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Gruyere cheese vs. Gouda cheese — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Sveta Badalyan by Sveta Badalyan | Last updated on May 11, 2023
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel Article author photo Igor Bussel
Gruyere cheese
vs
Gouda cheese

Summary

Gouda cheese contains two times more folate and 1.1 times more vitamin B2. Gruyere cheese, in contrast, has 1.7 times more vitamin A. Gruyere cheese covers your daily calcium needs. Though gouda cheese has a low sugar content, it has 6 times more sugar than gruyere cheese. On the other hand, gruyere cheese contains 10 percent less sodium.

Gouda cheese contains fewer calories than gruyere cheese, while gruyere contains more protein and less sodium.

Introduction

In this article, we will talk about the similarities and differences between gouda cheese and gruyere cheese.

Classification

Gouda is a Dutch cheese named after the town of Gouda.

Gruyere cheese has its roots in Switzerland. 

Gouda is typically produced from pasteurized cow's milk, while sometimes it is made from sheep's or goat's milk to produce long-aged cheeses. Unlike it, gruyere cheese is made from unpasteurized cow's milk.

Gouda can mature from 4 weeks to over 12 months, resulting in vastly different outcomes. Gruyere cheese, on the other hand, is often aged for six months or more.

Appearance

 The gouda cheese itself is a deep yellow color. Young gouda cheese has yellow, orange, or red wax rinds, and mature white cheese has black wax coverings.

Gruyere cheese is pale yellow with a natural, rusty brown rind. On the other hand, it has a few holes, or "eyes," characteristic of Swiss cheese, produced by gas bubbles released by the bacteria used in the cheese's production. 

Unlike gouda cheese, which is semi-hard, gruyere cheese is hard

Taste and Use

The taste of gouda cheese and gruyere cheese mostly depends on the aging process during cheese-making. Flavors get stronger as they mature.

Gouda cheese typically has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. In contrast, Gruyere cheese is known for its rich, creamy, and salty taste.

The taste and texture of younger Gouda cheeses are soft and nearly sweet, while younger Gruyere cheese has a milder, grassier flavor.

The older Gouda cheeses become firmer, stronger, and darker, taking on a buttery and nutty flavor, while mature Gruyere has a sharper character.

You may include both in your cheese board.

Gouda cheese goes well with beer and slightly sweet rye bread, whereas gruyere cheese goes well with white, red, and rose wines.

Varieties

Gouda cheese and gruyere cheese come in several various variations based on age. Gouda cheese has six types. The young Gouda is ready for consumption four weeks after production; young matured at eight to ten weeks, matured at sixteen to eighteen weeks, extra mature at seven to eight months, old or fully matured at ten to twelve months, and very aged at more than twelve months.

Unlike it, gruyere cheese has three primary types. Classic has matured for at least five months, d'Alpage at 5 to 10 months, and Reserve for 10 to 16 months.

Nutrition

The nutritional values in this article are presented for 100g gouda and gruyere cheeses. 

Macronutrients and Calories

Compared to gouda cheese, gruyere has 10% higher protein and 8% higher fats per 100g.

On the other hand, gouda is higher in water. While Gouda contains 41.5g of water, gruyere contains 33.1g. 

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
30% 32% 33% 4%
Protein: 29.81 g
Fats: 32.34 g
Carbs: 0.36 g
Water: 33.19 g
Other: 4.3 g
25% 27% 2% 41% 4%
Protein: 24.94 g
Fats: 27.44 g
Carbs: 2.22 g
Water: 41.46 g
Other: 3.94 g
Contains more ProteinProtein +19.5%
Contains more FatsFats +17.9%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +516.7%
Contains more WaterWater +24.9%
~equal in Other ~3.94g

Calories

Both of these types of cheese are high-calorie foods; however, gruyere cheese is higher in calories. 

A 100g serving of gouda cheese contains 356 calories, while the same serving size of gruyere cheese provides 413 calories.

Protein

Gruyere cheese is slightly higher in protein (29.8 g in 100 g) compared to gouda cheese (24.9 g in 100 g). Both are high in all essential amino acids. However, gruyere is richer in all essential amino acids.

