Lactose-free cheese
Lactose free cheese: real Dutch Gouda without lactose
Lactose free cheese at Goudacheeseshop.com is not a specially treated product. It is ordinary Dutch cheese that has matured long enough. During ripening, lactic acid bacteria turn the milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid. Matured, aged and extra aged Gouda end up with less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 g, the threshold for calling a food lactose free.
This category only lists cheeses where that is the case: from extra matured Beemster and North Holland Gouda with the red seal to Pure Jersey, aged cumin cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano. Freshly cut from the wheel, vacuum packed and shipped chilled.
More about lactose free cheese: which cheeses, young Gouda, storage and FAQ
Which cheese is lactose free
Almost every hard, matured cheese. The longer a cheese ripens, the less lactose it contains. Every cheese in this category is matured or older:
- Gouda: extra matured, aged Gouda and extra aged Gouda, including farmhouse and crumbly Gouda.
- North Holland cheese: North Holland Gouda with the red seal, Beemster, Stompetoren and Landana.
- Jersey and A2A2: the matured varieties of Jersey Gouda and A2A2 cheese.
- Low fat cheese: 30+ cheese in extra matured and aged.
- European cheese: Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, pecorino, Emmental and Blue Stilton.
Is Gouda lactose free
Matured Gouda is. Freshly made cheese still contains a little lactose, which breaks down in the first weeks of ripening. The older the cheese, the more certain the lactose content is below 0.1 g per 100 g. That is why this category holds the matured and older cheeses and no young Gouda.
Naturally lactose free
No enzyme is added to these cheeses, unlike lactose free milk. They are made from ordinary cow, goat or sheep milk and become lactose free with time. Taste and texture are exactly what a lover of Dutch cheese expects: the older, the fuller and sharper.
Storage and shipping
Goudacheeseshop.com cuts the cheese after the order comes in and vacuum packs it. Unopened, it keeps for seven to eight weeks. After opening, store it in the fridge in cheese paper and eat within one to two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Which cheese has no lactose? Hard cheeses matured for at least several months, such as extra matured, aged and extra aged Gouda, Parmesan and Emmental.
Is young Gouda lactose free? Young Gouda usually contains very little lactose, but not always less than 0.1 g per 100 g. To be sure, choose matured or older.
Is A2 cheese lactose free? Not by definition. A2 refers to the milk protein, not the milk sugar. The A2A2 cheeses in this category are lactose free because of their ripening.
Is lactose free cheese suitable for a milk allergy? No. A milk allergy is a reaction to milk protein, which lactose free cheese still contains. For dietary questions, a doctor or dietitian can advise.
Is lactose free cheese also low in fat? Not automatically. Most cheeses here are 48+. Lower fat options are in low fat cheese.