Как правильно пишется сыр пармезан

пармезан

Синонимы:

By
in Parmesan
31.05.2021

Contents

• 1 Is Parmesan capitalized AP style?
• 2 Why are certain cheese names capitalized?
• 3 Do you capitalize the names of cheeses?
• 4 Is mozzarella capitalized?
• 5 Should you capitalize Romano cheese?
• 6 Do you have to capitalize Swiss cheese?
• 7 Does Aunt need to be capitalized?
• 8 Is Pepper Jack capitalized?
• 9 How do you distinguish between common and proper nouns?
• 10 Should restaurant names be capitalized?
• 11 Are products proper nouns?
• 12 Is the drink Scotch capitalized?
• 13 What is a mozzarella in Italian?
• 14 Is mozzarella a proper noun?
• 15 What does the word mozzarella mean?

Is Parmesan capitalized AP style?

While it’s appropriate to capitalize Parmigiano -Reggiano, parmesan can be produced anywhere in the world.” Other guidelines: Broccolini and Popsicle are trademarks, hence they should be capitalized.

Why are certain cheese names capitalized?

Obviously certain types of cheese (Boursin, for example) are “trademarks” owned by specific producer companies, so they’re much more likely to be capitalised in all contexts. TL;DR: There’s no particular “rule” – or if there is one, it’s not consistently applied. Proper names are capitalized.

Do you capitalize the names of cheeses?

Merriam-Webster’s capitalizes names of cheeses derived from geographical locations — Brie, Cheddar, Stilton, Swiss — but they can safely be lowercased without confusion, which is what The Chicago Manual of Style recommends.

Is mozzarella capitalized?

Mozzarella is not a place and is not capitalized in Italian or English.

Should you capitalize Romano cheese?

Is Romano cheese capitalized? If a cheese is named after a city (or country-hello, American!), it’s capitalized. Examples include Asiago, Brie, Camembert, Gouda, Gruyere and Parmesan.

Do you have to capitalize Swiss cheese?

Generally, you should capitalize the proper nouns in food names, e.g., Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, Waldorf salad, Swedish meatballs, Belgian waffles, London broil, Danish pastry, beef Wellington.

Does Aunt need to be capitalized?

In a title, “ aunt ” is capitalized. When used generically in a sentence such as: “my aunt said to visit her,” then the word “ aunt ” is lowercase because it is a generic noun.

Is Pepper Jack capitalized?

Both words take capitals, but if you’re talking about “ pepper jack,” neither does.

How do you distinguish between common and proper nouns?

Definition: Common nouns name any person, place, thing, or idea. They are not capitalized unless they come at the beginning of a sentence. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, things, or ideas. Proper nouns should always be capitalized.

Should restaurant names be capitalized?

We could say that we ate Friday night at a Silver Spoon restaurant. But as long as you’re referring the Silver Spoon Restaurant on Forbes Street, yes, you would capitalize the word ” Restaurant.” Since all of your sentences are referring to specific places, the entire name will be capitalized.

Are products proper nouns?

I saw the Grand Canyon this summer. Product names are also proper nouns. Product names usually have two parts: brand and generic names. Some brand names have an Ⓡ symbol.

Is the drink Scotch capitalized?

SCOTCH WHISKY: Capitalize Scotch and use the spelling “ whisky ” only when the two words are used together. Don’t capitalize “ scotch ” when it stands alone. (Also see “ whiskey / whisky.”)

What is a mozzarella in Italian?

Mozzarella (English: /ˌmɒtsəˈrɛlə/, Italian: [mottsaˈrɛlla]; Neapolitan: muzzarella [muttsaˈrɛllə]) is a traditionally southern Italian cheese made from Italian buffalo’s milk by the pasta filata method.

Is mozzarella a proper noun?

If the names are considered proper nouns, then they are capitalized. “Parmigiano-Reggiano” is derived from the names of cities. ” Mozzarella ” is not.

What does the word mozzarella mean?

Mozzarella is a soft, mild cheese that’s commonly used to make pizza. The name mozzarella comes from the Italian mozzare, “to cut off.”

By
in Parmesan
31.05.2021

Contents

• 1 Is Parmesan capitalized AP style?
• 2 Why are certain cheese names capitalized?
• 3 Do you capitalize the names of cheeses?
• 4 Is mozzarella capitalized?
• 5 Should you capitalize Romano cheese?
• 6 Do you have to capitalize Swiss cheese?
• 7 Does Aunt need to be capitalized?
• 8 Is Pepper Jack capitalized?
• 9 How do you distinguish between common and proper nouns?
• 10 Should restaurant names be capitalized?
• 11 Are products proper nouns?
• 12 Is the drink Scotch capitalized?
• 13 What is a mozzarella in Italian?
• 14 Is mozzarella a proper noun?
• 15 What does the word mozzarella mean?

