We're lucky for the wide availability of Parmesan available to us in America—you're able to track the world-class cheese down everywhere from your local Italian artisan grocer to the corner bodega.

It can bring layers of aged creamy complexity and even notes of caramel and umami. An ancient product, Parmesan has a stunning range in quality. This range might be the most important thing to know about the cheese: Not all Parmesans are the same. Amazingly, many aren't even Parmesan.