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Gruyère Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Gruyère products
About Gruyère
Gruyère is a type of cheese that originated in Switzerland. In 2001, it was granted an Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP), or Protected Designation of Origin. This designation is awarded to products that have a specific flavor and character that's deeply rooted in a particular region.
Gruyèreis an Alpine or Swiss-type cheese. It is made from whole cow's milk and aged for at least six months. Most Gruyère cheeses are aged for six to nine months and have a mild, smooth flavor. Those aged 10 months or more take on a stronger flavor. Select Gruyère cheeses are aged for 18 to 24 months, which makes them especially full-bodied. Gruyère is firm and pale yellow in color with a few small holes. These are created by the bacteria used to make the cheese, which releases small gas bubbles as the cheese forms.
Gruyère has a mild, nutty flavor with slightly fruity tones. It is used both as a table cheese and a melting cheese. Gruyère and Emmental are the only cheeses used in traditional fondue recipes. Occasionally, the two are mixed in this melted preparation. Gruyère is also essential to the classic French Croque monsieur sandwich.
You'll find Gruyère covered in a natural rind. It is often sold by weight at deli counters, so you can select exactly as much or as little as you need. You may find Gruyère that specifies that it is:
- Cave aged: Fine cheese are often cave-aged, which means that they're placed in a cave to mature. Caves are typically more humid than other environments, which helps the cheese form a dry crust and flavor-packed interior.
- Smoked: When Gruyère is smoked, it's put through a smoke-curing process. This gives the rind a yellow or brownish tinge. The type of wood used for the smoking process will impact the flavor of the finished cheese, but any smoked cheese will take on a bit of a smoky flavor, similar to what you may have enjoyed with smoked meats.
How long does Gruyère last?
Once opened, you can typically keep a package of Gruyère cheese for about two to three weeks. Stored carefully in an airtight container, your cheese may even last up to four weeks. If you want to preserve your Gruyère even longer, you can keep it for up to two months in the freezer, though the texture of the cheese may suffer some.
You can tell that Gruyère is no longer good to eat if there's visible mold on the cheese. You can safely cut around a small spot of mold, but you need to trim the cheese at least one inch from the mold in all directions. Since Gruyère is often sold in small portions, it may not be possible to slice off any usable cheese once it's started to mold.
Gruyère Near Me
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FAQs about Gruyère
Gruyère is a type of Swiss cheese, but this isn't the cheese that most people think of when they simply refer to "Swiss cheese." The term Swiss cheese usually refers to an American Swiss. Both kinds of cheese are pale yellow and have holes. However, the holes in Swiss cheese are much larger than those in Gruyère. Both types of cheese are smooth, good for melting, and resistant to crumbling.
Even the flavor of Gruyère and Swiss is similar. However, Gruyère has a much stronger flavor than an American Swiss. Gruyère is slightly higher in calories and protein content. Gruyère is much higher in sodium, having nearly five times the amount of sodium that's in Swiss.
Gruyère's AOP makes it a pricier cheese than other varieties. The AOP specifies where and how the cheese can be made to qualify as authentic Gruyère. This adds complexity to the process of making this cheese.
If you're looking for a substitute for Gruyère, several other kinds of cheese have a similar flavor profile. American Swiss is one obvious option, as mentioned above. This is a simple choice if you're making an Americanized Croque monsieur. Emmental is the best substitute if you're making fondue, as this AOP is a traditional pick for this purpose. Emmental is made with the same bacteria as Gruyère, giving it very similar flavor and properties.
If you prefer a stronger flavor profile, an Irish Dubliner is another satisfying substitute. This cheese melts easily and has a nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. For a milder alternative to Gruyère, try Jarlsberg cheese. This Norwegian variety has a sweet, nutty flavor that's not as strong as Gruyère.
You can order Gruyère and other types of cheese easily through Instacart. Same-day delivery brings the groceries you need to your door without a trip to the store!