What is a firm cheese or hard cheese?

What is a firm cheese or hard cheese?


This style of cheeses can range from very mild to very sharp in taste. Some firm cheeses have a texture profile that is elastic, at room temperature, like Emmental and Gruyère. Cheddars and goudas, as they get older tend to be more ridged and crumbly. Aged Goudas are usually firm enough that they can be easily grated. Several Italian cheeses such as Asiago, Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan), Piave and Pecorino are hard and grateable at the time of their release to market.