Parmesan cheeses are among the best-known cheese types all over the world. Parmesan is useful for adding extra kick and taste to any pasta meal, and it is excellent on regular sandwiches too.
Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese that is popularly used in many Italian dishes such as pasta and pizza. Parmesan is primarily made from cow’s milk, and the process of making parmesan cheese takes at least a year. It takes another 2-4 years to mature. The Parmesan name comes from the area where the cheese was produced. Parmesan cheese was originally produced in Parma, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Modena and Mantua of Italy. According to Italian law, only cheese produced in these areas can be labeled as Parmigiani-Reggiano.
The Best Parmesan Cheese
1. Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese
This big bottle of grated cheese is popular among people who like a burst of tacky taste in everything they eat, from popcorn to spaghetti. It is available in handy, especially when you are serving a group or a large family as grating cheese for every plate can be tiring.
It is simple to get used to this huge container of Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese.
It has a long service life, is simple to shop, and easy to utilize. You can cover your veggies with cheese by just shaking the bottle a few times.
Compared to other cheese products, the Kraft grated parmesan has only been aged for 6 months because of which you will get the pungency of wedges that you get when you taste an aged/mature parmesan from Italy.
The cheese also contains wood pulp or plant fiber that prevents the cheese from getting clumpy. The cheese also has a preservative (chemical) called Potassium Sorbate which prevents any microbial development.
2. Milano’s Imported Parmesan Cheese
This grainy cheese has a strong, pungent scent and sharp taste and melts very well on pizza, pasta, and meatballs. The cheese melts on your steamed veggies and soups like ice in the summer season, and if you are someone who likes their cheese melting like that, then this cheese is perfect for you. The powder-thin cheese has a sharp taste and can quickly improve the flavor of dishes, be it hot or cold.
This brand name of cheese comes blended with cellulose and corn starch, which are normally added to avoid caking of the grated cheese.
The crumbs are still a little sticky, which works well on pasta and pizza; however not so fantastic on popcorn. There have been a few problems of damaged product packaging, and clumpy cheese inside the container.
This item is reasonably high in salt (practically 90mg per tablespoon, as compared to 75mg in the majority of other brands), and thus not the most beneficial for those with hypertension.
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3. igourmet Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
Delicious and full-flavored, slices of this genuine Italian cheese are best served on a cheese board or celebration platter. igourmet was voted the best Parmesan in America by America’s Test Kitchen area and Prepare’s Illustrated. Igourmet’s Parmigiano Reggiano cheese undergoes a rigorous aging procedure of 18 to 20 months during which it is continuously checked for quality.
The cheese is cut and wrapped by hand, before being exported in insulated plans and arrives in a cooler chest filled with dry ice to ensure that it doesn’t spoil due to high temperature.
The two-pound cheese measures 8x5x1 1/2 inches and mostly will have half-an-inch skins on its adjacent sides which can be utilized in broths.
Given that it is natural with no preservatives, it has a short service life. To increase the life of the cheese, you can store it in a vacuum-sealed bag and thaw it before you use it. Thawing does not affect the flavor. For an over-20 month aged cheese, this does not seem as pungent, sharp, and nutty as it must be. It, however, does have the texture and graininess of the real parmesan cheese. The cheese grates smoothly and is ideal for a snack with or without a cracker.
4. Italian Grana Padano
Due to its long fermentation period of over 18 months, Italian Grana Padano has matured both in texture and flavor. If you desire the authentic flavor of hard cheese, you ought to buy the Italian Grana Padano. The cheese has a granular texture with creamy color and a delicate taste of premium parmesan cheese.
The package of 1 pound cheese arrives in vacuum-sealed plastic for keeping its freshness. You need to store it in the refrigerator after opening and plan ways to extend its life’s usage. It’s great for making spaghetti, chicken, salad. If you’re yearning for Italian foods, you can shred and spray this cheese to your preferred meals.
You can even eat the cheese directly and feel the cheese melting in your mouth. This Parmesan cheese is imported from Italy.
5. Mama Francesca Premium Parmesan Cheese
This product has the velvety and nutty taste of asiago and the rather sharp and piquant taste of romano, making it a top option to elevate the taste of basic dishes such as caesar salad.
Asiago is semi-soft and moderate, and romano is tough in texture. A combination of these 2 with parmesan cheese provides the product with a special taste and feel.
The cheese is creamy, yet hard to grate. The cheese tastes fresh and holds its texture when used in dishes that need to be broiled.
The cheese has potassium sorbate preservative and cellulose powder that prevents it from forming tough swellings inside the container. Nevertheless, regardless of using cellulose, in some cases, the cheese sticks to form clumps, and this makes it tough to spray on meals.
Also Read: Best Sauvignon Blanc Cheese Pairing
6. 365 Everyday Value, Grated Parmesan Cheese
If you are looking for a vegetarian choice of parmesan cheese that is also low in Sodium, you have struck it rich with this finely-grated cheese.
With lots of brand names, it is frequently uncertain whether the enzyme used to make the parmesan cheese is from animals or plants. This can be a source of concern for people who are following a vegetarian or vegan diet.
365 Everyday Life’s parmesan cheese is certified vegetarian, thereby leaving no room for doubt. Plus, it has reasonably lower Sodium (60 mg per 5g of cheese, as opposed to 75 mg of Salt in most other brand names), making it a healthier alternative.
The cheese is finely-grated and establishes well in sauces. However, there have been cases where the clients were dissatisfied to discover moulds inside the cheese container. There is no reference of any preservatives in the ingredient list, and therefore it would be best if taken in within a brief period.
We specialize in smaller-scale and farmstead produced goods, and work closely with our many local and regional producers, from cheese makers and bakers, to the producers of delicious mustards, chutney, honey and pickles. All of these specialist help us in analyzing the quality of the goods, so that we can provide you with the best review possible.
