Just when you thought all Parmesan was created equally… I’m here to tell you that others will beg to differ!
In fact, America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated have both voted our Parmigiano Reggiano #1 in their quest to find the best Parmesan in America today. "We preferred the igourmet top grade and Vacche Rosse Parmigiano-Reggiano by a landslide, ranking them significantly higher than the other cheeses for complexity of flavor and appealing texture. And when we tasted the regular Parmigiano from igourmet against our supermarket cheeses, it was an easy winner.
All wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano are inspected at 12 months of age to determine grading. Only the top three grades, based on appearance, structure and other characteristics, are permitted to continue the aging process. At the request of the producer, wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano at 18 months of age are inspected a second time. If the wheels meet the ultimate standard for the Top Grade, the mark EXTRA or EXPORT is branded on the side of the wheel to provide an additional guarantee of the superior quality of that particular wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Parmigiano Reggiano is primarily thought of as a grating cheese. Connoisseurs around the world, especially in its native northern Italy, savor Parmigiano Reggiano as a delicious, nutty & full-flavored eating cheese as well as a key addition to their finest dishes.