Paesano and Parmesan are two types of hard Italian cheeses.
Both are commonly grated or shredded onto pasta dishes, salads, soups and more to add delicious flavor.
However, they have some notable differences when it comes to production methods, aging time, taste and texture.
What is Paesano Cheese?
Paesano is the name of a pre-grated Italian cheese blend made by the company Galbani. It contains a mix of aged hard cheeses like Parmesan, Romano, Asiago and others.
The pre-grated cheese product is designed to deliver a blend of characteristic Italian cheese flavors in one convenient package. It can simply be sprinkled on dishes without needing to grate cheese yourself.
Paesano cheese is made from a combination including:
- Parmesan: Made from cow's milk, aged over 10 months. Sharp, savory flavor.
- Romano: Made from sheep's milk, tangy, piquant flavor.
- Asiago: Dense texture, nutty and sweet flavors.
- Other Italian cheese varieties
By combining several cheese types, Paesano aims to provide a balance of complementary flavors and textures.
Key Takeaway: Paesano is a pre-grated blend of Italian hard cheeses made for convenience and ease of use.
What is Parmesan Cheese?
Parmesan is a type of hard, dry Italian cheese made from cow's milk. To be called Parmesan, it must be made in a specific way outlined by Italy's DOC regulations:
- Aged at least 10 months
- Granular texture with hard rind
- Made from cow's milk
- Curd cut into small pieces
True Parmesan that meets these rules is known as Parmigiano-Reggiano and it has a protected designation of origin (PDO). This means it can only come from certain provinces in Italy.
The name "Parmesan" outside of Europe often refers to cheese of a similar style, though it may not meet the strict production criteria to be labeled Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Some key traits of Parmesan cheese include:
- Sharp, savory flavor that intensifies with longer aging
- Hard and brittle texture, with crystalline crunch
- Nutty and slightly fruity taste notes
- Wide range of uses including grating, shredding, crumbling or eating in chunks
Key Takeaway: Parmesan is a aged hard cow's milk cheese with granular texture. Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano is specially produced in parts of Italy.
Paesano vs Parmesan: 5 Key Differences
Now that you know the basics of what Paesano and Parmesan cheeses are, let's compare them to understand the differences.
1. Paesano is a Blended Cheese
The first main difference is that Paesano cheese is blended. As described above, it contains a mix of Parmesan, Romano, Asiago and sometimes other Italian cheeses.
In contrast, Parmesan is a single cheese made only from cow's milk following specific production rules. Parmesan can refer either to authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano or another less regulated cheese of similar style.
So Parmesan will deliver flavor and qualities related to that one cheese, while Paesano aims to provide a combination of tastes in one product.
2. Paesano Cheese is Pre-Grated
Another distinctive feature of Paesano is that it comes pre-grated, whereas Parmesan does not. Parmesan is generally sold in wedges or blocks and needs to be manually grated or shredded before using.
The pre-grated convenience of Paesano makes it faster and easier to use in cooking. You can shake it straight from the container instead of grating Parmesan yourself. However, some people prefer grating cheese themselves to enjoy maximum freshness and flavor.
3. Aging Time Differs
Parmesan must be aged a minimum of 10 months according to Italian regulations, though extra age will deepen the flavors. Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano is aged at least two years.
The exact aging time for the cheeses in Paesano is not clearly specified by the manufacturer. However, as it contains Parmesan along with Romano and Asiago, its blend likely has a wide range of aging representation from 10 months to 3 years or more.
4. Taste and Uses May Differ
The varied blend of Paesano aims to balance the characteristic nutty, salty and tangy flavors we associate with Italian hard cheeses.
Parmesan offers a singular sharp flavor that continues to intensify and gain complexity with aging time. Subtle fruitiness may also develop.
You can use Paesano as an easy substitute for Parmesan in most recipes and the blend may provide added depth from cheese types like Romano. However when you specifically want genuine Parmesan flavor for certain recipes or dishes, you may prefer using the real cheese rather than Paesano's blend.
5. Paesano Only Made by Galbani
Currently, Paesano is a unique pre-grated cheese product produced only by Italian dairy company Galbani. Other brands do not offer an equivalent blended and pre-shredded cheese.
Of course, many companies sell Parmesan cheese around the world. So Paesano faces abundant competition from Parmigiano-Reggiano as well as other Parmesan-style cheeses.
Paesano and Parmesan Use Comparison
Both Paesano and Parmesan work well as topping and mix-ins for a variety of Italian and international recipes. Here's a quick look at how they compare for different uses:
| Use | Paesano | Parmesan |
|---|---|---|
| Topping pastas | Excellent, convenient pre-grated blend | Excellent, iconic flavor |
| Salad toppings | Good blend of flavors | Sharp flavor cuts through greens nicely |
| Gratin toppings | Easy to sprinkle blend | Savory, nutty flavor |
| Mixing into rice dishes | Works well to provide blend | Parmesan optimal for risotto |
| Sandwich and burger topping | Tasty blend, quick shaker cheese | Genuine Parmesan flavor makes an excellent topping |
| Eating plain | Interesting blend but lacking complexity | Full-bodied flavor for stand-alone snacking |
As a convenient pre-grated blend, Paesano can work well in place of Parmesan for most recipe uses. But for any application where maximum authentic hard cheese flavor is paramount, from risottos to eating plain chunks, Parmesan may produce superior taste and texture results.
Paesano and Parmesan Nutrition
Both Paesano and Parmesan cheeses deliver protein plus important vitamins and minerals like calcium. However Parmesan generally offers better nutritional value.
One ounce of Parmesan cheese contains:
- 111 calories
- 7g protein
- 10% DV calcium
- 19% DV vitamin A
Comparable detailed nutrition data for Paesano cheese is unavailable. But with its blend of multiple cheese types plus dried ingredients, it likely has slightly higher calories and fat content than Parmesan.
So Parmesan cheese provides better overall nutrition in addition to its bolder, more genuine Italian cheese eating experience.
FAQs
Is Paesano cheese real Parmesan?
No. Paesano contains some Parmesan cheese in its blend but also includes other cheeses like Romano and Asiago. It is a pre-grated combination product rather than solely Parmesan.
What does Paesano cheese taste like?
Paesano features a blend of characteristic Italian cheese flavors like nutty, tangy and sharp notes. It aims to balance Parmesan, Romano and Asiago tastes in one product.
Can I use Paesano instead of Parmesan?
Yes, Paesano makes an acceptable handy substitute for Parmesan in most recipes as a pre-grated topping option. But for dishes featuring Parmesan flavor prominently, genuine Parmesan may be superior.
Is Paesano better than Parmesan?
It comes down to personal preference. Paesano offers easy blend of Italian cheese flavors in one quick product. But Parmesan provides a singular, powerful authentic flavor.
Conclusion
Both Paesano and Parmesan can add delightful cheese influence to cooking and snacking.
Paesano distinguishes itself with a mixed blend containing Parmesan as well as Romano and Asiago, along with the convenience of coming pre-shredded in a jar.
Parmesan imparts a robust genuine hard Italian cheese flavor that intensifies beautifully with age.