Is Parmesan capitalized AP style?

While it’s appropriate to capitalize Parmigiano -Reggiano, parmesan can be produced anywhere in the world.” Other guidelines: Broccolini and Popsicle are trademarks, hence they should be capitalized.

Why are certain cheese names capitalized?

Obviously certain types of cheese (Boursin, for example) are “trademarks” owned by specific producer companies, so they’re much more likely to be capitalised in all contexts. TL;DR: There’s no particular “rule” – or if there is one, it’s not consistently applied. Proper names are capitalized.

Do you capitalize the names of cheeses?

Merriam-Webster’s capitalizes names of cheeses derived from geographical locations — Brie, Cheddar, Stilton, Swiss — but they can safely be lowercased without confusion, which is what The Chicago Manual of Style recommends.

Is mozzarella capitalized?

Mozzarella is not a place and is not capitalized in Italian or English.

Should you capitalize Romano cheese?

Is Romano cheese capitalized? If a cheese is named after a city (or country-hello, American!), it’s capitalized. Examples include Asiago, Brie, Camembert, Gouda, Gruyere and Parmesan.

Do you have to capitalize Swiss cheese?

Generally, you should capitalize the proper nouns in food names, e.g., Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, Waldorf salad, Swedish meatballs, Belgian waffles, London broil, Danish pastry, beef Wellington.

Does Aunt need to be capitalized?

In a title, “ aunt ” is capitalized. When used generically in a sentence such as: “my aunt said to visit her,” then the word “ aunt ” is lowercase because it is a generic noun.

Is Pepper Jack capitalized?

Both words take capitals, but if you’re talking about “ pepper jack,” neither does.

How do you distinguish between common and proper nouns?

Definition: Common nouns name any person, place, thing, or idea. They are not capitalized unless they come at the beginning of a sentence. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, things, or ideas. Proper nouns should always be capitalized.

Should restaurant names be capitalized?

We could say that we ate Friday night at a Silver Spoon restaurant. But as long as you’re referring the Silver Spoon Restaurant on Forbes Street, yes, you would capitalize the word ” Restaurant.” Since all of your sentences are referring to specific places, the entire name will be capitalized.

Are products proper nouns?

I saw the Grand Canyon this summer. Product names are also proper nouns. Product names usually have two parts: brand and generic names. Some brand names have an Ⓡ symbol.

Is the drink Scotch capitalized?

SCOTCH WHISKY: Capitalize Scotch and use the spelling “ whisky ” only when the two words are used together. Don’t capitalize “ scotch ” when it stands alone. (Also see “ whiskey / whisky.”)

What is a mozzarella in Italian?

Mozzarella (English: /ˌmɒtsəˈrɛlə/, Italian: [mottsaˈrɛlla]; Neapolitan: muzzarella [muttsaˈrɛllə]) is a traditionally southern Italian cheese made from Italian buffalo’s milk by the pasta filata method.

Is mozzarella a proper noun?

If the names are considered proper nouns, then they are capitalized. “Parmigiano-Reggiano” is derived from the names of cities. ” Mozzarella ” is not.

What does the word mozzarella mean?

Mozzarella is a soft, mild cheese that’s commonly used to make pizza. The name mozzarella comes from the Italian mozzare, “to cut off.”

Как правильно: Пармезан или Пармиджано?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parmesan cheese Parmigiano Reggiano
A Parmesan cheese
Other names	Parmigiano-Reggiano
Country of origin	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna Lombardy
Town	Provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna (west of the Reno) and Mantua (on the right/south bank of the Po)
Source of milk	Cows (mostly Friesian and Reggiana cattle)
Pasteurised	No
Texture	Hard
Aging time	Minimum: 12 months Vecchio: 18–24 months Stravecchio: 24–36 months
Certification	Italy: DOP 1955 EU: PDO 1992
Related media on Commons

Parmesan (Italian: Parmigiano Reggiano; Italian pronunciation: [parmiˈdʒaːno redˈdʒaːno]) is an Italian hard, granular cheese produced from cows’ milk and aged at least 12 months.

It is named after two of the areas which produce it, the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia (Parmigiano is the Italian adjective for Parma and Reggiano that for Reggio Emilia). In addition to Reggio Emilia and Parma, it is also produced in the part of Bologna west of the River Reno and in Modena (all of the above being located in the Emilia-Romagna region), as well as in the part of Mantua (Lombardy) which is on the south bank of the River Po.

