What Is Swiss cheese and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about swiss cheese and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 526 recipes to cook tonight.

What is swiss cheese?

Swiss cheese  is a generic name in North America for several related varieties of cheese which resemble the Swiss Emmental.

Some types of Swiss cheese have a distinctive appearance, as the blocks of the cheese are riddled with holes known as “eyes.” Swiss cheese has a piquant, but not very sharp, taste.

Swiss cheese without eyes is known as “blind.

In general, the larger the eyes in a Swiss cheese, the more pronounced its flavor because a longer fermentation period gives the bacteria more time to act.

This poses a problem, however, because cheese with large eyes does not slice well and comes apart in mechanical slicers. As a result, industry regulators have reduced the eye size necessary for a Swiss cheese to receive the Grade A stamp.

Baby Swiss  and Lacy Swiss  are two varieties of US Swiss cheeses. Both have small holes and a mild flavor.

Baby Swiss is made from whole milk, and Lacy Swiss is made from low fat milk.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find swiss cheese: Swiss cheese is usually found in the cheeses section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Swiss cheese is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

瑞士奶酪

British (UK) term

Swiss cheese

en français

fromage suisse

en español

queso suizo

How much does swiss cheese weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using swiss cheese

There are 526 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cheese Mushroom Hearty Meatballs

Stuffed cheese mushroom meatballs filled with melted Swiss and sauteed mushrooms, simmered in a tomato cream-of-mushroom sauce. Hearty Midwestern comfort food served over pasta or mashed potatoes.

Turkey Reuben Sandwiches

Quick and easy way of using up leftover turkey. Turkey, topped with sauerkraut and melted swiss cheese.

Mexican Pizza Grilled Cheese

Who doesn't like grilled cheese? Probably nobody, as far as I know everybody I know absolutely loves it. Quick, easy and delicious. Made this Mexican pizza grilled cheese for lunch, and needless to say, I was totally happy and satisfied. Here the recipe is.

Picked Vegetables & Egg Sandwich with Swiss Cheese

Picked ginger, cucumber and a pan-fried egg are topped over English muffin. An easy and tasty sandwich is ideal for a quick meal.

Pigs in a Blanket Reuben

These Reuben-inspired Pigs in a Blanket feature grown-up flavors of sauerkraut and Swiss cheese with a crispy topping wrapped in a warm, soft dinner roll blanket.

The Mr. Turkey Sandwich

Quick, easy and delicious. I only had salami, and that's what I used in the sandwich. Of course a slice of ham and smoked turkey would double the yumminess. I shredded the lettuce, and seasoned it with a bit extra-virgin olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and black pepper. The tomato slices were also seasoned with a pinch of sea salt. The sandwich was so good!

Brussels Sprouts, Kale & Bell Pepper Frittata

A golden, veggie-packed frittata with tender brussels sprouts, earthy kale, sauteed mushrooms, and melty Swiss cheese. This quick vegetarian breakfast or brunch comes together in 30 minutes with just one skillet.

Artichoke Spinach Dip

I got this recipe from a friend I used to work with. It is so good!

Very Cheesy Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cheesy cream of broccoli soup loaded with sharp cheddar, Swiss, and a swirl of sour cream. Blended cashews add silky body to this vegetarian, can-be-gluten-free comfort bowl.

Breakfast Broccoli Bread Pudding

Make this light yet delicious savoury bread pudding before you go to bed. Then put it in the oven when you get up next day. You breakfast will be ready while you are enjoying your morning coffee.

Bistro Cheeseburger

Grilled cheeseburger with melted Swiss, charred Vidalia onions, and Dijon mayonnaise on toasted crusty bread. A French-bistro spin on the American classic.

Hashed Brown Omelet

Hash brown omelet with crispy shredded potato crust, bacon, peppers, and melted Swiss. The diner-style skillet breakfast that feeds the whole table from one pan.

Cheesy Pan-Roasted Broccoli

Pan-roasting prevents the broccoli from becoming limp. A quick rich, cheesy (Swiss, Cheddar or Gruyere) pan sauce captures the caramelized bits of flavor. Bring them together and everyone loves their broccoli!

Breakfast Mexican Pizza

Had some fresh bell peppers, mushrooms, pizza sauce, scallions, and whole wheat tortilla, made up this Mexican Pizza for breakfast. Instead of mozzarella or Mexican cheese, I used Swiss cheese. The pizza came out super tasty and quite filling, and I also topped a pan-fried egg. Yum!

Basil Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomato Sandwich with Swiss Cheese

Don't feel like cooking up a storm, make this delicious sandwich with store-bought whole wheat English muffin, basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and swiss cheese. For extra heat, add a few slices of picked jalapenos.

Aspragus, Bell Pepper & Mushroom Omelette

Like making omelette for breakfast, because it's easy, filling and packed with nutrients.

Special Club Sandwich

I substituted deli roasted turkey breast for the chicken and used whole grain oatmeal bread. Outstanding.

Open Face Spinach Egg Sandwich

This delicious breakfast sandwich takes no time to make, and it has all the nutritions you need before lunch. No excuse to skip your breakfast.

Bacon, Cheese, & Tomato Sandwiches

Open-faced bacon, Swiss cheese, and tomato sandwiches on toasted rye with dill mayo, melted under the microwave in 90 seconds. A quick, hot lunch ready in 10 minutes flat.

Swiss Broccoli Soup

Quick Swiss broccoli soup with canned chicken gravy as the shortcut base, milk, frozen broccoli, and shredded Swiss cheese. Weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

4th of July Grilled Portobello Burgers

Succulent grilled portobello mushroom has the meaty texture, which is ideal for burger. It's also marinated in a garlicky-herby-lemony marinade to build up more flavour.

