Comparing two commonly found cheeses - provolone and cheddar. Learn about their differences and similarities and when you can substitute one for the other. I will answer the question - Is Provolone Cheese Similar to Cheddar?
This post includes affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. These are products and services I recommend because I use or trust them. Cookies will be used to track the affiliate links you click.
What is your favorite type of cheese? Cheddar is a family favorite for sure, but my son is really big into provolone ever since he had his first meatball po'boy in New Orleans.
I want to take some time today to explore these two cheeses, see how they are the similar and how they are different, especially in how you use them in recipes.
Can my son substitute provolone for cheddar to enjoy this favorite cheese in any recipe? Let us talk about this and more.
Jump to:
🧀 Comparison
Let's look at how these two cheeses are different.
| Cheddar | Provolone |
| More of a sharp, taste | More of a tangy or funky taste |
| Less stretchy | Melts easier, more stretchy |
| Usually orange, sometimes white | Always white |
| Higher fat content | Slightly lower fat content |
❔ What is Provolone?
You probably have had provolone before. I will focus more on how it's made than what it tastes like.
Provolone is an Italian cheese that is made by stretching the curds. That differs in the way cheddar is made. Cheddar is made from stacking the curds. In that regard provolone is more similar to mozzarella, which is also made by stretching curds.
What about the fat content?
A quick nutrition facts search shows me that cheddar has about 9 grams of fat, while provolone comes in at 7 grams of fat. In general, provolone is a lower fat cheese than cheddar.
❓ Why Use Provolone?
First off, you should use provolone because you like it's tangy flavor. It has more flavor than mozzarella and it's a different flavor profile than cheddar.
In what situations would it be a good idea to pick provolone over cheddar?
Provolone is more stretchy when it melts than cheddar. That is why it's better to use on a pizza than cheddar would be. Watch pretty much any pizza commercial, they are going to show pulling out that first slice and seeing that cheese stretch.
In the case of a sandwich where you will see the cheese as you eat it like a meatball po'boy, the white colored cheese looks better than orange cheddar (a white cheddar would be a different store). It offers more contrast from the bread.
Don't have cheddar for a grilled cheese, go ahead and use provolone. It will melt perfectly for you.
What about mac & cheese? I wouldn't do a straight provolone mac & cheese, like I would with cheddar. But it is popular to mix provolone along with sharp cheddar. You get those two distinct flavors working together to create something delicious.
Provolone is a popular cheese for smoking. Mixing a smoked provolone into mac & cheese would add a subtle smoky flavor than wouldn't be overpowering like it could be with all smoked cheese.
👴🏻 Can You Buy Aged Provolone?
Absolutely. BelGioOso has different ages of provolone cheese ranging from mild to sharp. Let's take a closer look at their provolone at each age.
Mild
The mild is aged for over 60 days. this is probably like what most of us are getting when we buy provolone.
Medium
After 4 months of aging the cheese reaches the medium stage.
Sharp
After 7 months of aging we have arrived at sharp. At this points it make for a good cheese to grate overtop of your pasta like parmesan. Usually cheddar that is 7 months old is still considered mild if not medium. Sharp cheddar is usually going to start around 9 months, up to a year.
📖 Learn About Other Cheeses
I hope you learned something new about provolone cheese today. Here are some other cheeses to learn about. I suggest you start with Brick cheese which I love for pizza. In some ways it's similar to provolone and mozzarella.
Leave a Reply