Asiago and parmasan are both the popular cheese originated from Italy. Parmesan is better known as Parmigiano Reggiano and often referred as the “real parmesan”.
Asiago and parmesan are not the same. They may look or some people even say they taste similar, but here is the deal.
The asiago tend to be milder, sweeter, with a little bit of nutty flavour but overall creamier than parmesan. Parmesan, on the other hand, is nuttier and fruitier with a stronger hints of bitter/savoury taste.
For the aging period, parmesan normally aged for 12-36 months whereas asiago aged for only 2-18 months. For that reason, parmesan tend to be “older” than asiago and therefore has a stronger flavour overall.
Comparison Table
| Asiago Cheese | Parmesan (aka Parmigiano Reggiano) | |
| Origin | Veneto, Trentino, Italy | Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Italy |
| Texture | Semi-hard | Hard, grainy |
| Taste | Mild, creamy, rich, nutty, buttery | Fruity, nutty, bitter, sharp |
| Color | Pale yellow, straw | Brownish yellow, straw |
| Milk Source | Cows | Cows |
| Pasteurisation | No | No |
| Lactose Content | Very low | Very low to none (<1 mg) |
| Histamine | Moderate to high | High (up to 581 mg/kg) |
| Aging Duration | 2-18 months | 12 – 36 months |
| Calories | 100 per oz | 119 per oz |
| Price | $13.79 /lb (on Amazon) | $19.6 /lb (on Amazon) |
Taste Differences
Asiago tastes milder, milkier and sweeter than parmesan. It has a stronger buttery taste with a little bit of bitter nutty aftertaste. Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano DOP) tastes stronger in its “side taste” or aftertaste, much better than Asiago. Also, parmesan has a more complex umami taste, with hints of fruity/nutty flavor, which you find lesser in Asiago.
The taste of asiago and parmesan has to depend on their aging duration. Typically, the younger the cheese, the creamier and sweeter it will be. Some said that asiago tastes the same as parmesan, which is partially true if you compare a well-aged asiago with a moderate-aged parmesan, let alone the brands. The brands also play a big part in it. If you would like to enjoy the real deal, you gotta look for some reputable resellers which sells the DOP cheese, instead of just another counterfeit, fake parmesan with its flavor compromised. Of course, it can get a little expensive as good quality is never cheap.
Texture Differences
For texture, asiago and parmesan are both firm and solid. For the fresh asiago, it is semi-soft, smoother and lighter in color. But for the aged version, you will typically find it denser, grainier or crumby, sometimes even flaky like parmesan. The color will also get darker and harder as its aged, likewise to parmesan which normally aged for a long time. You may notice bits of white crystals formation on the aged parmesan too.
Can you Substitute Parmesan with Asiago?
Yes, you can absolutely substitute parmesan for asiago, or vice versa. That will all depend on how you want to use it, say you want use it in pasta, pizza or soup, it will be a good substitution. You might notice the taste is slightly different but not the exact same. Asiago will have a flavor reminiscent of parmesan, but tend be creamier and milder, so if your dishes are going to be heavy to bring out the strong parmesan aftertaste, fresh asiago might not be the best option. Go for the aged asiago.
Background Differences
Asiago and parmesan are both originated from Italy but on the different regions, where parmesan is made in the Emilia-Romagna whereas asiago in Veneto, right next to each other. They both are PDO verified cheese and use unpasteurized partially-skimmed cow milk. The production steps are very similar, but parmesan tend to age for longer.
Nutrition Differences
The nutrition information may vary from brand to brand.
Common Uses & Recipe Differences
Thanks to its strong flavor, chefs and home moms love to grate parmesan over pasta, soup or salad. Unlike asiago, parmesan is lesser to serve alone in sandwich, bread, or with crackers (doesn’t mean you can’t!). Asiago’s creamier and milkier taste gave it a more balanced flavor overall, which go super well with bread and sandwich, and has a broader common culinary uses, such as sprinkles on top of soup, pasta, or pizza as well.
Wrap up
Some suggest to substitute asiago for parmesan, I would say it’s fine in many circumstances when you really don’t have a better option. In conclusion, asiago and parmesan are definitely not the same as there are many differences between these two type of popular Italian cheeses, as shown in the comparison table above. Also, the price for parmesan is a little higher than asiago, I attached Amazon links next to the price above so you can check the latest for yourself.
