Cheddar vs Parmesan Cheese

A side-by-side guide to substituting Parmesan Cheese for Cheddar (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 0.75 cup of Parmesan Cheese for every 1 cup of Cheddar.

Side-by-side

Cheddar

Base unit: cup

Read the full guide: Cheddar

Parmesan Cheese

Conversion: Use 75% as much (0.75 cup per 1 cup)

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Notes: Parmesan is much sharper and saltier; use about 25% less by volume. Better for cooking than melting; adds nutty flavor instead of creamy richness.

Read the full guide: Parmesan Cheese

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When to use Parmesan Cheese instead of Cheddar

Parmesan is much sharper and saltier; use about 25% less by volume. Better for cooking than melting; adds nutty flavor instead of creamy richness. The conversion is use 75% as much (0.75 cup per 1 cup).

Common questions

Can I substitute Parmesan Cheese for Cheddar?

Yes — Parmesan is much sharper and saltier; use about 25% less by volume. Better for cooking than melting; adds nutty flavor instead of creamy richness. Ratio: Use 75% as much (0.75 cup per 1 cup).

What's the conversion ratio for Cheddar to Parmesan Cheese?

Use 75% as much (0.75 cup per 1 cup). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Cheddar and Parmesan Cheese interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Parmesan is much sharper and saltier; use about 25% less by volume..

Is Parmesan Cheese a better substitute than other options for Cheddar?

Parmesan Cheese is one of the options SubSwap lists for Cheddar. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Cheddar substitutes.

Looking for more Cheddar substitutes beyond Parmesan Cheese?

See all Cheddar swaps →

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