Swiss Cheese

Savoring swiss cheese

It's impossible not to love Wisconsin swiss cheese. Our cheesemakers have created a wonderfully nutty, pale yellow cheese that pays homage to a host of beautiful cheeses that originate on the alpine meadows of Switzerland. From its telltale eyes and firm texture to its mild, sweet, and meltingly warm personality, Wisconsin swiss captures everything the world has ever loved about the cheeses from the mountains in the heart of Europe.

Wisconsin swiss cheese is rindless and loaded with buttery, slightly sweet flavor. It's perhaps most like emmentaler, a nutty, fruity melting cheese that's the favorite of fondue fans everywhere. Whether you're snacking on swiss slices or enjoying a deli spread, this full-flavored beauty is a reminder of how delicious simple can be.

What to swig with swiss cheese

Swiss cheese gets along with everyone. It's easy to pair with slightly sweet sippers: bock or weiss beer, gewürztraminer, or riesling in a wine pairing, and port or sherry after dinner. For stronger spirits, we love fruit brandies and grappa.

Serving swiss is a cinch. It's a natural on any charcuterie spread, and it melts beautifully over potatoes au gratin or traditional Swiss-style rösti. Broccoli baked with swiss cheese and cream is always a crowd pleaser. And swiss cheese loves a deli sandwich – we'll take a slice of swiss with ham on pumpernickel with honey mustard, please.

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FAQs: What is swiss cheese?

What is swiss cheese?

Swiss cheese is an alpine-style cheese inspired by cheeses made in the mountains of Switzerland. It's made from cow's milk that's mixed with several strains of bacteria that give the cheese its nutty flavor.

Why does swiss cheese have holes?

The iconic holes in swiss cheese, also known as "eyes", are made when the bacteria that help to give swiss cheese its personality release carbon dioxide and form little bubbles of air pockets. Cheesemakers can control the size of the holes by altering acidity, temperature, and the time the cheese is allowed to mature.

What is baby swiss cheese?

Baby swiss is an American invention that is slightly milder, sweeter, and creamier than standard swiss cheese. Baby swiss is made in smaller wheels that require less time to ripen. Because the maturing process is shorter, baby swiss has smaller "eyes" or holes than the large wheels of standard swiss cheese.

Wisconsin: never neutral about swiss cheese

In Wisconsin, we've been crafting Swiss-style cheeses since before we were even a state. Immigrants from Europe arrived on the shores of America with little more than their great cheese recipes in hand, and lucky for us, they settled in Wisconsin. In the true pioneering spirit that brought them to the New World, they began making cheeses that hearkened to tradition but stood out with their own, unique personalities.

Today, our cheesemakers continue to innovate, creating more flavors, varieties and styles than anywhere else in the world. We've built on the European tradition of quality as well – we are home to one of only two Master Cheesemaker programs in the world (the other one's in Switzerland, naturally).

So, next time you're ordering swiss cheese for your sandwich or meat and cheese board, go "hole-heartedly" in for Wisconsin. Your taste buds will thank you.

Craving award-winning aged cheddar, pining for parmesan, or searching for a new cheese to try? The world’s best cheese is just a click away! Explore our directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and retailers who offer online cheese shopping and get cheese shipped right to your door. What are you waiting for?

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