The 8 Best On-Ear Headphones for 2023: Beats, Jabra, Sennheiser and More

Full-size around-ear or over-ear headphones aren’t everyone’s thing, though they tend to deliver the best sound. It comes down to personal preference, but not everyone wants to walk around wearing bulky headphones with giant, squishy ear pads. On-ear models with smaller ear cups are more compact, travel-friendly and tend to cost less. These headphones have evolved to offer more models with active noise cancellation, noise isolation, a headphone amp and other advanced features that were once found only in larger over-ear models.

You can’t go wrong with a quality pair of headphones, whether they’re full-size or feature an on-ear design. Here’s a look at our current top picks for the best on-ear headphones, based on key factors such as how effective they are at noise cancellation and how good they sound. They’re all wireless headphone models except the Beats EP wired headphones. There isn’t a single earbud on this list, so if you’re looking for in-ear counterparts, check out our wireless earbud list to have music piped directly into your ear canal.

David Carnoy/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 22 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (Qualcomm cVc 8.0)

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

I was a fan of Creative’s original Sound Blaster Jam headphones that came out in 2015 and had a decidedly retro look and feel with good sound for the money. Now the headphone is available in a 2.0 version that has some key upgrades, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, improved call quality and multipoint Bluetooth pairing that allows you to pair it to two devices simultaneously. Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours.

I was able to pair the headphones with a Mac Mini and an iPhone and then switch audio between them. Often when pairing Bluetooth headphones with Mac and Windows PCs, one can encounter some issues, but once I got the headphones paired with both my PC and phone, they made a good pair of work-from-home headphones. Also, the price is right for parents looking for a decent set of kids’ headphones for remote learning and everyday use.

Comfortable for on-ear headphones, the Jam V2 are lightweight and have nicely balanced sound with good detail and bass that’s ample but not overpowering. Call quality was good in my tests with callers saying they could hear me well even on the noisy streets of New York. No carry pouch is included, but you do get an extra set of foam ear pads, which is good because they will wear out over time.

The headphones have physical buttons for controlling volume and playback and there’s aptX support for devices that support the wireless streaming codec.

Read our Creative Sound Blaster Jam review.

 

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 45h

Battery Life

Rated up to 50 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Released in mid-2020, the Jabra Elite 45h was essentially billed as the best on-ear headphone for the money. While there’s nothing terribly fancy about it is one of the best on-ear headphone values right now, with good sound quality, a sturdy design and comfortable fit (for on-ear headphones, anyway). Additionally, this Bluetooth on-ear headphone performs well as a headset for making calls and includes a sidetone feature that allows you to hear your voice in the headphones so you don’t talk too loudly. Battery life is also good. Available in multiple color options, it lists for $100 but frequently gets discounted to $80 or less. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 40 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

The Solo Pro is the first Beats on-ear headphone to feature active noise cancellation and the first full-size Beats wireless headphone to charge via Lightning. It uses the company’s Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling (Pure ANC headphones), “derived from the over-ear Studio3 Wireless, with updated tuning to accommodate the on-ear form factor,” Beats says. With a tap of a button, you can turn off that noise cancellation to save battery life or hit the button a second time to enter an audio transparency mode that allows you to hear the outside world and ambient sound, not just the music you’re listening to.

Available in multiple color options, the noise-canceling headphone is equipped with six microphones, two of which are beamforming mics designed to hone in on your voice when you’re making calls or talking to your voice assistant (Apple’s H1 chip is on board for always-on Siri). The sound quality of these wireless earphones is smooth and well-balanced, with punchy bass that doesn’t make music sound boomy. It’s comfortable for an on-ear model and its more compact design travels better than some full-size models on this list. I just wish it cost a little less and came with a cable to plug in to in-flight entertainment systems. Alas, the Lightning-to-3.5mm is an optional Bluetooth headset accessory that costs $35, which is ridiculous.

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You’re receiving price alerts for Sennheiser HD 250BT

Battery Life

Rated up to 25 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

The last few years I’ve written up a fair number of new Sennheiser headphones, most of which have had more premium price tags. But now the company has released a new $70 on-ear wireless model, the 250BT, that should appeal to those on a tighter budget. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, its features seem pretty basic, but it does have 25-hour battery life, as well as support for the AAC and aptX audio codecs, and it also taps into Sennheiser’s Smart Control app, allowing you to customize the sound a bit. 

Sennheiser describes the 250BT as having club-like sound, and that’s a fairly apt take. There’s lots of energy in the bass and some sparkle in the treble. This is what I like to call an exciting headphone — dynamic, fun. I can’t say it’s got premium build quality (it looks and feels like a more of a budget model). But it’s lightweight and comfortable for an on-ear model, though it lacks any padding on the inside of the headband so I occasionally had to make adjustments to relieve a little pressure on the crown of my head. 

You can use the 250BT as a headset for making calls — it works reasonably well for that — but Sennheiser doesn’t really talk up the call quality, mentioning only that the headphones have a built-in microphone. The noise-isolating ear pads cut the background noise, giving you a better listening experience. This headphone is more about the sound and it did grow on me over time. 

Amazon

Battery Life

Rated up to 12 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Skullcandy’s Riff is the spiritual successor to the Grind Wireless, which I liked for the money. Available in multiple color options, it retails for around $50 and has puffy, pillowlike ear cups that make these comfortable headphones for an on-ear model. It also has great sound for its price, with open, detailed sound quality and plump bass that’s relatively well-defined. My only gripes about its ear cup design are that the top doesn’t feature a padded headband (at the crown of your head) and it feels a little cheap, with no metal parts. That said, it’s nice and light and has a dual-hinge that allows the headphone to fold up and fold flat. No carry pouch is included. Battery life is rated at only 12 hours, but a fast charge feature lets you get 2 hours of juice from a 10-minute charge (this has micro-USB charging not USB-C).

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

NA

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

On-ear wired headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Beats makes plenty of Bluetooth headphones with high price tags, but its entry-level EP wired headphones are a surprisingly good listening experience value. The list price is $100, but you can find it online for closer to $90 and sometimes less. The EP is an on-ear model that isn’t as swanky as Beats’ somewhat forgotten on-ear Mixr, as well as the over-ear Executive and Pro models. But thanks to its reinforced metal frame, it reminds me of low-frills versions of those headphones. By low-frills, I mean it isn’t incredibly flashy and it doesn’t fold up or fold flat for travel (it has no hinges).

