Difference Between Cured and Matured Cheese

Cheese is a very common dairy product in our diet and, after all, it's delicious! There are fresh or matured cheeses; made from sheep's, cow's, goat's or buffalo's milk, more or less creamy, and the variety of types and flavors is so wide that we could spend weeks eating cheese without repeating a single one. But do you know what the difference is between cured and matured cheese? At Enrique Tomás, we are passionate about jamón, but we also love cheese, and we're going to explain it all so that when you organize your next wine and cheese tasting, you can surprise your guests!

What Is the Difference Between Cured and Matured Cheese?

The first thing to bear in mind is that cheeses can be divided into fresh or matured depending on how long they are left to mature in the aging rooms. The longer the maturation period, the fattier and more intense the final product will be, and the less water it will contain. With that clarified, let's take a closer look:

Fresh Cheeses

What we know as fresh cheeses are ready to eat as soon as they are produced, as at most they need to mature for a maximum of seven days if they weigh more than 1.5 kg. These types of cheese need to be eaten immediately as they spoil very quickly, and they should always be kept in the refrigerator, preferably inside an airtight container. They are healthier because they contain less fat and less salt. Some of the most popular are:

Matured Cheeses

On the other hand, matured cheeses are those that require a maturation process of between 105 and more than 270 days; in other words, if they weigh 1.5 kg or more, they need at least four months of maturation before they are ready. Depending on the length of this period, we can distinguish between cured, old, and aged cheeses. Cured cheeses need around 100 days, old cheeses around 180 days, and aged cheeses a total of nine months or more.

As we mentioned earlier, these cheeses are fattier, drier, and stronger in flavor than fresh cheeses, and one of their main advantages is that you can keep them for longer. For example, if you have a whole wheel and haven't opened it, there's no problem: you can wait a little longer because the rind will protect the product.

However, if you've already started it, things change. In this case, it's important to keep it well protected inside an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator too. Although it will last longer than a fresh cheese, it is best to eat it as soon as possible because otherwise mold may appear due to moisture. If this happens and it is only on the surface, simply cut that part away and that's it—the rest of the cheese will be just as delicious! The most popular include:

Semi-Cured Cheeses

Semi-cured cheeses deserve a special mention. They are a variety that is neither completely fresh nor fully matured. To reach the right point of maturation, they require a total of 35 days if they weigh more than 1.5 kg. One of the cheeses that falls into this classification is paprika-coated goat's cheese.

Maturation times for pieces over 1.5 kg · In burgundy, the three varieties of matured cheese

So, what is the difference between cured and matured cheese? As you will have seen, cured cheeses are one of the three varieties of matured cheese, and the one that requires the shortest maturation period.

And now that you know, how about tasting the different varieties available? You'll be in for a real treat!