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Are you looking for some good substitutes for gruyere cheese? Keep reading to find the best options.
Gruyere cheese is a very rich, nutty cheese with a hint of saltiness. Its texture is creamy and its flavor depends on its age. Many people love to use it for quiches, fondue, dips, and gratins. Gruyere is also great on pizzas and just topped on top of bread with some jam. It also has many substitutes to choose from.
You can substitute Gruyere cheese with cheeses such as Emmental, Jarlsberg, Raclette, Comte, Beaufort, American Swiss, Fontina, Cheddar and Gouda. Most gruyere cheese substitutes can be used at a 1:1 conversion. However, a few substitutes need to be used at a much higher ratio.
No matter what type of cheese you have in your fridge or in your local stores or what flavors you are going for, there are plenty of substitutes for you to choose from in your cooking to replace gruyere. Not only does this article contain 9 amazing gruyere cheese substitution ideas, but each idea provides a ratio as well.
Best substitutes for gruyere cheese
Emmental Cheese
Emmental cheese is a great substitute for gruyere cheese if you want a cheese that has a buttery, slightly fruity taste. This cheese is easy to melt and is great for making sauces. It is vegetarian for those who prefer to avoid animal products (rennet) and it is a semi-hard yellow cheese.
Emmental cheese is produced with a rind and goes well with fruits and wines, and originates from Switzerland in the Emme valley in Canton Bern. To substitute Emmental cheese for Gruyere, simply use a ratio of 1:1.
Jarlsberg Cheese
Jarlsberg cheese is a semi-firm cheese originating from Norway produced using cow’s milk. It is usually aged three months and provides a nutty flavor. This cheese melts very well and has a distinctive, sweet taste.
Jarlsberg cheese can be used on charcuterie boards as well as burgers, as a bread dip or with paninis.
To substitute Jarlsberg cheese for gruyere cheese, make sure you use a ratio of 5:1. Since Jarlsberg cheese is a little bit more sharp than gruyere, you should be careful when adding it and only do a little bit at a time while tasting the dish until you get the right flavor.
Raclette
Raclette is a salty, nutty cheese with a hint of sweetness. This cheese melts very well and is ideal for fondue or any other recipe that calls for melted cheeses.
To substitute this cheese for Gruyere, use a ratio of 5:1, adding slowly while tasting as raclette is a bit stronger than Gruyere.
Comte Cheese
Comte cheese originates from France and is made of cow’s milk. It is pale and yellow in color and has varying tastes depending on its age.
When young this cheese is more milky and fresh tasting and when aged it has a nutty, smokey, fruity taste. To substitute it for Gruyere, use a ratio of 1:1.
Beaufort Cheese
Beaufort cheese has complex and robust flavors when aged and a mild, buttery taste when young. When using this cheese as a substitute, use a ratio of 1:1.
American Swiss Cheese
American Swiss has a nutty flavor and is a processed cheese. It has a mild taste and is easily melted. To use this cheese as a substitute for Gruyere, use a ratio of 1:1.
Fontina Cheese
Fontina cheese has a woody, earthy, mushroom-like taste that goes great with roasted meats and truffles. Fontina has a rich and creamy flavor and as it ages flavors become more nutty. This cheese melts well and is hard. To substitute it for Gruyere, use a ratio of 1:1.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese usually has a sharp, earthy, pungent flavor. This cheese gets sharper as it ages and can be used for anything from charcuterie boards to pizzas. To substitute it for Gruyere, only do so in baking recipes and use a ratio of 1:1.
Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese is a good snacking cheese and gets crunchier and more crumbly as it ages. This cheese has a rich, nutty caramel taste when aged. To use it as a substitute for Gruyere, use it in a ratio of 1:1.
Now that you know of at least eight different cheeses that can be used as replacements for Gruyere cheese, you can really start to explore your cooking and see how these substitutions can subtly compliment your dishes. Happy cooking!
