Gorgonzola vs Blue Cheese: 6 Differences You Need To Know

When you are trying to prepare a delicious meal and the recipe calls for blue cheese, do you know what it means? And could you use Gorgonzola?

A lot of people have many doubts regarding this category of cheese, so we made sure to gather all the information in one place and provide you with the answer on what is the difference between Gorgonzola and blue cheese.

By the end of the article, you will be an expert on all matters and know how to choose the best cheese for your next meal.

So, without further ado, let’s get started on yet another delicious journey.

What is Gorgonzola?

Gorgonzola is just one type of blue cheese produced mainly in Northern Italy, more specifically in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. This beautiful and marbled cheese was said to be discovered by accident, but a lucky one indeed.

This is just one of many blue kinds of cheese available, but we could say that it’s the most popular one. This is not surprising considering how delicious and mild this blue cheese is. 

How is Gorgonzola made?

The production of Gorgonzola is a well-kept secret that we don’t know enough about. Unlike most blue cheeses Gorgonzola is made exclusively from cow’s milk with added mold.

The unique Gorgonzola flavor and look come from the mold that develops in the cheese as it matures. This mold is produced by injecting the cheese with the Penicillium glaucum mold and allowing it to spread through creating blue veins.

While the process might sound and look peculiar the result is beautiful marbled cheese that is not only completely safe to eat, but a delicious companion to many dishes.

Unlike most other blue cheeses Gorgonzola production is pretty strict and there are rules to be followed to ensure the proper maturing of the cheese.

It’s kept at constant temperatures and humidity to allow the mold to develop, usually for 3 to 4 months. Depending on the maturity and the creation process Gorgonzola will have different flavors and textures. 

But, how does Gorgonzola taste exactly? Keep on reading to find out more.

How to cook with Gorgonzola?

Gorgonzola is an extremely versatile ingredient you can use in many dishes like risotto, pasta, or even pizza. In addition, this cheese can be melted and used as a topping to salads or polenta.

Even though the Gorgonzola cheese will have that unique smell and taste, it’s considered mild in comparison with aged blue cheese. This makes it a perfect addition to your meals when you want that kick of salty flavor.

In addition, Gorgonzola is usually softer than other blue cheeses so melting it and incorporating it into dips and toppings is always a good idea.

What is blue cheese?

Blue cheese is not just one type of cheese, but rather a common name for all the blue cheese varieties on the market.

It’s considered to be from France, where most of the blue cheeses come from and it can be made from cow’s, sheep’s, or even goat’s milk. This mainly depends on the region and manufacturer of the cheese.

Just like Gorgonzola, mold is added to blue cheese to get that marbled and veined look. 

How is blue cheese made?

Blue cheese or bleu cheese, as it’s known in some places, is made with milk and injected Penicillium glaucum. This mold develops over time as blue cheese is left in caves to mature.

Depending on the type of blue cheese you can find different good bacteria added for amazing taste and texture. It usually has blue or green veins, but you could come upon gray hues in the white cheese from time to time.

How to cook with blue cheese?

Blue cheese is usually served on its own or crumbled over salads and dishes. 

These cheeses are more crumbly and have a stronger taste than Gorgonzola, so you might want to use them sparingly. 

It’s also a piece of expert advice to serve blue cheese with some sweet wine like Port or Cherry. This will complement the complex flavor of the blue cheese and wash your palate so that all the aromas can have a full effect on your senses. 

What is the difference between Gorgonzola and Blue Cheese?

Now that we are familiar with the basic characteristics of both kinds of cheese, we can make finally come to the main point – blue cheese vs Gorgonzola, what are the differences? 

This simple guide will help you understand the unique traits of each type of cheese and assist you when deciding what is the best choice for your next recipe.

Here are all the differences between Gorgonzola and Blue Cheese.

1. Flavor

One of the most important differences that you need to know when it comes to these two kinds of cheese is the flavor. It depends from the milk used and the mold developed during the curing process.

While Gorgonzola is officially considered a blue cheese, it is the mildest variety of them all.

This means that blue cheeses will have a stronger taste that will linger for a long time. Unlike Gorgonzola that is mild and easily incorporated into dishes.

This is an important fact because it will take some time and experience to get used to the taste and determine how much cheese to use.

If you go overboard with blue cheese you might overwhelm the dish and not allow other ingredients to come through.

This is one of the reasons why blue cheeses are eaten on their own or simply crumbled over food in small amounts.

2. Texture

In a Gorgonzola versus blue cheese comparison, you will notice that one is much softer than the other. When Gorgonzola has been maturing long enough, it actually becomes softer than other types of blue cheese.

Blue cheeses are generally harder and with a texture that crumbles easily. This is due to the fact that the conditions allow those cheeses to lose more moisture and remain dry. 

Texture can be an important factor that determines which dishes will do better with soft Gorgonzola and which ones can benefit from crumbly blue cheese.

3. Appearance

Most people will say that blue cheese and Gorgonzola look the same, but there are slight differences if you get closer.

Both kinds of cheese are famous for mold veins, but Gorgonzola will have blue or green veins throughout the entire piece of cheese.

Blue cheese on the other hand can have not just veins but also specs that can be blue, green, or even gray.

So, most of the time you can notice the slight color variations if you look at both slices of cheese at the same time. 

4. Ingredients

By now we have learned a lot about the difference between blue cheese and Gorgonzola, but there are a few more left. One of those is the ingredients used to make the cheese.

Blue cheese can be made from different kinds of animal milk including cow, sheep, or goat milk, while Gorgonzola is made exclusively from cow’s milk. In addition, different good bacteria can be added to blue cheese to enhance the flavor.

Because goat and sheep milk has a stronger flavor than cow’s milk the result always has a different taste. It’s good to know what is in your cheese when you are trying to incorporate it into various dishes.

5. Smell

Overall blue cheeses are known for their unique and pungent smell. Some people love this aroma while others are not delighted. This is why you need to know that Gorgonzola will always have a milder smell when compared to other blue cheeses.

So, if you want to add just a bit of that nutty smell go for Gorgonzola. On the other hand, if you want to enhance the sensation and make the meal even more unique go for the stronger-smelling blue cheese.

6. Cooking

As we are coming to the end of the differences between Gorgonzola and blue cheese we have the fun part of cooking to cover. While we can agree that both kinds of cheese are equally delicious cooking with them can be slightly different.

Keep in mind that Gorgonzola is the cheese you need if you plan to cook it, use it with rice or add it to your pasta. It will melt easily and compliment any dish you want to prepare with added salt and aroma.

On the other hand, blue cheeses are usually served as appetizers with wine or crumbled-over salads and dishes. It’s not impossible to cook with various blue cheeses but you can say that is not the most popular way to enjoy the full aroma.

When you are just getting started with these ingredients it’s recommended to go slow and add a bit at a time. This way your palate will get used to the strong taste of blue cheeses and you can always add more when you want to.

Are Gorgonzola and Blue Cheese the same?

At the end of the day, a lot of people will still wonder if Gorgonzola and blue cheese are the same things. The answer is complex, but we can say with certainty that those two are not the same.

Gorgonzola is just one type of blue cheese, and there are many variations all over the world. 

As you have noticed there are some differences that distinguish the two variants of cheese, and now you know them all. Use this knowledge to cook or serve up the perfect appetizer by choosing the best type of cheese based on its main features.

This will make a memorable dish every time and you can experiment with different wines and ingredients until you get the best combination to go with your blue cheeses.