Fats

Gruyere cheese contains more fats than gouda cheese. Gruyere is 2.5 times richer in polyunsaturated fats.

Compared to gruyere cheese, which has 110 mg of cholesterol, gouda has 114 mg per 100g.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
62% 33% 6%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 18.913 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 10.043 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.733 g
68% 30% 3%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 17.614 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 7.747 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.657 g
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +29.6%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +163.8%
~equal in Saturated Fat ~17.614g

Carbohydrates

Gouda cheese has a higher sugar content. In contrast to gruyere cheese, which has only 0.36g of sugar, gouda has 2.22g.

However, both are low in carbohydrates.

Gouda cheese and gruyere cheese do not contain dietary fiber.

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Vitamins

Gouda cheese is richer in vitamin B2 and folate (vitamin B9). 

Gruyere cheese, on the other hand, contains higher levels of vitamin B5 and vitamin A.

Gouda cheese and gruyere cheese contain similar amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin K, and vitamin D. Both of them are entirely absent in vitamin C.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 57% 5.6% 18% 15% 64% 2% 34% 19% 200% 6.8% 7.5% 8.4%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 34% 4.8% 15% 7.5% 77% 1.2% 20% 18% 193% 5.8% 16% 8.4%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +68.4%
Contains more Vitamin E Vitamin E +16.7%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +20%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +100%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +68.3%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +65.3%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +17.4%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +19.7%
Contains more FolateFolate +110%
~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg
~equal in Vitamin B6 ~0.08mg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~1.54µg
~equal in Choline ~15.4mg

Minerals

Gouda cheese is 1,5 times higher in potassium than gruyere cheese. At the same time, gruyere cheese contains more calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium

Compared to gouda cheese, which has 700 mg of calcium, gruyere cheese has 1011 mg. Gruyere cheese is also lower in sodium

Both food items are equal in their zinc, selenium, copper, and choline contents.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 26% 303% 7.1% 6.4% 11% 106% 259% 93% 2.2% 79%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 21% 210% 11% 9% 12% 106% 234% 107% 1.4% 79%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +24.1%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +44.4%
Contains less SodiumSodium -12.8%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +54.5%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +49.4%
Contains more IronIron +41.2%
Contains more CopperCopper +12.5%
~equal in Zinc ~3.9mg
~equal in Phosphorus ~546mg
~equal in Selenium ~14.5µg

Glycemic Index

There are no particular glycemic index values established for gouda and gruyere cheese. Due to the low-carb content of cheeses, they are classified as low glycemic index foods.

Acidity

Both of them are acidic. Gouda cheese has a typical pH value of 5,1 to 5,4.

Gruyere cheese has a pH value of 5,5 to 5,7.

An alternative way of measuring the acidity of foods is the potential renal acid load (PRAL). The PRAL value of peanut butter is 20 (acidic)

The PRAL value of hummus is 21.2 (acidic).

Weight Loss & Diets

Both kinds of cheese are low in calories and fat contents, but Gouda cheese is a better choice for low-calorie and low-fat diets than gruyere cheese.

Furthermore, both low-carbohydrate kinds of cheeses are acceptable on a keto diet.

Both of them can not be allowed during vegan and vegetarian diets.

Health Benefits

Cardiovascular Health

Due to gouda's high sodium level, gruyere may be a preferable alternative for persons with hypertension. However, gouda has a higher potassium content, which is also proven to lower blood pressure(1). In addition, gouda also has some bioactive peptides with anti-hypertensive activities(2). 

Gruyere cheese, on the other hand, contains more calcium, which is proven to help regulate blood pressure.

Overall, according to another meta-analysis, low-fat cheeses may protect against stroke or coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence(3). 

Diabetes

According to this meta-analysis, there is an inverse association between low-fat dairy products and cheese consumption with the risk of type 2 diabetes(4). 

Results of the other study suggested that Gouda cheese may play a function in preventing cardiovascular illnesses and diabetic complications(2).

Digestive Health

Both are safe for galactosemia patients to eat because they have less than 25 mg of galactose per 100 grams(5). 

