Let’s face it: we’re a nation of pasta lovers, and no pasta dish is truly complete without a grating of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Parmigiano Reggiano isn’t just any cheese – it’s a product of centuries of Italian tradition. Made in specific regions of northern Italy from cow’s milk, rennet, and salt, it is aged slowly to develop its rich, nutty, and slightly crystalline texture. Each wheel is carefully inspected and branded, ensuring the quality and authenticity that has made it a symbol of Italian cuisine worldwide.
But choosing the right one isn’t always easy. With so many options on supermarket shelves – multiple ranges, different ages, varying prices – it’s hard to know what’s worth it. Should you go for 18 months or 30? Is the premium range really better, or is the cheaper option just as good? And does organic actually make a difference to the flavour?
As a proud half-Italian, I tasted them all to find out – and gave each a rating out of five.
Tesco Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
£4 for 200g, Tesco
How aged you like your parmigiano is a matter of personal choice and what you’re going to use it for. Younger Parmigiano Reggiano (around 12 months) is soft and mild, but its flavour is often too subtle to stand out on pasta or in sauces.
As it ages – between 24 and 36 months – it becomes crumbly, richer, and develops those signature nutty, complex flavours, making it ideal for grating over pasta, risotto, or stirring into sauces. The very oldest wheels, aged over 40 months, are bold and intense, sometimes with hints of spice or smokiness, making them perfect for savoring on their own or on a cheeseboard. Supermarkets tend to go for a sweet spot between 20 and 30 months.
This Tesco one is aged for 22 months meaning it has some strength of flavour but not the crystalline saltiness of an older one. It’s perfectly acceptable to eat on its own (if you don’t put Parmigiano on a cheese board, you should) but on top of pasta, the flavour gets a little lost. If you like something punchier and more umami, this is not the one for you.
2/5
Tesco Finest Parmigiano Reggiano
£3.85 for 170g, Tesco
It’s £2.65 more expensive per kg than the standard Tesco range – but is it worth it? Aged for a minimum of 30 months, the difference is apparent even before tasting.
You can see little white flecks throughout the cheese – these are tyrosine crystals, a naturally occurring amino acid that forms as the cheese proteins break down during aging. They add a delightful crunch and a burst of deeply savory flavour, and are a hallmark of a well-aged, high-quality Parmigiano. There is also a sweetness and nuttiness to this cheese which helps to balance the umami.
All in all, it’s much stronger in taste and, personally, I prefer it – but that’s not to say it’s categorically better. For pasta, this is what I would choose.
4/5
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Read More Lidl Deluxe Parmigiano Reggiano
£3.49 for 200g, Lidl
Lidl often delivers on Italian food – in fact, I can recommend the Puglian extra virgin olive oil they’ve got in at the moment – but how about their Parmigiano?
It’s aged for a minimum of 30 months and has that characteristic sharp, fruity and savoury flavour, plus the intense hits of umami from the crystals. Texture-wise, it’s firm and a little crumbly and slightly melts on the tongue to unleash its deep flavour. There’s a slight graininess to the texture, especially around the crystals, which is pleasing.
I’d definitely serve this on a cheeseboard with something sweet to complement the sharpness and further bring out the fruity flavours – perhaps some fresh fig or a drizzle of good honey. But it’s also perfect for grating on pasta, soup or shaving into salad.
I’m also really impressed with the price. It’s one of the cheapest cheeses in the range, without compromising on quality.
5/5 WINNER
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
£4.50 for 200g, Sainsbury’s
This Sainsbury’s cheese is matured for a minimum of 30 months and even touts that it’s hand-crafted. The packaging also highlights that it’s made with unpasteurised milk – which while true, is a bit of a marketing ploy, since all authentic Parmigiano Reggiano must use unpasteurised milk. Nevertheless, it’s a decent Parmigiano with a sweet, nutty flavour and rich mouthfeel. But it’s milder and slightly less crumbly than the Lidl one, and doesn’t quite have the same complexity of flavour.
It’s also quite a bit more expensive, and because the flavour isn’t that much better, I’d say it’s bad value for money.
2/5
Waitrose Duchy Organic Parmigiano Reggiano DOP
£4.25 for 150g, Waitrose
Unlike most of the other supermarket Parmigianos, this one is matured for 18 months rather than 30 and uses organic milk.
It has a lovely, delicate flavour with a distinct nuttiness. It’s less tangy than some of the others, but sometimes that’s what you want. I really like to use this kind of cheese in thin shavings over salad to add texture and richness to the dish.
This cheese is definitely creamier tasting than the rest, but because it’s organic, it is the priciest of the bunch, which is something to bear in mind.
3/5
Waitrose No.1 Parmigiano Reggiano DOP
£5.25 for 200g, Waitrose
This is a strong, punchy Parmigiano with real depth and complexity of flavour. It’s one of the more premium of the bunch but it does deliver on taste. It’s got a sharp, slightly astringent tang upon first bite, but it’s quickly tempered by a rich, nuttiness with hints of fruitiness. The deep savouriness definitely lingers on the tongue and makes you want to keep going back for more.
It grates really nicely and sits perfectly on top of any pasta sauce that has a sweet edge to it. This is also a great option for making pesto, as the flavour can stand up to the other strong flavours of basil, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
If you like your cheese strong and in your face, this is the one for you.
4/5
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M&S Parmigiano Reggiano
£4.75 for 200g, M&S
I really like this one by M&S. It’s made in a single dairy in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, by a cheesemaker who’s been practicing his craft for 14 years, using local milk from the surrounding farms.
It’s bright and savoury with a lovely tang, the kind that makes your mouth water. There’s a hint of sweetness beneath the salt – almost caramel-like – and the texture is satisfyingly flaky with those tiny crunchy crystals that melt on the tongue. It tastes alive, balanced and full of character – which you’d expect from this price.
4/5
Co-op Italian Parmigiano Reggiano
£4.20 for 170g, Co-op
This Co-op parmigiano is matured for a minimum of 18 months. On the palate you’ll find a fresh milky start that quickly opens into savoury waves, though it’s lighter on the intense flakes and crystals you get in older wheels.
The texture is smooth and nice to bite into, with less of the crumbliness of some others. If you prefer a more mild cheese, this is the one for you, but personally I’d choose a tangier, more complex one.
2/5
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