Swiss cheese substitutes are not that hard to find; some of them are actually popular around the world! If you’re about to cook something with the Swiss cheese on the ingredient list, but it doesn’t exist in your kitchen, what should you do now?

This article is here to help! It will provide you with a list of Swiss cheese alternatives that can save your dish immediately. Ready to discover all of them? Let’s get started!

What Exactly Is Swiss Cheese?

Swiss cheese is not a particular name of cheese but is a special term. Learn more about the characteristics and varieties of Swiss cheese in order to find a suitable substitute for it!

Definition Of Swiss Cheese

Swiss cheese is a term indicating types of cheeses that originate around Emmental, Switzerland. It has a subtle, milky taste with plenty of big air holes called “eyes,” making it a very popular processed cheese. ⁽¹⁾

Most types of Swiss cheese are medium-hard cheeses that are mainly made of raw cow’s milk. They are so versatile that they can both be grated or melted and used in various dishes, such as casseroles, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, etc.

Some Common Varieties Of Swiss Chess

There are thousands of types of Swiss cheese in the world, and here are some of the most typical varieties:

Emmentaler
Gruyere
Sbrinz
Vacherin Mont d’Or
Schabziger
L’Etivaz
Appenzeller
Swiss Tilsit
Tete de Moine
Belper Hirn

Those are some of the most typical varieties of Swiss cheese that people usually use. There are more and more of them in reality.

Close Gruyere — Gruyere is one of the most common and delicious Swiss cheeses ever!

There are even more Swiss cheeses than you could imagine! Watch this video to know more:

Watch this video: 10 Cheeses from Switzerland to Melt for

8 Most Excellent Swiss Cheese Substitutes To Try

Here’s what you are waiting for! A perfect list of Swiss cheese alternatives! I bet that some of them are very familiar to you and can even be available in your pantry right now. Check it out now!

Swiss Cheese Substitutes	Best Use For
Cheddar	Sauces, soups, stews, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, and casseroles
Mozzarella	Quiche, nachos, and sandwiches
Fontina	Sandwiches, and Italian dishes
Burrata	Pizzas and pasta
Jarlsberg	Sandwiches, quiches, and fondues
Provolone	Italian dishes
Non-Swiss Emmental	Almost any recipe calling for Swiss cheese
French Comte	Mac and cheese, and boiled eggs

1. Cheddar

Portion Cheddar — Cheddar is not only famous but also packed with nutrients!

Cheddar is a worldwide famous English cheese, which is literally everywhere! Cheddar cheese consists of a hard, rigid, and smooth texture that is usually grated when using. It has a sharp, pungent flavor and tends to taste stronger than most Swiss cheese.

Cheddar is a very versatile cow’s milk cheese that can be applied to many dishes. Maybe that’s the reason why it’s extremely popular! It is also packed with nutrients such as calcium, protein, and potassium that are really good for your health. ⁽²⁾

Therefore, cheddar cheese is such an easy-to-find and excellent replacement when you don’t have any Swiss cheese on hand. Cheddar ideally stands in for Swiss cheese in sauces, soups, stews, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, casseroles, etc.

2. Mozzarella

Mozzarella Cheese — Mozzarella cheese is always on the favorite list of cheese lovers!

Mozzarella is a popular rindless cheese from Italy that maybe most of you all know about since it is usually used in pizzas. It is sometimes made of buffalo’s milk, sometimes cow’s milk, but the most widely available version today is still from cow’s milk, like Swiss cheese.

Mozzarella is super easy to make at home and is often added to salads, meat, veggie recipes. It can also be consumed raw. Mozzarella has a beautiful pale white color with a soft, silky, and glossy texture. It tastes really bright and milky.

As a Swiss cheese alternative, you can use mozzarella in place of Swiss cheese in some dishes such as quiche, nachos, or sandwiches since it can melt really well. If you happen to have mozzarella in hand, don’t be afraid to use it to replace the missing Swiss cheese!

With only 4 ingredients and 30 minutes, you can make yourself a superb mozzarella cheese!

Watch this video: Homemade Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

3. Fontina

Fontina is an Italian cheese made of unpasteurized cow’s milk. It tastes strong, buttery, and milky with a mushy, creamy texture. It also brings out an aftertaste of nut, honey, and mushroom when it is used in different dishes.

This adaptable Italian-style cheese also includes small air holes just like Swiss cheese. It can be an excellent replacement for Swiss cheese in almost every recipe, especially sandwiches and Italian dishes.

Fontina is undoubtedly a perfect substitute for Swiss cheese in a lot of recipes. It also has a special flavor to enhance your dish, so why not use it right now?

4. Burrata

Creamy Italian — Burrata is indeed a potential replacement for Swiss cheese in a recipe.

Burrata means “buttery” in Italian, is a unique combination between mozzarella and cream. It looks like a fluffy ball with a thin cover outside made of filata curd from mozzarella. The filling inside tastes super milky, soft, and fatty.