Downsides and Risks

Cardiovascular Health

 As mentioned above, gouda cheese contains more sodium. It is associated with increased blood pressure, which is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease(6). 

Unlike gouda cheese, gruyere contains more phosphorus. Higher phosphorus concentrations, on the other hand, were correlated to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events(7). 

Allergy

Lactose may be present in small amounts in gouda cheese and gruyere cheese. However, gouda cheese may contain more lactose than gruyere cheese. That might be unsafe for lactose-intolerant people(8). 

Cancer

Gouda cheese and gruyere cheese have both been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, even though cheese consumption can be preventive against several types of cancer. But in comparison to gouda cheese, gruyere cheese has a higher risk(9)

Article author photo Sveta Badalyan
Education: General Medicine at YSMU
Last updated: May 11, 2023
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel

Infographic

Gruyere cheese vs Gouda cheese infographic
Infographic link

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Gruyere cheese Gouda cheese
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in price ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index Equal
Rich in minerals Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Gruyere cheese Gouda cheese Opinion
Calories 413kcal 356kcal Gruyere cheese
Protein 29.81g 24.94g Gruyere cheese
Fats 32.34g 27.44g Gruyere cheese
Net carbs 0.36g 2.22g Gouda cheese
Carbs 0.36g 2.22g Gouda cheese
Cholesterol 110mg 114mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin D 24IU 20IU Gruyere cheese
Magnesium 36mg 29mg Gruyere cheese
Calcium 1011mg 700mg Gruyere cheese
Potassium 81mg 121mg Gouda cheese
Iron 0.17mg 0.24mg Gouda cheese
Sugar 0.36g 2.22g Gruyere cheese
Copper 0.032mg 0.036mg Gouda cheese
Zinc 3.9mg 3.9mg
Phosphorus 605mg 546mg Gruyere cheese
Sodium 714mg 819mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin A 948IU 563IU Gruyere cheese
Vitamin A RAE 271µg 165µg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin E 0.28mg 0.24mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin D 0.6µg 0.5µg Gruyere cheese
Manganese 0.017mg 0.011mg Gruyere cheese
Selenium 14.5µg 14.5µg
Vitamin B1 0.06mg 0.03mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin B2 0.279mg 0.334mg Gouda cheese
Vitamin B3 0.106mg 0.063mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin B5 0.562mg 0.34mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin B6 0.081mg 0.08mg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin B12 1.6µg 1.54µg Gruyere cheese
Vitamin K 2.7µg 2.3µg Gruyere cheese
Folate 10µg 21µg Gouda cheese
Choline 15.4mg 15.4mg
Saturated Fat 18.913g 17.614g Gouda cheese
Monounsaturated Fat 10.043g 7.747g Gruyere cheese
Polyunsaturated fat 1.733g 0.657g Gruyere cheese
Tryptophan 0.421mg 0.352mg Gruyere cheese
Threonine 1.089mg 0.93mg Gruyere cheese
Isoleucine 1.612mg 1.306mg Gruyere cheese
Leucine 3.102mg 2.564mg Gruyere cheese
Lysine 2.71mg 2.654mg Gruyere cheese
Methionine 0.822mg 0.719mg Gruyere cheese
Phenylalanine 1.743mg 1.431mg Gruyere cheese
Valine 2.243mg 1.806mg Gruyere cheese
Histidine 1.117mg 1.032mg Gruyere cheese

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Gruyere cheese Gouda cheese
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet Equal

People also compare

Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
34%
Gruyere cheese
31%
Gouda cheese
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
89%
Gruyere cheese
79%
Gouda cheese

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Gruyere cheese
Gruyere cheese is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 4mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Gruyere cheese
Gruyere cheese is lower in Sugar (difference - 1.86g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Gruyere cheese
Gruyere cheese contains less Sodium (difference - 105mg)
Which food is cheaper?
Gruyere cheese
Gruyere cheese is cheaper (difference - $2)
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Gruyere cheese
Gruyere cheese is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Gouda cheese
Gouda cheese is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 1.299g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
?
The foods have equal glycemic indexes (0)
Which food is richer in minerals?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Gruyere cheese - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171242/nutrients
  2. Gouda cheese - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171241/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.