Both «Parmigiano Reggiano» and «Parmesan» are protected designations of origin (PDO) for cheeses produced in these provinces under Italian and European law.^[1] Outside the EU, the name «Parmesan» can legally be used for similar cheeses, with only the full Italian name unambiguously referring to PDO Parmigiano Reggiano.

It has been called the «King of Cheeses»^[2] and «practically perfect food»,^[3] whilst in 2023, the guide TasteAtlas has picked Parmigiano Reggiano as best cheese in the world.^[4]

Parmigiano Reggiano Production[edit]

Parmigiano Reggiano is made from unpasteurised cows’ milk. The whole milk of the morning milking is mixed with the naturally skimmed milk (which is made by keeping milk in large shallow tanks to allow the cream to separate) of the previous evening’s milking, resulting in a part skim mixture. This mixture is pumped into copper-lined vats, which heat evenly and contribute copper ions to the mix.^[5]

Starter whey (containing a mixture of certain thermophilic lactic acid bacteria) is added, and the temperature is raised to 33–35 °C (91–95 °F). Calf rennet is added, and the mixture is left to curdle for 10–12 minutes. The curd is then broken up mechanically into small pieces (around the size of rice grains). The temperature is then raised to 55 °C (131 °F) with careful control by the cheese-maker. The curd is left to settle for 45–60 minutes. The compacted curd is collected in a piece of muslin before being divided in two and placed in molds. There are 1,100 litres (290 US gal) of milk per vat, producing two cheeses each. The curd making up each wheel at this point weighs around 45 kilograms (99 lb). The remaining whey in the vat was traditionally used to feed the pigs from which Prosciutto di Parma (cured Parma ham) was produced. The barns for these animals were usually just a few metres away from the cheese production rooms.

The cheese is put into a stainless steel, round form that is pulled tight with a spring-powered buckle so the cheese retains its wheel shape. After a day or two, the buckle is released and a plastic belt imprinted numerous times with the Parmigiano Reggiano name, the plant’s number, and month and year of production is put around the cheese and the metal form is buckled tight again. The imprints take hold on the rind of the cheese in about a day and the wheel is then put into a brine bath to absorb salt for 20–25 days. After brining, the wheels are then transferred to the aging rooms in the plant for 12 months. Each cheese is placed on wooden shelves that can be 24 cheeses high by 90 cheeses long or 2160 total wheels per aisle. Each cheese and the shelf underneath it is then cleaned manually or robotically every seven days, and the cheese is turned.

At 12 months, the Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano inspects every wheel. The cheese is tested by a master grader who taps each wheel to identify undesirable cracks and voids within the wheel. Wheels that pass the test are then heat-branded on the rind with the Consorzio’s logo. Those that do not pass the test used to have their rinds marked with lines or crosses all the way around to inform consumers that they are not getting top-quality Parmigiano Reggiano; more recent practices simply have these lesser rinds stripped of all markings.

Traditionally cows are fed only on grass or hay, producing grass-fed milk. Only natural whey culture is allowed as a starter, together with calf rennet.^[6]

The only additive allowed is salt, which the cheese absorbs while being submerged for 20 days in brine tanks saturated to near-total salinity with Mediterranean sea salt. The product is aged an average of two years.^[7] The cheese is produced daily, and it can show a natural variability. True Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has a sharp, complex fruity/nutty taste with a strong savory flavour and a slightly gritty texture. Inferior versions can impart a bitter taste.

The average Parmigiano Reggiano wheel is about 18–24 cm (7–9 in) high, 40–45 cm (16–18 in) in diameter, and weighs 38 kg (84 lb).

Industry[edit]

All producers of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese belong to the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Consortium), which was founded in 1928.^[8] Besides setting and enforcing the standards for the PDO, the Consorzio also sponsors marketing activities.^[9]

As of 2017, about 3.6 million wheels (approx. 137,000 metric tons) of Parmesan are produced every year; they use about 18% of all the milk produced in Italy.^[10]

Most workers in the Italian dairy industry (bergamini) belong to the Italian General Confederation of Labour. As older dairy workers retire, younger Italians have tended to work in factories or offices. Immigrants have filled that role, with 60% of the workers in the Parmesan industry now immigrants from India, almost all Sikhs.^[11]

Uses[edit]

Parmigiano Reggiano is commonly grated over pasta dishes, stirred into soups and risottos, and eaten on its own. It is often shaved or grated over other dishes like salads.^[12]