I liked the way they sounded and so did Steve Guttenberg, who once wrote CNET’s Audiophiliac blog. These open back headphones exhibit the traits of a good headphone: They’re clean and open-sounding, particularly for an on-ear headphone, and there’s enough treble detail to give them some sparkle. (In other words: They’re not incredibly dynamic.)

The bass is a little accentuated — this is Beats after all — but it’s not bloated or boomy. There’s enough bass here to satisfy a low-end audiophile headphone lover but not so much to turn off someone who’s looking for a more balanced, neutral-sound quality in a headphone.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Battery Life

Rated up to 15 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

AKG’s N60NC headphones have been out a while, but they’re still good on-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation and great audio quality. Samsung now owns Harman, which owns AKG, and Samsung doesn’t really know how to market this venerable Austrian audio audiophile headphone brand (AKG earbuds have been included with Samsung phones). Originally, $300, you can find these wireless earphones for much less. They’re certainly more enticing at that price.

Read AKG N60NC Wireless review.

 

Amazon

Battery Life

Rated up to 25 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (Adaptive)

Multipoint

Yes

Headphone Type

On-ear wireless headphones

Water-Resistant

No IP rating

Toward the end of 2019, Bowers & Wilkins released its new noise-canceling headphones: The over-ear PX7 and on-ear PX5. Both are great Bluetooth headphones with slick designs, great sound and decent noise cancellation (it’s not as good as the Sony WH-1000XM4’s but it’s not far off). The PX7 has bigger drivers and bolder overall sound, but the PX5 is more compact, easier to travel with (it takes up less room in a bag) and can be had for much less than the PX7. 

More headphone and listening picks

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8 ways your body tells you you have a vitamin deficiency

Vitamins and minerals are essential to keeping our bodies functioning properly, each playing a different role in our health. In the first place, we get it The nutrients we need From a balanced diet. Vitamin supplements can act as a safety net To fill in the gaps in our diet. However, it is still possible to experience a vitamin deficiency while taking a multivitamin. This is because everyone is different, and our bodies need different things. General multivitamins may not address significant deficiencies in some nutrients.

This is why it is important to know the symptoms of a vitamin deficiency so that you can spot them if they appear and adjust your diet accordingly.

What is a vitamin deficiency?

A vitamin deficiency is exactly as the name suggests: Your body is functioning without enough of a particular nutrient. It’s incredibly popular. It is estimated that 2 billion people around the world You have a vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin deficiency Divided into two categories – primary and secondary deficiencies. Primary vitamin deficiency means that you need to eat more foods that contain the vitamin. In this case, you can often adapt your diet to make sure these needs are met. Or take a supplement if you have dietary restrictions that prevent you from eating these foods, which is the case with food allergy.

Minor deficiencies occur when you have them The body does not absorb nutrients as it should. This can happen due to an underlying condition such as: Celiac disease or Cystic fibrosis. In addition, a secondary deficiency results from our bodies absorbing less nutrients as we age. Then malabsorption can worsen and cause other deficiencies, as is the case with calcium and Vitamin D. Older adults whose body has stopped making vitamin D can develop a calcium deficiency because of this Vitamin D is necessary for absorption of calcium.

8 common signs you may have a vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiencies are common. However, they do not always present with symptoms that may be associated with a vitamin deficiency. Here are the common signs of a vitamin deficiency that you may be ignoring.

exhaustion

One of the most widespread Symptoms of vitamin deficiency is fatigue or feeling Weak and tired. Many things can cause it, making it difficult to separate which symptoms stem from something else, such as: sleep deprivation. Chronic fatigue that does not go away, no matter how much you sleep or rest, may indicate a vitamin deficiency.

Fatigue indicates a deficiency:

Laura Olivas/Getty Images

2. Muscle weakness and pain

Another common sign of a vitamin deficiency is muscle weakness or cramps. Again, this type of nutrient is hard to pin down directly, since you may be sore or have joint pain for many reasons. Most known deficiency associated with Muscle weakness is vitamin D. However, several B vitamins and magnesium can also contribute to weakness.

Muscle and joint weakness can indicate a deficiency in:

Addressing your diet to find out what your vitamin deficiency is is the first step you can take to address a vitamin deficiency. It’s worth seeing your doctor if you don’t find obvious holes in your diet.

3. Severe hair loss

Hair loss can occur Several reasons such as geneticsMedical conditions, hair treatment and hormonal imbalances. Loss of key nutrients for hair growth may also be the cause. If your hair is thinning or not as healthy as it used to be, it may be because you are not getting enough of these nutrients:

It is important to note that unless your hair loss or damage is caused by a vitamin deficiency, taking a multivitamin will not make your hair grow back thicker. Researching the source of your hair loss is the only way to know how to treat it. hair growth vitamins It can help you keep your body healthy only if you have a deficiency, but it is not a magic pill. It is always better to focus on your diet Supports hair health.

4. Dry skin

Even if you use moisturizers and whatever you’re supposed to use, you still can Leave with dry skin or dandruff. Your diet may be to blame. It is essential to get enough of the right vitamins and minerals Healthy, moisturized skin and scalp. that it Not just dry skin Scaly patches, bumps, and dandruff all indicate a possible vitamin deficiency.

If you suffer from dry skin, you may be deficient in these vitamins:

svetikd/Getty Images

5. Slow wound healing and a weak immune system

Several vitamins are essential for the immune system: vitamins E, C, and K. Vitamin K is a nutrient It is required for the formation of clots. Without enough in your body, a normal wound can turn into a huge problem. This also applies to internal bleeding, which is difficult to determine without medical intervention.

Vitamin deficiencies not only determine the duration of bleeding; It also affects how long the wound takes to heal. Vitamin C acts as an anti-inflammatory properties that help Close wounds. Deficiency slows tissue repair.

Nutrient deficiencies in these vitamins can affect the immune system and the ability to heal wounds:

6. Mood changes

Vitamin deficiencies can also affect how you feel. Most people are familiar with Seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that occurs when there is too little sunlight to give us vitamin D. However, the mood changes and depression because of Vitamin D deficiency Not limited to the winter months. appreciate it 42% of Americans Not getting enough vitamin D.

Vitamin B6 deficiency has also been found to contribute to mental health conditions such as: Anxiety and depression. While more research is needed, several studies point to this Take vitamin B6 Supplements can help reduce symptoms because they produce a chemical Messengers dampen brain impulsesresulting in a file calming effect.

7. Changes in vision

In addition to the naturally occurring changes in our vision that occur with age, vitamin A deficiency can contribute to vision problems. Vitamin A plays a major role in vision By aiding in the production of retinal pigments. Without enough vitamin A, production stops, leading to night blindness or a poor ability to see in dim light and darkness.

