Andy Montoya
Swiss cheese is made from cow's milk, although sheep's milk and goat's milk are also used in small quantities. In North America, Swiss cheese is sometimes made with pasteurised or part-skim milk, while in Switzerland, it is made with raw milk. Swiss cheese gets its distinctive holes, smell, texture and flavour from a trio of bacteria mixed with cow's milk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Milk type | Cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk |
| Milk type in 99% of Swiss cheese | Cow's milk |
| Milk type in Baby Swiss | Whole milk |
| Milk type in Lacy Swiss | Low-fat milk |
| Milk type in Le Gruyère AOP | Raw cow milk |
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What You'll Learn
Swiss cheese is made from cow's milk
In the US, Swiss cheese is sometimes made with pasteurised or part-skim milk, unlike the original from Switzerland, which is made with raw milk. The US Department of Agriculture uses the terms Swiss cheese and Emmentaler cheese interchangeably. In Australia, both terms are used, and sometimes the term 'Swiss-style cheese' is used to differentiate the two.
Le Gruyère AOP, arguably the most famous Swiss cheese, is made from raw cow's milk. Evening milk is skimmed and left overnight to settle, then mixed with the full-fat milk collected in the morning. More than 100 gallons of milk are needed to create a single, 80-pound wheel. Once formed, wheels spend 24 hours in saltwater to help the maturation process begin, then kept in the cheesemaker’s cellar for three months to establish ageing.
Baby Swiss and Lacy Swiss are two varieties of American Swiss cheeses. Both have small holes and a mild flavour. Baby Swiss is made from whole milk, and Lacy Swiss is made from low-fat milk.
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Swiss cheese can also be made from sheep's milk
Swiss cheese is usually made with cow's milk, but it can also be made with sheep's milk. In fact, in Switzerland, over 475 varieties of cheese are produced, and cow's milk is used in about 99% of them. The remaining 1% is made up of sheep's milk and goat's milk.
Swiss cheese gets its distinctive holes, smell, texture and flavour from a trio of bacteria mixed with milk. To make the cheese, curds are produced by combining good bacteria with milk and heating it.
In the United States, Swiss cheese is sometimes made with pasteurised or part-skim milk, unlike the original from Switzerland, which is made with raw milk. Two varieties of American Swiss cheese are Baby Swiss and Lacy Swiss. Baby Swiss is made from whole milk, and Lacy Swiss is made from low-fat milk.
One of the most famous Swiss cheeses, Le Gruyère AOP, is made from raw cow's milk. Evening milk is skimmed and left overnight to settle, then mixed with the full-fat milk collected in the morning. More than 100 gallons of milk are needed to create a single, 80-pound wheel.
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Or goat's milk
Swiss cheese is usually made with cow's milk, although goat's milk is also used in some varieties. In fact, goat's milk is used in a small percentage of Swiss cheeses, alongside sheep's milk.
Goat's milk is a good alternative to cow's milk for those who are lactose intolerant, as it contains less lactose. It also has a higher concentration of fatty acids, which can give the cheese a different flavour and texture.
Goat's milk is also known to be easier to digest than cow's milk, as it contains less alpha-S1 casein, a type of protein that can be difficult for some people to digest. This means that Swiss cheese made with goat's milk may be a better option for those with sensitive stomachs.
Additionally, goat's milk is known to have a higher concentration of certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, riboflavin, and calcium. This means that Swiss cheese made with goat's milk may offer some additional nutritional benefits compared to cheese made with cow's milk.
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Swiss cheese is made with raw milk
In the US, Swiss cheese is sometimes made with pasteurised or part-skim milk, but the original Swiss cheese is made with raw milk. Baby Swiss and Lacy Swiss are two varieties of American Swiss cheeses. Baby Swiss is made from whole milk, and Lacy Swiss is made from low-fat milk.
Le Gruyère AOP, arguably the most famous Swiss cheese, is made from raw cow's milk. Evening milk is skimmed and left overnight to settle, then mixed with the full-fat milk collected in the morning. More than 100 gallons of milk are needed to create a single, 80-pound wheel.
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Baby Swiss is made from whole milk
Swiss cheese is usually made from cow's milk, although some is made from sheep or goat's milk. In Switzerland, 99% of cheese is made from cow's milk.
In the US, Baby Swiss is made from whole milk, while Lacy Swiss is made from low-fat milk. In Switzerland, Swiss cheese is made with raw milk, while in the US, it is sometimes made with pasteurised or part-skim milk.
Gruyère, arguably the most famous Swiss cheese, is made from raw cow's milk. The evening milk is skimmed and left overnight to settle, then mixed with the full-fat milk collected in the morning. More than 100 gallons of milk are needed to create a single, 80-pound wheel.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss cheese is usually made from cow's milk.
American Swiss cheese is made from whole milk or low-fat milk.
Swiss cheese made in Switzerland is made from raw milk.
Le Gruyère AOP is made from raw cow's milk.
