella has a higher amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) than cheddar, but lacks DPA and other omega-3s found in cheddar. Mozzarella also contains probiotic bacteria, which can provide benefits to the immune system.
Both cheeses are rich in vitamins, but there are some differences in their vitamin content. Cheddar has 71% more vitamin A than mozzarella, with 337ug of vitamin A per 100 grams, compared to 197ug in the same quantity of mozzarella. Cheddar also has more thiamin, pantothenic acid, and folate, while mozzarella has more niacin.
In summary, both cheeses have their own unique nutritional benefits, and the best choice depends on your dietary needs and goals.
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Lifespan
When it comes to lifespan, chedder cheese has a longer shelf life than mozzarella cheese. Cheddar can be stored for more than six months, whereas mozzarella typically lasts for about one month when refrigerated. This difference in lifespan is primarily due to the pasteurization process commonly used for cheddar, which extends its shelf life.
Cheddar cheese has a longer lifespan because it is usually pasteurized, while mozzarella is not. Pasteurization is a process that kills harmful bacteria in foods, such as milk and cheese, to make them safe for consumption and to extend their shelf life. The absence of pasteurization in mozzarella production contributes to its shorter lifespan.
Additionally, the storage and packaging requirements for cheddar cheese are more stringent than those for mozzarella. Cheddar needs to be stored in special facilities with controlled temperatures and better packaging solutions to maintain its quality and prolong its lifespan. On the other hand, mozzarella does not have such specific storage requirements, making it more convenient for everyday use and shorter-term consumption.
The lifespan of cheddar cheese also varies depending on its type and age. Different types of cheddar cheese include mild, semi-matured, matured, and vintage, each with its own shelf life. The older and more matured cheddars tend to have longer lifespans due to their lower moisture content and more robust flavour development.
In contrast, mozzarella cheese is typically not aged like cheddar or parmesan. Fresh mozzarella is widely used in recipes, and its soft and stretchy texture, as well as its unique flavour, makes it difficult to substitute. However, mozzarella's high moisture content contributes to its shorter lifespan, as it is more susceptible to spoilage compared to drier cheeses.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheddar is kept at a steady temperature during processing and requires special facilities. Mozzarella, on the other hand, is prepared using cutting and spinning techniques.
Cheddar cheese gets its name from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, where it was first made. Mozzarella, on the other hand, originated in Italy and is made from Italian water buffalo milk or cow's milk.
Cheddar is a hard, crumbly, and aged cheese with a yellowish or white colour. Mozzarella, on the other hand, is a soft, semi-soft, or semi-aged cheese that is white or slightly yellow in colour. It has a smooth, creamy, and rubbery texture.
Cheddar cheese has a longer shelf life compared to mozzarella. Cheddar can be stored for up to 60 or more months, while mozzarella can be preserved for about six or more months when refrigerated.