Night blindness can occur independently From a vitamin A deficiency, so you shouldn’t start taking supplements unless you know the source. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it accumulates in the body’s fat stores. overflow It is called vitamin A toxicityIt is characterized by symptoms such as headache, joint pain, and nausea.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant This is essential for eye health. Deficiency can lead to vision loss over time.

8. Tingling in the fingers or toes

A lesser known and more worrisome sign that you might have a vitamin deficiency is tingling in your hands, legs, and feet. The main culprit in this Vitamin B12 deficiencywhich plays a role in our nervous system by producing myelin. Myelin is the protective layer that wraps around a nerve. A vitamin B12 deficiency means that your body will not produce enough myelin, and your nerves are vulnerable to damage. Then you feel tingling or pins and needles in your hands and feet.

Nutrients associated with tingling in the hands and feet:

Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Calcium and Magnesiumcopper

If you experience any persistent tingling or numbness, speak to your doctor immediately to find out the cause and develop a treatment plan.

Very long; Didn’t you read?

Anyone can You have a vitamin deficiency. It is often overlooked because of how common some of the symptoms are. However, symptoms, especially those affecting your ability to move, lift, and see, should not be ignored. Making lifestyle and diet changes is the best way to stop a deficiency. Although taken Supplements are also popular.

Talk to your doctor if you have persistent symptoms that are not related to anything else. They can perform blood tests for a definitive diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan.

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Best Lenovo laptop deals: The latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is more than half off

Lenovo has lowered the prices of many ThinkPad models so much that many are selling them for less than half the price. This list includes the flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, which is one of the best Windows mobile devices out there. The ThinkPad 14s Gen 3 is a slight step up from the X1 Carbon and is more affordable in its heftier opponent. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is a great value at its current sale price if you’re shopping for a convertible 2-in-1. Finally, gamers looking for a good deal should check out the Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 gaming laptop with RTX 3070 graphics that is on sale.

Read more: Best laptop deals

You’ll need discount codes for some Lenovo deals, which we’ve listed below, but the codes should appear on the Lenovo website as well. We will keep this page updated with the latest Lenovo deals.

Lenovo

Lenovo’s flagship ThinkPad is more than half off with code X1CARBONG10DEAL. It features a 12th Gen Core i7 processor, ample 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels along with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and is rated at more than 400 nits of sufficient brightness. Weighing in at nearly 2.5 pounds, the X1 Carbon makes an easy travel companion. And after passing a series of MIL-SPEC tests, it’s durable enough to withstand the rigors of business travel.

Lenovo

The Lenovo ThinkPad T series is second only to the company’s flagship X1 Carbon line in our ThinkPad selection ranking. The ThinkPad T14s is a slimmer version of the ThinkPad T14, although it’s not quite as thin as the flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This AMD-based model is more than half with code CLEARANCE2023 and features the new Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The 14-inch screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, an aspect ratio of 16:10, and 300 nits of brightness.

Lenovo

This Legion gaming laptop features a spacious 16-inch display powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU and RTX 3070 graphics. The screen has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, a fast refresh rate of 165Hz, and is rated for an impressive 500 nits of brightness. You also get an acceptable 16GB of RAM and a spacious 1TB SSD. It’s $620 off, no code needed.

Lenovo

The first 16-inch model in Lenovo’s ThinkPad T series, the ThinkPad T16 is heavily discounted with the THINKMARCH code and features a spacious 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. It features touch support and is rated for a sufficient brightness of 300 nits. This sale model features a mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 6650U CPU along with a generous 32GB of RAM and a roomy 1TB SSD.

Lenovo

This 13.3-inch 2-in-1 convertible features a spacious 16:10 display wrapped in a compact, all-aluminum enclosure powered by a mid-range AMD Ryzen 7 5700U CPU along with 16GB of RAM and an SSD. With a capacity of 512 GB. With its 360-degree hinge, you can use the Yoga 6 as both a laptop and a tablet. The CPU is a generation behind AMD’s current Ryzen 6000 series, but it should offer plenty of oomph for general tasks. Most laptops and convertibles at this price only offer 8GB of RAM, so having twice that amount is a boon and will go a long way toward providing a smooth Windows experience. It’s discounted with code BBYDEALS.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

Our favorite two-in-one laptop for the business group, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga features an abundance of hardware options and security features wrapped in a thin and light aluminum frame. This model is a generation behind the new Gen 8 series but at a much more affordable price. It’s more than half with code THINKPADCLEAR and features a 12th Gen Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It also features a 1080p webcam and includes a ThinkPad Pen Pro. The 14-inch screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio to provide more vertical space than wider 16:9 screens and is rated at 400 nits of brightness.

Lenovo

Two notches from the flagship X1 Carbon and one notch below the ThinkPad T14S on the ThinkPad ladder is the ThinkPad T14. The larger body gives you a good configuration for a lower price. This latest Gen 3 model is in semi-display with code CLEARANCE2023. It features AMD’s new Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U 8-core processor, a generous 32GB of RAM and a spacious 1TB SSD. The 14-inch, 16:10 screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and is rated at a reasonable 300 nits of brightness.

The ThinkPad X13 is another ultra-portable option for those who can’t afford the X1 Carbon. The latest addition to the line is discounted with the code THINKMARCH and features a new 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive. The 13.3-inch screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio for more vertical space (so there’s less scrolling) with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 300 nits of brightness. The webcam gets a bump from 720p to 1080p resolution for better video calling.

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Best Mattress for Back Pain, According to Our Sleep Experts

In this article:

Getting a good night’s rest is essential to your daily performance and function, not to mention it can benefit your overall health in the long run too. But a bad mattress can hinder your quality of sleep. The age, firmness and type of mattress can deeply affect your sleep for better or worse. Your mattress can also be the culprit of chronic aches and pains — this is especially so for back-pain sufferers. The best mattress for back pain won’t be the same for everyone, but finding the right one for you can mean that relief is right around the corner. 

We spoke to Dr. Andrew Casden, chief of orthopedics and spine surgery at White Plains Hospital in New York, about his thoughts on the best mattress for back pain. He said, “What we know for sure is that too soft or too hard a mattress is not good for your back and can lead to back pain. A good mattress should provide support for the natural curves in our body without putting pressure on the spine.”

You don’t want a super firm mattress, but you don’t want a soft mattress either. If your biggest source of pain is your lower back, you’re better off opting for something supportive like a hybrid mattress with a mixture of soft materials and the feel of a medium-firm mattress. According to Casden, “Medical research does suggest that a ‘medium-firm’ mattress can help reduce the risk of developing back pain and decrease the pain for those already suffering from back pain.” You should also take your specific sleeping position into account, so you maintain proper spinal alignment while sleeping.