Slivers and chunks of the hardest parts of the crust (also called the rind) are sometimes simmered in soups, broths, and sauces to add flavour. They can also be broiled and eaten as a snack if they have no wax on them. They can also be infused in olive oil or used in a steamer basket while steaming vegetables.^[13]

History[edit]

According to legend, Parmigiano Reggiano was created in the course of the Middle Ages in Bibbiano, in the province of Reggio Emilia. Its production soon spread to the Parma and Modena areas. Historical documents show that in the 13th and 14th centuries, Parmigiano was already very similar to that produced today, which suggests its origins can be traced to far earlier. Some evidence suggests that the name was used for Parmesan cheese in Italy and France in the 17th-19th century.^[7]

It was praised as early as 1348 in the writings of Boccaccio; in the Decameron, he invents a ‘mountain, all of grated Parmesan cheese’, on which ‘dwell folk that do nought else but make macaroni and ravioli, and boil them in capon’s broth, and then throw them down to be scrambled for; and hard by flows a rivulet of Vernaccia, the best that ever was drunk, and never a drop of water therein.’^[14]

During the Great Fire of London of 1666, Samuel Pepys buried his «Parmazan cheese, as well as his wine and some other things» to preserve them.^[15]

In the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova,^[16] he remarked that the name «Parmesan» was a misnomer common throughout an «ungrateful» Europe in his time (mid-18th century), as the cheese was produced in the town of Lodi, Lombardy, not Parma. Though Casanova knew his table and claimed in his memoir to have been compiling a (never completed) dictionary of cheeses, his comment has been taken to refer mistakenly to a grana cheese similar to «Parmigiano», Grana Padano, which is produced in the Lodi area.^{[citation needed]}

Parmigiano Reggiano has been the target of organized crime in Italy, particularly the Mafia or Camorra, which ambush delivery trucks on the Autostrada A1 in northern Italy between Milan and Bologna, hijacking shipments. The cheese is ultimately sold in southern Italy.^[17] Between November 2013 and January 2015, an organised crime gang stole 2039 wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano from warehouses in northern and central Italy.^[18]

October 27 is designated «Parmigiano Reggiano Day» by The Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano.^[19]

This day celebrating the «King of Cheese» originated in response to the two earthquakes hitting the area of origin in May 2012. The devastation was profound, displacing tens of thousands of residents, collapsing factories, and massively damaging historical churches, bell towers, and other landmarks.^[20]

Years of cheese production were lost during the disaster, about $50 million worth, reported by the New York Times, potentially threatening the livelihood of cheesemakers whose families produced this product for generations. It was Modena native and renowned Chef Massimo Bottura, who The Consortium turned to for an outsized solution to help save the cheese. Bottura’s three-Michelin starred Osteria Francescana, named the World’s Top Restaurant in 2018 and 2016 by the prestigious San Pellegrino ranking (now in its Hall of Fame) is located in his hometown near the quake’s epicenter. Massimo Bottura’s response to the situation was a single recipe: Riso cacio e pepe. He invited the world through social media and online outlets to cook this new dish along with him launching «Parmigiano Reggiano Day» — October 27.^[20]

Aroma and chemical components[edit]

Cheese, Parmesan, Hard

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	392 kcal (1,640 kJ)
Carbohydrates	3.22 g
Sugars	0.8 g
Dietary fiber	0.0 g
Fat	25.83 g
Saturated	16.41 g
Monounsaturated	7.52 g
Polyunsaturated	0.57 g
Protein	35.75 g
Vitamins	Quantity %DV†
Vitamin A equiv.	26% 207 μg
Thiamine (B1)	3% 0.04 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	28% 0.33 mg
Niacin (B3)	2% 0.27 mg
Vitamin B6	7% 0.09 mg
Folate (B9)	2% 7 μg
Vitamin B12	50% 1.2 μg
Vitamin C	0% 0.0 mg
Vitamin D	3% 19 IU
Vitamin E	1% 0.22 mg
Vitamin K	2% 1.7 μg
Minerals	Quantity %DV†
Calcium	118% 1184 mg
Iron	6% 0.82 mg
Magnesium	12% 44 mg
Phosphorus	99% 694 mg
Potassium	2% 92 mg
Sodium	107% 1602 mg
Zinc	29% 2.75 mg
Other constituents	Quantity
Water	29.16 g
Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA FoodData Central

Parmigiano has many aroma-active compounds, including various aldehydes and butyrates.^[21] Butyric acid and isovaleric acid together are sometimes used to imitate the dominant aromas.^[22]

Parmigiano is also particularly high in glutamate, containing as much as 1.2 g of glutamate per 100 g of cheese. The high concentration of glutamate explains the strong umami taste of Parmigiano.^[23]