Burrata is usually put on top of a dish. When you cut it in half with a sharp knife, the curd-and-cream filling inside will burst out and spread all over the place of the dish, giving it an interesting texture. It is often used on pizzas, pasta, and many more dishes.

As a mixture of many things, burrata seems to taste tangier and more flavorful than Swiss cheese, so it might not be an ideal alternative. However, the taste of burrata can be versatile based on the way it’s cooked, so just choose the suitable one to use.

Here are some genuine tips to make burrata at home from a real chef!

Watch this video: Make Burrata Cheese at Home

5. Jarlsberg

Jarlsberg Mild — Jarlsberg has a signature flavor and texture that can be an excellent substitute for most Swiss cheese.

Jarlsberg is a cheese superstar, which has gained worldwide fame from its signature profile with yellowish color, round “eye” holes, supple, rich texture, and a nutty taste. It is from Norway and is a semi-soft species of cheese.

The high-quality flavor profile makes Jarlsberg different from those other cheeses. It’s a mixture of mild, buttery, milky, savory flavors. It is also an all-purpose cheese with a high melting point that can work well in sandwiches, quiches, and fondues.

Jarlsberg is a promising candidate in the “Swiss cheese substitute” contest with a unique but versatile texture and taste. It can be adapted to many recipes calling for Swiss cheese.

6. Provolone

Cheese Provolone — Provolone is a tangy and sweet cheese that can be a flavorful substitute for Swiss cheese.

Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made of cow’s milk. Its taste is a bit hard to describe since it consists of an abundance of flavors inside. It is tangy, sweet, sharp, salty, buttery, spicy, creamy at the same time!

Provolone is usually divided into two different varieties, which are Dolce and Piccante. The Dolce one has a sweet taste and is aged up to 3 months, while the Piccante one is aged 4 months and tastes stronger.

Some of you who have tasted Provolone may think it’s a little too sweet to be a Swiss cheese substitute, but it’s actually not. The tangy taste will be balanced in ltalian dishes and with some red wines. So it’s maybe the one that you’re looking for!

7. Non-Swiss Emmental

Leerdammer Several — Some non-Swiss Emmental types like Leerdammer can be the best substitutes for Swiss cheese!

Actually, Swiss cheese is Emmentaler cheese that originates from Switzerland, as you’ve already known. Nowadays, the “Emmentaler” name does not only refer to Swiss cheese anymore, but it also indicates many non-Swiss Emmental kinds of cheese out there.

Just like Swiss cheese, there are many varieties of non-Swiss Emmental. Leerdammer and Maasdam are highly recommended to stand in for Swiss cheese in a recipe because of their similar flavors. They both originate from the Netherlands.

In fact, the non-Swiss Emmental and Swiss cheese are pretty the same in taste and texture, just that their origins are different, so use it when you’re in an emergency culinary situation. They can replace Swiss cheese in almost every recipe!

8. French Comte

Food Piece Cheese — This sweet and savory French cheese, called Comte, will give your meal a unique taste.

French Comte is another unique natural-rind cheese with a very flavorful taste. It is fruity, smokey, nutty, savory, and sweet. What a special taste! With a firm and supple texture, Comte can be grated or prepared as you wish.

French Comte is an all-purpose cheese that can add many flavors to your dish! It is usually used with mac and cheese, or boiled eggs. And it can also play an important role to be in place of Swiss cheese in some recipes, for similar characteristics.

Watch this video to know more:

Watch this video: A beautiful tomato-based recipe with French Comte! Bon appetit!

FAQs

Here comes the frequently asked questions on this topic about Swiss cheese substitutes! If you have any more than these, just leave me a comment below this post!

Why does Swiss cheese have holes in it?

A bacterium that grows in the Swiss cheese as it ages is what causes the holes. This particular strain of bacteria is only found in Swiss cheeses. As a result of the bacteria’s release of carbon dioxide, the cheese develops holes.

Is Emmental cheese a kind of Swiss cheese, or is it something different?

In the United States, “Swiss cheese” is an imitation of Emmental cheese from Switzerland. Swiss cheese is known for its mild flavor and solid texture. Emmental cheese from France has a richer flavor and may be eaten on its own as a snack cheese.

Can I use gouda instead of Swiss cheese?

Yes, you can. Gouda is milder in taste than Swiss cheese, but it’s harder to cut. However, gouda is a versatile cheese that may be used in a wide range of dishes, so don’t hesitate to use it.

What can I use to replace Swiss cheese in quiche?

The best equivalent for Swiss cheese in quiche is cheddar cheese. You can also use mozzarella and fontina cheese to substitute Swiss cheese in a recipe.

What is the most suitable substitute for Swiss cheese in cordon bleu?

In my opinion, the provolone and cheddar cheese are the best to stand in for Swiss cheese in cordon bleu. Try to use some of your favorite cheese and you’ll be surprised!

Do You Have Any Swiss Cheese Substitutes At Home?

Hope that the substitution guide for Swiss cheese I have provided here is useful and instructive if you have to find a substitute for Swiss cheese. You can always mix these alternatives together based on the recipe to get the best result for your dish!

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