There are plenty of excellent mattresses out there that fit the bill. I tested them all to bring you a thorough and well-rounded best mattress for back pain review. I’ll update this list periodically as I review new products. Note that the prices shown are for queen sizes, and may vary.

Looking for mattress accessories? We’ve also got recommendations for the best mattress topper, the best pillow, the best innerspring mattress and the best bed sheets for 2023.

Video: Best beds for back pain

Watch CNET Video Producer Owen Poole review the best mattress for back pain. 

Read more: Best Full Mattresses in 2023

Our mattress picks

Amerisleep

Type

Memory foam hybrid

Firmness

7 or Medium-firm

Trial

100 nights

Warranty

20-year prorated warranty

The Amerisleep AS2 is made of a proprietary type of memory foam called Bio-Pur that’s more eco-friendly, breathable and airy than traditional memory foam. This best mattress for back pain is designed to offer pressure relief, while also providing the right mattress firmness to keep your spine and neck properly aligned.

This hybrid mattress has a faster response time than regular memory foam, so instead of that slow-sinking then slow-rising feeling that you get with other memory foam mattresses, it bounces back right away. I never felt stuck in the mattress, even when I moved around at night, and it felt more like a traditional spring mattress, but without the extra bounce and noise. 

This medium-firm mattress ensures that your body and spine are properly supported throughout the night, reducing lower back pain and any other aches and pains. 

Aside from the construction on the inside, the outside cover is also fitted with a Celliant-infused cover. It converts your body heat into infrared energy and transfers it back to your body. This process is meant to boost circulation, aid in the muscle recover process and leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning. This is a feature found on a few select beds and I think it’s a great cherry on top to a great mattress. The cover is also machine washable! Read more in our full Amerisleep mattress review.

TL;DR: Why we picked the AS2 Hybrid mattress

The Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid has an optimal firmness level to promote proper spinal alignment without being so firm that it presses against your joints. Its Bio-Pur memory foam is eco-friendly and offers a comfortable contour around the curves of your body. AS2 Hybrid also comes with a Celliant-infused cover that boosts blood circulation and leaves you feeling more refreshed in the morning. 

Lindsay Boyers

Type

Hybrid mattress

Firmness

6 or medium to medium-firm

Trial

100 nights

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

If you’re a stomach sleeper or back sleeper, lying on the wrong mattress can flatten the curve of your spine, put excess pressure on your muscles and joints, and force you to turn your neck to the side — three things that can actually contribute to neck pain and chronic back pain. However, the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is a great mattress that offers pressure relief and support at the same time, and helps keeps the spine in neutral alignment.

There are a lot of mattresses out there that claim to form to your body, but the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 totally delivers. It will serve as the best mattress for back pain for many. The exclusive Purple Grid is a hyper-elastic polymer grid with open air channels that’s designed to quickly adapt and adjust to any sleep position. 

As soon as I plopped down on this Purple mattress, I felt the grid bend and move, contouring my body shape perfectly. It almost feels like you’re buoyant or floating. It’s great for stomach and back sleepers, but even some side sleepers can appreciate its unconventionally soft feel. I rated it around a medium to medium-firm on the firmness scale. It offers ample support for folks with back pain seeking relief while contouring under your pressure point areas. 

It’s perfect for all body types, though it may not be perfect for every personal preference. It’s a one-of-a-kind, relieving bed that fits well in our best mattress for back pain review, but some people can’t get past its unique feel. The good news is that you can get a sample of Purple’s hyper-elastic polymer material to get a good feel before you commit.

TL;DR: Why we picked the Purple Hybrid mattress

The Purple Hybrid 4 is the brand’s top-tier mattress. It has an extra thick GridFlex layer, the bread and butter to each Purple mattress, which provides a comfortable blend of support and pressure relief. The Purple Hybrid is rated around a medium to medium-firm, the sweet spot for for back and stomach sleepers, and it sleeps cool.

Read our Purple Hybrid Premier 4 review.

 

Lindsay Boyers

Type

Hybrid mattress

Firmness

3 firmness levels | Plush Soft: Medium or 5 | Luxury Firm: Medium-firm or 7 | Firm: 9/10 or firm

Trial

360 nights

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

The Saatva Classic is classified as a hybrid mattress type, but this Saatva mattress really goes a step beyond the rest for pain sufferers. It has two coil layers designed to provide maximum targeted support. It’s also made with what Saatva calls “spinal zone technology,” or enhancements in the mattress that are designed to reduce stress and tension in your back while you sleep while offering a lot of comfort.

The middle area of the mattress has “lumbar zone technology” that utilizes an active-wire system, which are wires within the center of the mattress that work with the individually wrapped coils to provide the correct spinal alignment. This adds extra support for your middle and upper back, while the high-end memory foam that covers the entire mattress offers pressure point relief and keeps your spine totally aligned, especially when sleeping on your side. 

An OG mattress tester from our team said she “wasn’t blown away” by this innerspring mattress hybrid the first few nights, but “after sleeping on it consistently for a couple of weeks, I was hooked. I had been dealing with some chronic pain and with the spinal alignment this new mattress provided, it’s almost gone.”

It’s one of the best mattresses for back pain if you like a medium to firm mattress with a luxurious and supportive feel. It’s offered in three firmness levels; Luxury Plush is around a medium, Luxury Firm is a medium-firm and the sweet spot for back pain sufferers, and Firm is a true firm. You can also choose between height profiles, a touch I definitely appreciate. Typically, the thicker the mattress, the more durable and supportive it is.

However, be warned that this mattress has more motion transfer than the others (thanks to those two coil layers), so if you sleep with someone who tosses and turns, you’re probably going to feel it. Read more in our full Saatva mattress review. 

TL;DR: Why we chose the Saatva Classic mattress

For the shopper who likes luxury, the Saatva Classic is a premium hybrid mattress with extra bells and whistles. It features two coil layers, a zoned 3-inch pillow top, Lumbar Zone Spinal Wire and pressure-relieving memory foam that make it a great mattress for people with back pain. I also appreciate its customizable features: There are three firmness options and two height profiles to choose from. 

Nectar

Type

Memory foam mattress

Firmness

5 or medium

Trial

365 nights

Warranty

Forever warranty

As the replacement for the Nectar Lush Mattress, the Nectar Premier bed has a lot to offer if you’re a person who loves that feel of dense, hugging memory foam. It has a firm, 13 inch all-foam construction, thicker and more supportive than a lot of the other foam beds I’ve tested out. This is partly why it’s the only non-coil in my list for the best mattress for back pain. However, they do have a hybrid option that’ll give your body even more support. 

