Parmesan vs Cheddar: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Parmesan has 28.4 g of protein, while Cheddar has 23.3 g. Parmesan contains 420 calories, compared to Cheddar's 408 calories.

Parmesan and Cheddar are two widely enjoyed cheeses, each with unique flavors and textures. This comparison highlights their nutritional differences, helping you make informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Parmesan and Cheddar?

Parmesan is a hard, granular cheese made from cow's milk, known for its rich flavor and often used in Italian cuisine. It is aged for a long period, resulting in a strong taste. Cheddar is a popular semi-hard cheese that originates from England, made from cow's milk. It is known for its sharp flavor and is commonly used in various dishes.

Parmesan vs Cheddar: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional content of Parmesan and Cheddar.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Parmesan (grated)	Cheddar cheese
Calories	420 kcal	408 kcal
Protein	28.4 g	23.3 g
Carbs	13.9 g	2.4 g
Sugar	0.8 g	0.5 g
Fat	27.8 g	34 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	1804 mg	654 mg

Which Is Better, Parmesan or Cheddar?

For weight loss: Parmesan has 420 calories, while Cheddar has slightly fewer at 408 calories, making Cheddar a better choice for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Parmesan provides 28.4 g of protein, which is higher than Cheddar's 23.3 g, making it more suitable for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Parmesan contains 13.9 g of carbs and 0.8 g of sugar, while Cheddar has only 2.4 g of carbs and 0.5 g of sugar, making Cheddar the lower-carb option.

How to Track Parmesan and Cheddar Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros, especially with cheese, which can be calorie-dense. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use only, not intended as medical advice. Always consider individual dietary needs when evaluating nutrition. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which cheese has more protein?

Parmesan has 28.4 g of protein, while Cheddar has 23.3 g.

Which cheese has fewer calories?

Cheddar has 408 calories, while Parmesan has 420 calories.

What is the fat content in Parmesan?

Parmesan has 27.8 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sodium is in Cheddar?

Cheddar contains 654 mg of sodium per 100 g.

What are the sugar levels in both cheeses?

Parmesan has 0.8 g of sugar, while Cheddar has 0.5 g.

What is the carb content of Parmesan?

Parmesan contains 13.9 g of carbs per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Parmesan has 420 calories per 100 g.
• Cheddar has 408 calories per 100 g.
• Parmesan contains 28.4 g of protein.
• Cheddar contains 23.3 g of protein.
• Parmesan has 27.8 g of fat.
• Cheddar has 34 g of fat.