Parmigiano cheese typically contains cheese crystals, semi-solid to gritty crystalline spots that at least partially consist of the amino acid tyrosine.^{[citation needed]}

Uses of the name[edit]

The name is legally protected in the European Union and, in Italy, exclusive control is exercised over the cheese’s production and sale by the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese Consorzio, which was created by a governmental decree. Each wheel must meet strict criteria early in the aging process, when the cheese is still soft and creamy, to merit the official seal and be placed in storage for aging. Because it is widely imitated, Parmigiano Reggiano has become an increasingly regulated product, and in 1955 it became what is known as a certified name (which is not the same as a brand name). In 2008, an EU court determined that the name «Parmesan» in Europe only refers to Parmigiano Reggiano and cannot be used for imitation Parmesan.^[24][25][26] Thus, in the European Union, «Parmigiano Reggiano» is a protected designation of origin (PDO – DOP in Italian); legally, the name refers exclusively to the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese manufactured in a limited area in northern Italy. Special seals identify the product as authentic, with the identification number of the dairy, the production month and year, a code identifying the individual wheel and stamps regarding the length of aging.^[27]

Non-European Parmesan cheese[edit]

Parmesan cheese made outside of the European Union is a family of hard grating cheeses made from cows’ milk and inspired by the original Italian cheese.^[28] They are generally pale yellow in color and usually used grated on dishes such as pasta, Caesar salad and pizza.^[29] Some American generic Parmesan is sold already grated and has been aged for less than 12 months.^[2]

Within the European Union, the term Parmesan may be used, by law, to refer only to Parmigiano Reggiano itself, which must be made in a restricted geographic area, using stringently defined methods. In many areas outside Europe the name «Parmesan» has become genericised and may denote any of a number of hard Italian-style grating cheeses,^[30][31] often commercialised under names intended to evoke the original, such as Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesana, Parmabon, Real Parma, Parmezan, or Parmezano.^[2] After the European ruling that «parmesan» could not be used as a generic name, Kraft renamed its grated cheese «Pamesello» in Europe. ^[32]

Non-European production[edit]

Parmesan cheese is defined differently in various jurisdictions outside of Europe. In the United States the Code of Federal Regulations includes a Standard of Identity for «Parmesan and reggiano cheese».^[33] This defines both aspects of the production process and of the final result. In particular, Parmesan must be made of cow’s milk, cured for 10 months or more, contain no more than 32% water, and have no less than 32% milkfat in its solids.^[33]

Kraft Foods is a major North American producer of Parmesan and has been selling it since 1945.^[34][35]

A number of non-European parmesan producers have taken strong objection to the attempts of the European Union to globally control the trademark of the Parmesan name, claiming that it is more about control of trade than control of quality. ^{[36] [37][38]}

Adulteration controversy[edit]

Several American manufacturers have been investigated for allegedly going beyond the 4% cellulose limit.^[39] In one case, FDA findings found «no parmesan cheese was used to manufacture» a Pennsylvania manufacturer’s grated cheese labeled «Parmesan», apparently made from a mixture of other cheeses and cellulose. The manufacturer declared bankruptcy in 2014 and their president was expected to plead guilty to criminal charges, facing up to $100,000 in fines and a year in jail.^[39]

Similar cheeses[edit]

Grana Padano[edit]

Grana Padano is an Italian cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, but is produced mainly in Lombardy, where «Padano» refers to the Po Valley (Pianura Padana); the cows producing the milk may be fed silage as well as grass; the milk may contain slightly less fat, milk from several different days may be used, and must be aged a minimum of 9 months.

Gran Moravia[edit]

Gran Moravia is a cheese from the Czech Republic similar to Grana Padano and Parmigiano.^[40]

Reggianito[edit]

Reggianito is an Argentine cheese similar to Parmigiano. Developed by Italian Argentine cheesemakers, the cheese is made in smaller wheels and aged for less time, but is otherwise broadly similar.

See also[edit]

• List of cheeses
• Parmesan knife

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website
• Media related to Parmigiano-Reggiano at Wikimedia Commons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parmesan cheese Parmigiano Reggiano
A Parmesan cheese
Other names	Parmigiano-Reggiano
Country of origin	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna Lombardy
Town	Provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna (west of the Reno) and Mantua (on the right/south bank of the Po)
Source of milk	Cows (mostly Friesian and Reggiana cattle)
Pasteurised	No
Texture	Hard
Aging time	Minimum: 12 months Vecchio: 18–24 months Stravecchio: 24–36 months
Certification	Italy: DOP 1955 EU: PDO 1992
Related media on Commons

Parmesan (Italian: Parmigiano Reggiano; Italian pronunciation: [parmiˈdʒaːno redˈdʒaːno]) is an Italian hard, granular cheese produced from cows’ milk and aged at least 12 months.