Low Fat Quiche Lorraine

Reduce the fat of a full flavored quiche Lorraine by replacing the cream with buttermilk and using an easy press in the pan crust.

Layered Ham & Potato Casserole

An easy classic combination of diced ham, potatoes and cheese with a tangy sauce.

Bernese Potato Soup

Bernese potato soup purees buttery potatoes with onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, then melts in Swiss cheese for a silky Alpine bowl. Topped with crumbled bacon.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Sauteed Mushrooms & Arugula

Cheesy, refreshing flavor and meaty texture, you can find all of them in this quick and easy to make recipe.

Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

OMG! This is the BEST salad! The only thing I did differently was to add some walnuts instead of cashews. The dressing is extremely refreshing and delicious! You can't go wrong with this recipe!

Three-Cheese Tortellini

Are you a cheese lover? If you use a cheese tortellini this can turn into a 4 cheese pasta dish.

Gnocchi à la Parisienne

Italian style potato dumplings but made with Paris, France flair. This recipe is a good way to use up leftover Pâte à Choux or Quick change pastry by mixing it with leftover mashed potatoes to create a soft potato dumpling.

Spinach, Artichoke & Swiss Cheese Bread Pudding

Adapted this recipe from Emeril of Foodnetwork. Bread pudding not only can be a dessert, but also a savory main dish. This bread pudding is cheesy, tasty and packed with flavors. Spinach, artichokes and swiss cheese with milk and eggs make this bread pudding delicious yet wholesome.

Turkey Reuben

Sliced turkey, tangy sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and a homemade Russian dressing on buttered rye bread, broiled until golden and gooey. A lighter spin on the classic deli Reuben that's ready in 25 minutes.

Basil Pesto & Fresh Tomato Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is probably one of the easiest and tastiest foods to make. The warm-oozy cheese and nicely browned bread are just irresistible. You can add whatever you like in the filling between the bread, extra yumminess is always welcomed.

Mini Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Mini Monte Cristo sandwiches with ham, Swiss cheese, and a savory egg dip seasoned with onion soup mix. Pan-fried golden in butter and cut into party-sized triangles.

Crab Melt Sandwich

Crab and Swiss cheese melt together on a crispy grilled sandwich creating a wonderful combination of warm filling, melted cheese and crispy grilled bread. Best of all it comes together in about 10 minutes!

Grilled Hawaiian Sandwiches

A tropical touch to a typical grilled cheese. A perfect quick fix for a week night meal.

Delicious Tuna Melt Sandwiches with Swiss Cheese & Apple

Inspired by Cat Caro's recipe, we made a few changes in our version. These deliciously filling sandwiches are also loaded with good-for-you ingredients. Perfect for a quick-fix lunch or dinner.

Mother's Day Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

The casserole turned out quite good, especially considering a reasonably low fat dish. Not only your mother will be impressed, this casserole is also an excellent breakfast or brunch at any occasions.

Grilled Cuban Sandwich

A delicious grilled Cuban sandwich is perfect for a quick and easy week day dinner.

Flaky Garlic Scape Buttermilk Biscuits with Swiss Cheese

Turn garlic scapes into fluffy, cheesy buttermilk biscuits. The garlic scapes add a fresh mild hint of garlic to the savory biscuits which is perfectly complimentary.

Inn Flight Restaurant's Crab Supreme

Lucious crab with a hint of spice piled high on a croissant topped with melted swiss cheese.

Stove-Top Cheesy Broccoli

This quick and easy cheesy broccoli also tastes delicious. You only need to whip up a creamy sauce, toss steamed broccoli with it , and then sprinkle some store-bought crispy onions. Yum!

Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Omelet

This easy breakfast omelet fills you up and makes you feel great. A delicious and nutritious way to start off your day.

Barr's French Onion Soup

A delicious French onion soup will for sure satisfy your tummy.

Breakfast Ham & Sour Cream Muffins

Easy to make, and they are delicious. Make a big bunch, and perfect for a quick breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Cherry Tomato, Feta-Swiss Cheese & Herbs Bread

A savory bread that's made with cherry tomatoes, feta, Swiss cheese, and lots of fresh herbs will definitely be a winner part at your dinner table. It's cheesy, herbal and moist, and you will find some juicy-sweet explosions in every bite because of these roasted cherry tomatoes.

Breakfast Bread Pudding with Sausage/Ham

Breakfast bread pudding with sausage or ham, Swiss cheese, spinach, and a thyme-mustard custard. Make-ahead brunch strata that feeds twelve and bakes in one hour.

Ham & Swiss Mushroom Croissants

Warm, gooey and delicious. Flaky croissants stuffed with ham, swiss cheese and creamy mushroom sauce.

Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Frittata

Make this moist and delicious frittata for breakfast. It provides you with enough nutritions that you need to power through the whole morning before lunch hunger arrives, and needless to say that it's so tasty. Serve it with a slice of whole grain toast and grape fruit.

Cheese Puffs (French)

This is a great way to use up leftover Choux pastry to make quick and easy puffy cheese appetizers.

Low Fat Whole Wheat Monte Cristo Sandwich

Reduced fat version of the classic Monte Cristo sandwich. Use low-fat milk, whole wheat bread and skimmed milk Swiss cheese. Still big on flavor.

Browned Mushroom Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Nothing is quicker and easier than a delicious grilled cheese. Adding caramelized mushrooms into the cheese gives this grilled cheese extra yumminess.

All 526 recipes