This Nectar memory foam mattress is stacked with three layers, including a gel memory foam layer at the top that is infused with a phase-change material meant to keep you cool. I don’t think this Nectar mattress has a cooling sensation when you lie down on it, but I do think it regulates temperature better than a typical memory foam bed. If the bed’s cooling ability is a big value point for you, take a look at the Nectar Premier Copper. 

It took a few moments for the foam in Nectar Premier to start molding around my body, but once it did, it gave me a dense, pressure-relieving feel, especially around my shoulders and hips. It lands around a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it ideal for back and stomach sleepers. Read more about this bed in our full Nectar Premier mattress review. 

TL;DR: Why we picked the Nectar Premier mattress

With a medium-firm profile and thick, 13-inch foam construction, the Nectar Premier keeps your body propped up and in good spinal alignment. It’s made with dense memory foam that takes a few seconds for the body to settle into, until the bed’s top comfort layers gently hug your body. It’s a good pick for people with back pain who love a traditional memory foam feel. 

My Slumber Yard

Type

Mixed foam hybrid mattress

Firmness

6 or medium to medium-firm

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

Trial

365 nights

With a name like DreamCloud a bed has a lot to live up to, but I can confidently say the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress is a premium mattress that offers relief to people with back pain without being overly firm or soft. 

My favorite thing about DreamCloud is its fluffy pillow top and comfortable memory foam that doesn’t provide resistance to movement like traditional memory foams do. It’s also very affordable for the luxurious sleeping experience that it provides — comparable beds cost around $300 to $400 more or up. 

The memory foam in the DreamCloud Premier provides pressure relief without making you feel like you’re sinking into the foam. The pillow top also gives it a light, fluffy feel that makes your mattress easy to get cozy on. Did I mention the cover is partly made with cashmere? I really meant it when I said it’s luxurious. Lastly, in the bed’s base layer, there are 8 1/2-inch coils that are individually pocketed for optimal support and help to isolate motion. 

I’d rate the DreamCloud Premier around a medium-firm, or around a seven out of 10 on the firmness scale. That means it’s firm enough to support you when you sleep on your stomach or back, but it’s also going to provide enough pressure relief that you feel some contour around your pressure points. 

I personally know two different people who sleep on a DreamCloud, and they think it’s the best mattress they’ve had. It also checks a lot of boxes for people who suffer from back pain and want a good balance of pressure relief to support. Read more about this bed in our full DreamCloud mattress review. 

TL;DR: Why we picked the DreamCloud Hybrid

The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid is a luxury mattress with a light and airy pillow top, perfectly fitting for a bed with the name cloud in it. Its primary comfort layers are made with memory foam, but it doesn’t provide as much resistance or give as the traditional material does. It’s more bouncy and responsive. With an optimal firmness level for people with back pain, it’s truly worth the money it costs. 

My Slumber Yard

Type

Hybrid mattress

Firmness

5 or medium

Trial

100 nights

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Casper is one of the major bed-in-a-box mattress brands and they have several beds to offer from their catalog. However, I think the premium Casper Wave mattress stands out as one of the best for back pain relief for a few reasons. 

For one, it has multiple zoned support layers ergonomically designed to provide targeted back support and pressure relief to your shoulders. There are also little gel pods throughout the center layer under the waist and lower back area to promote proper spinal alignment. 

Another plus about Casper Wave is that it’s incredibly thick, and utilizes multiple different materials including supportive pocketed coils, breathable Airscape foam and cooling gel. This makes it a premium mattress with just about all the bells and whistles you could ask for, especially if you suffer from back pain. This bed even has the stamp of approval from the American Chiropractic Association who endorses Casper Wave. 

It’s rated around a medium on the firmness scale, making it suitable for all sleeping positions from back, side, stomach and combination. However, side sleepers will especially appreciate its firm but pressure relieving profile. It’s an expensive mattress, but worth it for people who have the budget to invest in a luxury bed to help ease their back pain. 

TL;DR: Why we chose the Casper Wave mattress

With a carefully constructed design that consists of multiple zoned layers, strong pocketed coils and a stamp of approval from the American Chiropractic Association, the Casper Wave mattress is a good investment for people with back pain who want a neutral, generally comfortable mattress. It’s more bouncy and responsive than memory foam, but just as cushy and pressure-relieving. 

Allswell

The Allswell mattress is brought to you by the retail giant Walmart who specializes in low prices. On brand for the company, Allswell is an incredibly affordable hybrid mattress that offers support and durability for a low price. It’s proof you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to buy a good mattress for back pain.

It’s going to be best for back and stomach sleepers because of its medium-firm profile, but it’s one of the cheapest mattresses I’ve tested that includes a supportive pocketed coil base layer. Pocketed coils help to provide support for people who suffer from back pain. Paired with its firmness profile, it offers a good balance of support and pressure relief to help curb the aches. 

The Allswell mattress has a neutral and responsive feel, so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the bed. Instead, the mattress gently cradles your joints and quickly bounces back once pressure is removed. I think it’s an enjoyable feel, especially if you’re not a fan of a memory foam mattress. For more information, check out our full Allswell mattress review. 

TL;DR: Why we chose the Allswell mattress

Owned by Walmart and in line with its parent company’s brand, Allswell is an incredibly affordable hybrid mattress. It offers support and proper spinal alignment for back at stomach sleepers at a low price. It’s proof you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to buy a good mattress for back pain.

Lindsay Boyers

Type

Memory foam hybrid mattress

Firmness

7 or medium-firm

Trial

100 nights

Warranty

15-year limited warranty

There are a lot of mattresses that claim to align your spine as you sleep, but many of these mattresses are designed to support a max of 230 pounds. If you’re over that — or close to it — your body can put extra pressure on the mattress, causing it to sag in all of the wrong places and leaving you with chronic back pain. This can also accelerate breakdown, forcing you to change out your mattress more often. That’s where the Helix Plus comes in. It will serve as the best mattress for back pain for those who are over 250 pounds.

This mattress type is specifically made for heavier sleepers with higher BMIs. It’s 13 inches tall and has an extra layer of four-pound high-density foam that’s designed to offer enough firmness to support up to 1,000 pounds of combined weight (or 500 pounds on each side). This extra comfort layer of support helps delicately push against your weight to help with spine alignment so that you sleep in comfort and wake up pain-free.