It is named after two of the areas which produce it, the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia (Parmigiano is the Italian adjective for Parma and Reggiano that for Reggio Emilia). In addition to Reggio Emilia and Parma, it is also produced in the part of Bologna west of the River Reno and in Modena (all of the above being located in the Emilia-Romagna region), as well as in the part of Mantua (Lombardy) which is on the south bank of the River Po.

Both «Parmigiano Reggiano» and «Parmesan» are protected designations of origin (PDO) for cheeses produced in these provinces under Italian and European law.^[1] Outside the EU, the name «Parmesan» can legally be used for similar cheeses, with only the full Italian name unambiguously referring to PDO Parmigiano Reggiano.

It has been called the «King of Cheeses»^[2] and «practically perfect food»,^[3] whilst in 2023, the guide TasteAtlas has picked Parmigiano Reggiano as best cheese in the world.^[4]

Parmigiano Reggiano Production[edit]

Parmigiano Reggiano is made from unpasteurised cows’ milk. The whole milk of the morning milking is mixed with the naturally skimmed milk (which is made by keeping milk in large shallow tanks to allow the cream to separate) of the previous evening’s milking, resulting in a part skim mixture. This mixture is pumped into copper-lined vats, which heat evenly and contribute copper ions to the mix.^[5]

Starter whey (containing a mixture of certain thermophilic lactic acid bacteria) is added, and the temperature is raised to 33–35 °C (91–95 °F). Calf rennet is added, and the mixture is left to curdle for 10–12 minutes. The curd is then broken up mechanically into small pieces (around the size of rice grains). The temperature is then raised to 55 °C (131 °F) with careful control by the cheese-maker. The curd is left to settle for 45–60 minutes. The compacted curd is collected in a piece of muslin before being divided in two and placed in molds. There are 1,100 litres (290 US gal) of milk per vat, producing two cheeses each. The curd making up each wheel at this point weighs around 45 kilograms (99 lb). The remaining whey in the vat was traditionally used to feed the pigs from which Prosciutto di Parma (cured Parma ham) was produced. The barns for these animals were usually just a few metres away from the cheese production rooms.

The cheese is put into a stainless steel, round form that is pulled tight with a spring-powered buckle so the cheese retains its wheel shape. After a day or two, the buckle is released and a plastic belt imprinted numerous times with the Parmigiano Reggiano name, the plant’s number, and month and year of production is put around the cheese and the metal form is buckled tight again. The imprints take hold on the rind of the cheese in about a day and the wheel is then put into a brine bath to absorb salt for 20–25 days. After brining, the wheels are then transferred to the aging rooms in the plant for 12 months. Each cheese is placed on wooden shelves that can be 24 cheeses high by 90 cheeses long or 2160 total wheels per aisle. Each cheese and the shelf underneath it is then cleaned manually or robotically every seven days, and the cheese is turned.

At 12 months, the Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano inspects every wheel. The cheese is tested by a master grader who taps each wheel to identify undesirable cracks and voids within the wheel. Wheels that pass the test are then heat-branded on the rind with the Consorzio’s logo. Those that do not pass the test used to have their rinds marked with lines or crosses all the way around to inform consumers that they are not getting top-quality Parmigiano Reggiano; more recent practices simply have these lesser rinds stripped of all markings.

Traditionally cows are fed only on grass or hay, producing grass-fed milk. Only natural whey culture is allowed as a starter, together with calf rennet.^[6]

The only additive allowed is salt, which the cheese absorbs while being submerged for 20 days in brine tanks saturated to near-total salinity with Mediterranean sea salt. The product is aged an average of two years.^[7] The cheese is produced daily, and it can show a natural variability. True Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has a sharp, complex fruity/nutty taste with a strong savory flavour and a slightly gritty texture. Inferior versions can impart a bitter taste.

The average Parmigiano Reggiano wheel is about 18–24 cm (7–9 in) high, 40–45 cm (16–18 in) in diameter, and weighs 38 kg (84 lb).

