The Ideal Affordable Substitute For Gruyere Cheese

Gruyère cheese may not get as much attention as other cheeses, and we think that's a shame. If you're familiar with Gruyère, you've probably seen it associated with dishes like French onion soup or fondue, and with good reason: It's a cheese that was made to melt. Hailing from Switzerland, it has a rich, nutty flavor with a bit of tang to it, making it the perfect accomplice to other strong flavors such as onion.

Gruyère has become more common in the grocery store, but it can come with a price tag that makes you wonder if you've accidentally drifted into a fancy cheese shop. But sticker shock shouldn't keep you from your next grilled cheese, and the good news is, it doesn't have to. Gruyère is easy to substitute, and an affordable contender is Comté, a French cheese with a lot to offer in the kitchen.

Comté is a cow's milk cheese that comes from the French Alps. It's been in production for over 800 years and has established itself as a star of French cuisine. There's a good reason for that: Much like Gruyère, Comté has a bold flavor with savory notes of nuts. It's delicious by itself but strong enough to hold its own in dishes with other powerful ingredients while being still being versatile. 

Comté, like many cheeses, changes slightly depending on how long it has been aged. The younger cheese is naturally softer and lends itself particularly well to melting. It's the cheese you want to use on your next grilled cheese sandwich, and it will elevate your cheeseburgers. Comté that's been aged longer is harder and has a much stronger flavor. You can't go wrong adding it to your next charcuterie board or even eating it straight from the fridge. (We won't tell.)

Chef Alissa Fitzgerald, writing for Insider, explains why Comté is her go-to for grilled cheese: "[The cheese] with the most bang for your buck is Comté," she writes. "It's known for its semi-firm consistency and melts like a dream."

It's also a cheese that feels sort of fancy while still being widely available in most well-stocked cheese cases. Comté feels like a step up from easier substitutions like your standard deli-counter Swiss cheese, while still being approachable. And while it works as a solid substitute for Gruyère thanks to its flavor profile and meltability, the truth is it's an excellent cheese on its own. Remember, there's no such thing as too much cheese, so even if grilled cheese isn't in your future, it's never a bad idea to have some Comté on hand.