Even as someone with a lower BMI, I felt totally comfortable on this mattress. It provided the perfect balance of “give” and firmness level of support to help relieve pressure where I needed it, while also keeping my spine in alignment. It also absorbed movement really well, so I didn’t feel like I was getting tossed around as my boyfriend adjusted his sleep position or when he got out of the bed to go to the bathroom. Read more in our full Helix mattress reviews.

TL;DR: Why we chose the Helix Plus mattress

Heavier sleepers with back pain should look for an extra supportive and durable mattress, and Helix Plus checks that box. With a thick hybrid construction, medium-firm profile and XL pocketed coils that can support up to 1,000 pounds, it’s a solid pick that won’t break the bank. 

Other mattresses we’ve tested

It’s difficult for the average person to test every mattress they might be interested in, especially when it comes to online mattresses that are exclusively sold through the brands’ websites. That’s why we have our CNET Sleep editors test the mattresses we review, and create round ups that include some of the best beds they snuggled up to. While the beds above are top choices, here are a few that could have easily made the list as an ideal mattress for back pain. 

Avocado mattress: For individuals who live green or are particularly sensitive to household allergens, an organic mattress like Avocado might be appealing. With the optional pillow top, the Avocado mattress has a medium-firm profile that keeps the back in neutral alignment and prevents it from sagging into the mattress. It’s also endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. Though, it might be a little too firm for side sleepers. Another plus about this bed, is thanks to its latex foam construction, it’s hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. 

WinkBed mattress: There are several perks to a WinkBed mattress that make it an ultra comfortable option for people who suffer from back pain. It’s offered in three firmness levels, but the firm model (rated around a medium-firm) is what I recommend, thanks to its golden ratio of support to pressure relief. Not only is it made with supportive pocketed coils, but it also has a “LumbarLayer” specifically designed to offer targeted support to your lumbar region.  

Loom & Leaf mattress: Offered in two firmness levels, medium-firm and firm, the Loom & Leaf mattress is a memory foam mattress that can help prevent back pain and offer cooling relief at the same time. It’s a thick, foam mattress with a firm profile that keeps your spine from sagging into the bed. If you happen to sleep hot, it also has a cooling gel layer that’s very effective at keeping you and the bed at a comfortable temperature. 

How we test mattresses for back pain

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. 

To test the best mattress for back pain, we considered the beds that provide great support with ample pressure relief. Once we had a roundup of the ones that stood out the most, we carefully considered the beds with designs that are meant to help promote a neutral spinal alignment. We also looked to mattresses that have been endorsed by the people who know best at the American Chiropractic Association. For even more expertise, we consulted specialized doctors who have the necessary knowledge on the best and worst mattresses for back pain. 

Read more on how we test mattresses.

What to consider when buying the best mattress for back pain

Shopping for the best mattress for back pain that fits your needs isn’t always easy. People with back pain especially have to be considerate of their new bed purchase because they don’t want it to contribute to even more aches. Here are the key things to look out for when searching for a bed to help with back pain relief. 

When you’re shopping for the best mattress for back pain, it’s important to find a firmness level that accommodates your sleeping position. 

Firmness level: As our medical experts have said, the best beds for back pain seem to be in the medium-firm range; you want a mattress that’s neither too firm or too soft. A medium-firm mattress mostly offers great support, but it’s not too firm where it loses its pressure-relieving abilities. At the same time, it’s important to consider your sleeping position to properly accommodate your needs. 

Sleeping position: Medium-firm mattresses will be perfectly suitable for many people with back pain including back, stomach and combination sleepers. However, the key is to have a mattress that keeps your spine in a straight alignment with your neck and head. As such, side sleepers with back pain may want a slightly softer mattress that gives underneath the curves of your shoulders and hips. A medium mattress is best for petite and side sleepers because you get more pressure relief without compromising support. 

Hybrid construction: Between foam beds and hybrid beds that incorporate both foam and coils, hybrid beds are typically best at helping alleviate back pain. Foam beds are more prone to sagging and indentations, and this wear and tear can help contribute to your back pain. Hybrid beds with coils in the foundation layer provide more support for all body types, and do a better job at keeping your spine in proper alignment. 

Special ergonomic designs: Some beds have average designs while others are made with back pain sufferers in mind. Keep an eye out for these ergonomic mattresses. Beds like the Casper Wave with multiple zoned support layers or the Saatva with special lumbar support will likely prove to be more beneficial for back pain than a standard hybrid or foam mattress. 

Signs your mattress is causing back pain

Dr. Jacob Hascalovici, chief medical officer of the telehealth chronic pain platform Clearing, gave us insight into the consequences of a bad mattress, and the signs to look out for. 

“If you’re frequently waking up with a crick in the neck, back pain, stiff joints, experiencing mental fogginess, and having trouble falling asleep can all be signs of a mattress that is hurting your back,” Hascalovici said. “A bad mattress can mean a bad night’s sleep. It can also add up to more pain, both in your back and in other muscles and joints that are forced out of alignment or have to compensate for a lack of support.” 

That’s why it’s so important to sleep on an accommodating mattress. “Over time, pain and lost sleep can lead to memory problems, lack of concentration, mood swings, lowered immunity, and even weight gain and a higher risk of heart trouble,” Hascalovici said. “Getting a good night’s sleep is vital for multiple areas of your mind and body, so it’s worth prioritizing.” 

Different types of back pain 

“The back is such a large and important part of the body, it’s not unusual for it to develop aches and pains,” Hascalovici explained. “While back pain can be characterized in many different ways, it can be convenient to classify it by where it shows up.”

Neck pain: “Unfortunately common, neck pain can happen for quite a few different reasons. The neck can get sore from supporting an out-of-alignment head — if you carry your head thrust forward, for example, hunch, or have ‘text neck,’ you may notice soreness and difficulty turning your neck. Arthritis can happen, or the neck can get injured. It’s also not uncommon to wake up with neck pain from unsupportive pillows, from sleeping on your stomach, or from tooth-grinding during the night, among other things.”

Upper back pain: “The upper back, or thoracic spine, can suffer from musculoskeletal pain,” Hascalovici said. “Discs can slip, strains can occur, and nerves can get pinched. Often, however, the causes of upper back pain can be traced back to being sedentary, to having relatively poor posture, or weakened, or to weakened muscles that let the spine tilt out of alignment. Upper back pain can affect the shoulders; shoulders may also hurt if you’ve been putting pressure on them unevenly while sleeping.”