Industry[edit]

All producers of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese belong to the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Consortium), which was founded in 1928.^[8] Besides setting and enforcing the standards for the PDO, the Consorzio also sponsors marketing activities.^[9]

As of 2017, about 3.6 million wheels (approx. 137,000 metric tons) of Parmesan are produced every year; they use about 18% of all the milk produced in Italy.^[10]

Most workers in the Italian dairy industry (bergamini) belong to the Italian General Confederation of Labour. As older dairy workers retire, younger Italians have tended to work in factories or offices. Immigrants have filled that role, with 60% of the workers in the Parmesan industry now immigrants from India, almost all Sikhs.^[11]

Uses[edit]

Parmigiano Reggiano is commonly grated over pasta dishes, stirred into soups and risottos, and eaten on its own. It is often shaved or grated over other dishes like salads.^[12]

Slivers and chunks of the hardest parts of the crust (also called the rind) are sometimes simmered in soups, broths, and sauces to add flavour. They can also be broiled and eaten as a snack if they have no wax on them. They can also be infused in olive oil or used in a steamer basket while steaming vegetables.^[13]

History[edit]

According to legend, Parmigiano Reggiano was created in the course of the Middle Ages in Bibbiano, in the province of Reggio Emilia. Its production soon spread to the Parma and Modena areas. Historical documents show that in the 13th and 14th centuries, Parmigiano was already very similar to that produced today, which suggests its origins can be traced to far earlier. Some evidence suggests that the name was used for Parmesan cheese in Italy and France in the 17th-19th century.^[7]

It was praised as early as 1348 in the writings of Boccaccio; in the Decameron, he invents a ‘mountain, all of grated Parmesan cheese’, on which ‘dwell folk that do nought else but make macaroni and ravioli, and boil them in capon’s broth, and then throw them down to be scrambled for; and hard by flows a rivulet of Vernaccia, the best that ever was drunk, and never a drop of water therein.’^[14]

During the Great Fire of London of 1666, Samuel Pepys buried his «Parmazan cheese, as well as his wine and some other things» to preserve them.^[15]

In the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova,^[16] he remarked that the name «Parmesan» was a misnomer common throughout an «ungrateful» Europe in his time (mid-18th century), as the cheese was produced in the town of Lodi, Lombardy, not Parma. Though Casanova knew his table and claimed in his memoir to have been compiling a (never completed) dictionary of cheeses, his comment has been taken to refer mistakenly to a grana cheese similar to «Parmigiano», Grana Padano, which is produced in the Lodi area.^{[citation needed]}

Parmigiano Reggiano has been the target of organized crime in Italy, particularly the Mafia or Camorra, which ambush delivery trucks on the Autostrada A1 in northern Italy between Milan and Bologna, hijacking shipments. The cheese is ultimately sold in southern Italy.^[17] Between November 2013 and January 2015, an organised crime gang stole 2039 wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano from warehouses in northern and central Italy.^[18]

October 27 is designated «Parmigiano Reggiano Day» by The Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano.^[19]

This day celebrating the «King of Cheese» originated in response to the two earthquakes hitting the area of origin in May 2012. The devastation was profound, displacing tens of thousands of residents, collapsing factories, and massively damaging historical churches, bell towers, and other landmarks.^[20]

Years of cheese production were lost during the disaster, about $50 million worth, reported by the New York Times, potentially threatening the livelihood of cheesemakers whose families produced this product for generations. It was Modena native and renowned Chef Massimo Bottura, who The Consortium turned to for an outsized solution to help save the cheese. Bottura’s three-Michelin starred Osteria Francescana, named the World’s Top Restaurant in 2018 and 2016 by the prestigious San Pellegrino ranking (now in its Hall of Fame) is located in his hometown near the quake’s epicenter. Massimo Bottura’s response to the situation was a single recipe: Riso cacio e pepe. He invited the world through social media and online outlets to cook this new dish along with him launching «Parmigiano Reggiano Day» — October 27.^[20]

Aroma and chemical components[edit]

Cheese, Parmesan, Hard

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	392 kcal (1,640 kJ)
Carbohydrates	3.22 g
Sugars	0.8 g
Dietary fiber	0.0 g
Fat	25.83 g
Saturated	16.41 g
Monounsaturated	7.52 g
Polyunsaturated	0.57 g
Protein	35.75 g
Vitamins	Quantity %DV†
Vitamin A equiv.	26% 207 μg
Thiamine (B1)	3% 0.04 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	28% 0.33 mg
Niacin (B3)	2% 0.27 mg
Vitamin B6	7% 0.09 mg
Folate (B9)	2% 7 μg
Vitamin B12	50% 1.2 μg
Vitamin C	0% 0.0 mg
Vitamin D	3% 19 IU
Vitamin E	1% 0.22 mg
Vitamin K	2% 1.7 μg
Minerals	Quantity %DV†
Calcium	118% 1184 mg
Iron	6% 0.82 mg
Magnesium	12% 44 mg
Phosphorus	99% 694 mg
Potassium	2% 92 mg
Sodium	107% 1602 mg
Zinc	29% 2.75 mg
Other constituents	Quantity
Water	29.16 g
Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA FoodData Central

