Parmesan Cheese Substitutes

Out of parmesan cheese? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert parmesan cheese between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the parmesan cheese converter.

What to use instead of parmesan cheese

  • Pecorino Romano

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by volume (equal weight per cup: 100 g each)

    Pecorino Romano is the sharpest like-for-like swap for Parmesan. Both are hard Italian grating cheeses at 100 g per cup, so the volume measure stays the same. Pecorino is saltier and made from sheep's milk, so the flavour is bolder. Use it in pasta, risotto, and gratins where a stronger punch is welcome.

    See pecorino romano substitutes →

  • Grated Cheese

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by volume (100 g per cup each)

    Generic grated cheese is a milder, everyday stand-in for Parmesan. It has the same weight per cup (100 g) and melts readily, making it a practical swap in gratins, pasta bakes, and pizza where Parmesan's sharp, nutty flavour is not the centrepiece of the dish.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for parmesan cheese?
There are 2 workable substitutes for parmesan cheese, depending on what you have on hand and which property of parmesan cheese matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1:1 by volume (equal weight per cup: 100 g each). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting parmesan cheese change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the parmesan cheese converter
How do I measure parmesan cheese accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The parmesan cheese converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the parmesan cheese converter

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