Parmesan Cheese vs Mozzarella Cheese (Complete Comparison)

Cheese makes everything better. Whether you’re putting it on a pizza, a hamburger, or just eating a piece on its own, cheese is one of life’s most comforting foods. Two of the most popular cheeses on the market are parmesan and mozzarella.

What makes these two cheeses so special? Is one better than the other? These are questions that I am going to answer in this article.

I am going to do a side-by-side comparison of parmesan and mozzarella cheese to see how they compare when it comes to ingredients, calories, fat, protein, sodium, and even how they taste.

Ingredients Comparison

The ingredients in both parmesan and mozzarella are similar when both kinds of cheese are in block form. Shredded cheese will often have added ingredients, such as anti-caking ingredients, that are used to prevent the cheese shreds from sticking to each other and also to extend the shelf life.

For this comparison, I will only be comparing block parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Block cheeses tend to have fewer ingredients added to them and they are also easier to find.

The main difference between these two kinds of cheese is how they are made. Parmesan cheese is made with cultures and mozzarella cheese is made with vinegar.

Cheese cultures are specific strands of good bacteria that bind the cheese together and give it a richer flavor. Vinegar, on the hand, curdles the milk, separating it from the whey and removing water from the curds. This gives mozzarella that supple, soft texture and taste.

Parmesan Ingredients	Mozzarella Ingredients
Pasteurized part skim milk, cultures, salt, enzymes	Pasteurized milk, vinegar, enzymes, salt

Parmesan Cheese vs Mozzarella Cheese Nutritional Comparison

Now that we know what the ingredients are in parmesan and mozzarella cheese, we next want to examine the nutritional content of each one. For the rest of this comparison, I will be comparing Boar’s Head Block Parmesan cheese and BelGioioso fresh mozzarella.

The comparison will be based on a single, 28-gram serving as well as a 100-gram serving.

Best for Calorie Content

Let’s first start this comparison with calorie content. Parmesan and mozzarella cheese are both fairly low in calories but Parmesan cheese does contain more calories than mozzarella cheese.

Cheese Type	Calories Per 28g Serving	Calories Per 100g Serving
Parmesan Cheese	120 kcal	400 kcal
Mozzarella Cheese	70 kcal	250 kcal

Best for Carbs & Sugar Content

Parmesan and mozzarella have zero sugar content. When comparing the amount of carbohydrates, though, you have to look closely at the serving size.

A single 28-gram serving of Mozzarella cheese contains 1 gram of carbs and parmesan has zero carbs. However, when the comparison is based on a 100-gram serving, Parmesan has 20 grams of carbs compared to mozzarella’s 3.57 grams.

Cheese Type	Carbs Per 28g Serving	Carbs Per 100g Serving
Parmesan Cheese	0g	20g
Mozzarella Cheese	1g	3.57g

Best for Protein Content

One of the reasons why cheese is such a popular food is because of its high protein content.

Parmesan and mozzarella are no exception. But in this comparison, parmesan cheese has more protein per serving than mozzarella cheese. A 100-gram serving of parmesan cheese has 20 grams of protein while mozzarella has almost 18 grams.

Cheese Type	Protein Per 28g Serving	Protein Per 100g Serving
Parmesan Cheese	9g	20g
Mozzarella Cheese	5g	17.9g

Best for Fat Content

Cheese may be good if you are wanting a high-protein food but it also comes with some disadvantages. Fat content is one of them. Both parmesan and mozzarella cheese are high in fat but they also both contain high amounts of unhealthy saturated fat.

Saturated fats are dangerous to the heart and blood vessels. Eating foods that contain saturated fats can put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Cheese has some health benefits, but it should be consumed in moderation.

Comparing the fat content of both kinds of cheese involves looking closely at the serving size.

Mozzarella has less saturated fat in a 28-gram serving but has a higher amount in a 100-gram serving.

Cheese Type	Fat Content Per 28g	Saturated Fat Per 28g	Fat Content Per 100g	Saturated Fat Per 100g
Parmesan Cheese	9g	7g	20g	10g
Mozzarella Cheese	5g	3.5g	17.9g	12.5g

Best for Sodium/Salt Content

The sodium/salt content of both kinds of cheese is another area where close examination is needed. Just as consuming too much saturated fat is dangerous to our health, so is consuming foods that are high in sodium/salt.

If you are someone who needs to monitor your sodium/salt intake, mozzarella cheese is the right choice for you. Mozzarella cheese is low in sodium, having only 85 mg per 28-gram serving.

Cheese Type	Sodium/Salt Per 28g Serving	Sodium/Salt Per 100g Serving
Parmesan Cheese	340 mg	1100 mg
Mozzarella Cheese	85 mg	304 mg

Best for Vitamins/Minerals

There is one mineral that cheese is well-known for having – calcium. Calcium is such a vital mineral to every human.

We need it for strong bones and muscles. Women, in particular, need adequate amounts of calcium in their daily diet to help offset the effects of osteoporosis as we get older. Parmesan cheese is a good source of calcium. A serving of parmesan cheese contains between 500 and 1200 mg of calcium.

Cheese Type	Calcium Per 28g Serving	Calcium Per 100g Serving
Parmesan Cheese	500 mg	1200 mg
Mozzarella Cheese	160 mg	286 mg

Best for Flavor/Texture

Parmesan and mozzarella cheese vary greatly when it comes to flavor and texture but each one has endless possibilities.

Parmesan cheese is a firm cheese. It is easy to grate or cut with a knife. It also has a nutty flavor. I like to grate parmesan cheese over spaghetti or use it when I make meatballs.

Mozzarella, on the other hand, is a very soft cheese. You can grate it but it is difficult and requires some patience. Mozzarella has a milky taste. I use it on our pizzas or melt it over an open-faced tuna sandwich.

Best for Price

Price is one area where these two kinds of cheese vary greatly. In some stores, parmesan that is not greeted is considered a specialty cheese. It is often found in the deli section of your grocer but, depending on where you live, it may be hard to come by.

Mozzarella, on the other hand, is easy to find. You can find it in the deli section or with the other block cheeses.

I did not find that the price for either parmesan or mozzarella varied greatly. I was able to purchase an 8-ounce block of parmesan for $7, the same price as an 8-ounce block of fresh mozzarella.

Overall Winner

After comparing parmesan and mozzarella side-by-side, it is not difficult to see why both of these cheeses are popular. But in this comparison, the winner is….Mozzarella cheese.

Both parmesan and mozzarella are good choices when it comes to protein and calcium content. the two things we love cheese for. They are also both delicious and affordable. But mozzarella cheese has fewer calories, has fewer carbs, and is lower in fat and sodium.

Comparison Category	Winner (Parmesan or Mozzarella)
Best in Calorie Content	Mozzarella
Best in Carb Content	Mozzarella
Best in Protein Content	Parmesan
Best in Fat Content	Mozzarella
Best in Sodium/Salt Content	Mozzarella
Best in Calcium Content	Parmesan
Best for Price	Both are winners
Overall winner	Mozzarella

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