Lower back pain: “Only five vertebrae comprise the lower back, but those bones bear a lot of weight and pressure,” Hascalovici said. “Herniated discs, muscle strains, nerve damage, and arthritis can all cause lower back pain. Doing heavy, repetitive labor, lifting heavy weights, toting a hefty bag around, or slumping don’t help, either. For people with lower back pain, a medium-firm or firm mattress can sometimes yield some pain relief.”

“Wherever pain shows up in the back, it can be frustrating,” he continued. “The back is vulnerable to damage and to soreness caused by inflammation and arthritis; stress also contributes to back pain, since it often makes people clench their muscles.” As a remedy, Hascalovici suggested “supplements, regular exercise, good posture, an anti-inflammatory diet, managing stress, and getting enough sleep all help to prevent and manage back pain.”

Other ways to reduce back pain

Hascalovici said some sleeping positions are better than others for back pain, and offered a few tips to help you sleep more comfortably.

If you can, try to sleep on your side while bending your knees a little. It may help to put a firm pillow behind your back to help hold you in place. A soft body pillow or feather pillow between your knees may make you feel more comfortable. If you naturally prefer sleeping on your back, tuck a small pillow under your knees to keep your lower back from arching and possibly hurting more. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, but if you can’t, you can at least stick a pillow under your hips at night to keep your back from arching too much.Consider a mattress topper to make your bed feel more supportive or more pressure relieving, depending on what you need out of your current mattress. If your bed is too soft, consider a latex topper to add firmness. If your bed is too firm, a plush memory foam topper can help soften things up. 

FAQs

Can a mattress cause back pain?

Yes. A poor mattress or ill-suited bed for your needs can be a contributing factor to your back pain. If your bed is fairly new, less than a few years old, it’s possible your bed is too firm or too soft for your needs. 

A soft mattress can cause back pain for back and stomach sleepers because it allows the lower back to sag into the foam. On the other hand, a firm mattress can press into the shoulders and hips of a side sleepers, causing the spine to be misaligned. 

If your mattress has sags, indents or visible wear and tear, it’s a sign your bed is too old. Old mattresses with lumps and bumps aren’t efficient and promoting proper spinal alignment, and can lead you to wake up with back pain. 

What type of mattress is best for back pain?

Memory foam and latex are the most commonly recommended mattress materials for back pain. These materials conform to your body and provide pressure relief where you need it most. One hundred percent memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses — which combine springs with memory foam and/or latex — are both good choices.

Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain?

Memory foam mattresses are among the best for back pain. They contour your body, alleviating pressure on your joints and reducing aches and pains. The memory foam also aligns with the natural curvature of your spine, providing lumbar support.

Is it better to have a firm mattress for back pain?

Very firm mattresses were often recommended for back pain in the past, but based on feedback from sleepers, a mattress that’s too firm can disrupt sleep and contribute to back pain. On the other hand, mattresses that are too soft also contribute to poor sleep quality and back pain, by throwing your spine out of alignment and putting too much pressure on your joints. 

In general, the best mattress for back pain is one that’s rated medium to medium-firm, but it also depends on how you sleep. For example, side sleepers need a mattress that’s softer than back sleepers who generally need a firmer mattress, so the right mattress depends on your existing sleep habits.

What is the best mattress for back pain?

Some of the best mattresses to help alleviate back pain include:

AS2 HybridSaatvaDreamCloudPurple HybridNectar PremierCasper WaveAllswellGhostBed FlexHelix Plus

What sleeping position is best for back pain?

The best sleeping positions for back pain are on your back with a pillow underneath the knees to alleviate pressure or on your side with a pillow in between the knees. If you sleep on your stomach and can’t make the switch, sleep with a pillow underneath the lumbar region (your lower back area). 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Run this iOS 16.4 setting before your next iPhone call

If you download files iOS 16.4 On your iPhone, the update brings Voice Isolation, handy confrontation time feature for phone calls. Apple introduced Sound Isolation and Wide Spectrum for FaceTime calls with the iOS 15 In 2021. However, sound isolation is only available for phone calls at this time.

When enabled, Voice Isolation suppresses distracting background noise that interrupts your phone call. This way, if you’re on a business call or catching up with friends, you won’t be interrupted by your dog barking or construction work outside your home.

To enable sound isolation, you must be on a phone call, and you won’t find the feature in Settings. But once I turn on sound isolation it will stay on for all subsequent phone calls until it is turned off.

Here’s how to activate and disable sound isolation for phone calls.

How to enable sound isolation

1. Initiate or answer a phone call.

2. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to access the Control Center.

Microphone status can be found in Control Center during a phone call.

Zack McAuliffe/CNET

3. Tap on the microphone position near the top-right corner of your screen.

4. Tap on Sound Isolation.

Pro tip: Instead of turning this feature on during a call with someone else, you can call yourself and enable sound isolation by following the steps above.

To disable sound isolation, follow the same steps above and tap Standard in Microphone mode. This will return your microphone to its default setting.

What is broad spectrum?

Besides microphone mode sound isolation, there is a wide spectrum. Unlike sound isolation—which mutes background sounds—Broad Spectrum amplifies background sounds without affecting your voice.

A message in microphone mode that there is no wide spectrum available for phone calls.

Zack McAuliffe/CNET

Broad spectrum is useful for calls with multiple people on a single phone line. This way, everyone’s voice can be heard, not just the person holding the phone.

Currently, only broad spectrum is available for FaceTime callsAnd no phone calls. But since the feature is still in microphone mode when accessed during a phone call, this feature may become available for phone calls in the future.

For more information, check out Other new features in iOS 16.4And How to turn on sound isolation in FaceTime calls And What might be coming to iOS 16.5.

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iOS 16.5 Beta 1: What’s coming to your iPhone soon

Less than a week after Apple released it iOS 16.4 To the public, the company has floated First beta of iOS 16.5. Bug fixes, security updates, and new features, such as New emoji And Sound isolation in calls, released with iOS 16.4. The first beta version of iOS 16.5, which was released on Thursday, contains some patches and some features as well.

New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary phone, just in case the new software causes problems. Apple also provides beta testers with an app called Feedback, which they can use to notify the company of any issues with the new software. In this way, problems can be addressed before the public release.

Here are the new features that beta testers can try now with iOS 16.5 beta 1.

Apple News is getting a Sports tab

the Apple news The app was launched in 2015, and the first iOS 16.5 beta brings a sports tab to the app for the first time. The tab can be found in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen when you open the app. Prior to this, the toolbar displayed tabs for Today, News Plus, Audio, Following, and Search. iOS 16.5 beta 1 gets rid of the Search tab to make room for the Sports tab.