Parmigiano has many aroma-active compounds, including various aldehydes and butyrates.^[21] Butyric acid and isovaleric acid together are sometimes used to imitate the dominant aromas.^[22]

Parmigiano is also particularly high in glutamate, containing as much as 1.2 g of glutamate per 100 g of cheese. The high concentration of glutamate explains the strong umami taste of Parmigiano.^[23]

Parmigiano cheese typically contains cheese crystals, semi-solid to gritty crystalline spots that at least partially consist of the amino acid tyrosine.^{[citation needed]}

Uses of the name[edit]

The name is legally protected in the European Union and, in Italy, exclusive control is exercised over the cheese’s production and sale by the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese Consorzio, which was created by a governmental decree. Each wheel must meet strict criteria early in the aging process, when the cheese is still soft and creamy, to merit the official seal and be placed in storage for aging. Because it is widely imitated, Parmigiano Reggiano has become an increasingly regulated product, and in 1955 it became what is known as a certified name (which is not the same as a brand name). In 2008, an EU court determined that the name «Parmesan» in Europe only refers to Parmigiano Reggiano and cannot be used for imitation Parmesan.^[24][25][26] Thus, in the European Union, «Parmigiano Reggiano» is a protected designation of origin (PDO – DOP in Italian); legally, the name refers exclusively to the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese manufactured in a limited area in northern Italy. Special seals identify the product as authentic, with the identification number of the dairy, the production month and year, a code identifying the individual wheel and stamps regarding the length of aging.^[27]

Non-European Parmesan cheese[edit]

Parmesan cheese made outside of the European Union is a family of hard grating cheeses made from cows’ milk and inspired by the original Italian cheese.^[28] They are generally pale yellow in color and usually used grated on dishes such as pasta, Caesar salad and pizza.^[29] Some American generic Parmesan is sold already grated and has been aged for less than 12 months.^[2]

Within the European Union, the term Parmesan may be used, by law, to refer only to Parmigiano Reggiano itself, which must be made in a restricted geographic area, using stringently defined methods. In many areas outside Europe the name «Parmesan» has become genericised and may denote any of a number of hard Italian-style grating cheeses,^[30][31] often commercialised under names intended to evoke the original, such as Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesana, Parmabon, Real Parma, Parmezan, or Parmezano.^[2] After the European ruling that «parmesan» could not be used as a generic name, Kraft renamed its grated cheese «Pamesello» in Europe. ^[32]

Non-European production[edit]

Parmesan cheese is defined differently in various jurisdictions outside of Europe. In the United States the Code of Federal Regulations includes a Standard of Identity for «Parmesan and reggiano cheese».^[33] This defines both aspects of the production process and of the final result. In particular, Parmesan must be made of cow’s milk, cured for 10 months or more, contain no more than 32% water, and have no less than 32% milkfat in its solids.^[33]

Kraft Foods is a major North American producer of Parmesan and has been selling it since 1945.^[34][35]

A number of non-European parmesan producers have taken strong objection to the attempts of the European Union to globally control the trademark of the Parmesan name, claiming that it is more about control of trade than control of quality. ^{[36] [37][38]}

Adulteration controversy[edit]

Several American manufacturers have been investigated for allegedly going beyond the 4% cellulose limit.^[39] In one case, FDA findings found «no parmesan cheese was used to manufacture» a Pennsylvania manufacturer’s grated cheese labeled «Parmesan», apparently made from a mixture of other cheeses and cellulose. The manufacturer declared bankruptcy in 2014 and their president was expected to plead guilty to criminal charges, facing up to $100,000 in fines and a year in jail.^[39]

Similar cheeses[edit]

Grana Padano[edit]

Grana Padano is an Italian cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, but is produced mainly in Lombardy, where «Padano» refers to the Po Valley (Pianura Padana); the cows producing the milk may be fed silage as well as grass; the milk may contain slightly less fat, milk from several different days may be used, and must be aged a minimum of 9 months.

Gran Moravia[edit]

Gran Moravia is a cheese from the Czech Republic similar to Grana Padano and Parmigiano.^[40]

Reggianito[edit]

Reggianito is an Argentine cheese similar to Parmigiano. Developed by Italian Argentine cheesemakers, the cheese is made in smaller wheels and aged for less time, but is otherwise broadly similar.

See also[edit]

• List of cheeses
• Parmesan knife

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website
• Media related to Parmigiano-Reggiano at Wikimedia Commons