Ask Siri to start recording your screen

With iOS 16.5 beta 1, you can ask Siri to start recording the screen for you. Before this beta, you had to go to Add a screen recording tool to your Control Center and then launch the tool manually. Now you can ask Siri. This may save you time, as you will not have to edit the beginning and end of your videos as you start and stop the recording.

There is no word on when iOS 16.5 will be released to the general public. There’s also no guarantee these beta features will be released with iOS 16.5, or that they will be the only features that will appear with the update.

For more information, check out What’s new on your iPhone with iOS 16.4 And How to become an Apple beta tester So you can experience new iOS features before others.

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Yes, you might be buying fake Parmesan. Here’s what you’re looking for

Parmesan cheese, as popular a choice as it may be here in the States, is also one of the most controversial. toroville lovers and chefs, cheese merchants Industry folks know the authentic stuff as Parmigiano-Reggiano. Anything else marketed and sold simply as “Parmesan” cheese is usually of a lower standard in the US and is rightfully derided and mocked.

But even real Parmigiano-Reggiano isn’t always what it seems. Fraudulent sales of the Italian export have reached such critical mass that they have forced the 900-year-old industry of Parmigiano-Reggiano to respond with a surprisingly modern solution.

Here’s everything you need to know about American Parmesan versus Parmigiano-Reggiano and how to make sure you’re right Get the good stuff.

Read more: The Cheese Merchant reveals: This is how you should actually store your cheese

What distinguishes Parmigiano-Reggiano?

In Italy, where this creamy, sharp and salty cheese originated from, the term “Parmesan” is tightly regulated, similar to Champagne in France, and any cheese designated and sold as such must meet high standards of production.

The word Parmesan is the English translation of Parmigiano-Reggiano, but in America, this is where the similarities end. Details surrounding the production of Parmesan differ greatly from Italy. In other words, it’s almost completely unregulated, and those $4 “Parmesan” or (mostly) packages of Parmesan powder you’re stuck in the dry goods, cheese, or dairy aisle pale in comparison to the real stuff. You might consider them a completely different cheese – and many do.

Although Parmesan can mean a cheese of widely varying quality, cheese sold labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano” in the United States must come from one of five regions in Italy—Parma, Modena, Bologna, Mantua, or Reggio Emilia—and that Adheres to strict standards as they relate to ingredients, production methods, and aging.

Making real Parmesan is a labor of love using practical and precise methods that date back many centuries.

Parmigiano-Reggiano Federation

Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is made using just three ingredients, one of which is milk from cows raised in the region and fed only on food grown in the region. Unlike other Parmesan cheeses made and sold in the United States, there is also a large list of foods that cannot be fed to livestock such as fermented grains. Parmigiano-Reggiano must be at least a year old, but most are two or three years old, and often longer, up to 100 months or more. Parmesan cheese made in the United States and elsewhere has no aging requirement.

Italy’s strict cheese laws for cheese and other foods DOP (Protected Designation of Origin, when translated into English) are the law of the land and were put in place to protect the integrity of sacred products as they grew in popularity and enjoyed export around the world. Other Italian DOP exports include Modena balsamic vinegar, San Marzano tomatoes, and Parma meat. If you know how to read labels, they work: spotting a DOP label ensures you’re getting an authentic food item made to austerely enforced standards.

How do you know you’re getting “real Parmesan” from Italy?

These dotted words affixed to the shell of each wheel will be authentic Parmigiano Reggiano.

David Watsky/CNET

To begin with, anything marketed as Parmesan in the United States is almost certainly not Parmigiano-Reggiano, also known as the good stuff. everyone Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano It’s marked with pin letters that say it all to you, quite literally. “Parmigiano-Reggiano” will be stamped into the rind of each wheel of cheese that comes from the region and meets DOP standards. Parmigiano Reggiano wheels also feature a unique alphanumeric tracking code. Dealers here will hack 70- to 80-pound wheels into smaller pieces, making the double-dotted characters hard to read, but the ID number should make its way onto the label or label. You’ll also want to look for the DOP label that should accompany every legitimate portion of cheese. Stores cannot legally sell it as Parmigiano Reggiano without these quality stamps.

There is so much fake cheese out there that they are little wheels

This label contains all of the stamps and markings typically found on genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Sam’s Club

All this analog authentication hasn’t stopped some from trying to beat the system with fake versions of the real stuff. In fact, the Parmigiano-Reggiano consortium has estimated nearly $2 billion in sales of counterfeit knockoffs annually, which is roughly equal to sales of the original article. To respond, I began silicon wafer slap p-Chips and QR code on cheese wheels are called in 2022 to better track product and detect charlatan products and counterfeit operations. The program is still in its infancy but the hope is that it will greatly reduce the chances of fake cheese hitting your cart.

Is Parmigiano-Reggiano better than Parmesan?

Forget the waffle. Authentic Italian Parmesan cheese is often eaten on its own.

David Watsky/CNET

While it’s made using a technique similar to the sanctioned stuff, Parmesan cheese in the United States can mean many things and is hard to define. Cheeses labeled Parmigiano-Reggiano are usually of higher quality (and price) than anything labeled “Parmesan.” Parmigiano Reggiano is easy to describe because it is all made in much the same way, using specific ingredients, tools, and production methods.

If you don’t buy Parmigiano-Reggiano, chances are you’re eating American-made Parmesan. There is nothing inherently wrong with that; Some are very good and come from quality producers. But try a bite of cheap, generic, non-DOP Parmesan, then grab some genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano, and you’ll see why it’s been referred to as the “King of Cheese.” Depending on the length of time, this semi-hard cheese produces crunchy clusters of amino acids (flavor crystals) and packs a complex umami punch with fruity, buttery, citrusy, and herbal notes that develop in the mouth.

The Other Men: Pecorina Romano and Grana Padano

Of course, all the work that goes into producing Parmigiano-Reggiano results in a product that is more expensive than other Parmesan-style cheeses, which has given rise to other hard Italian cheeses including Pecorino Romano and Grana Padano. Both are made in a similar style and have similar taste profiles, but are made to less stringent standards and can therefore be manufactured and sold at a much lower price. If you’re grating tons of cheese on top of your pasta every month and make sure to save a little bit of cheese A few bucks at the grocery storeBoth are good substitutes for Parmigiano-Reggiano.

But there is nothing quite like Parmigiano Reggiano, which stands up beautifully winefatty meats, ripe tomatoes, a good balsamic or other fruit. Here, many think of Parmesan as something casually grated on top of pasta or Caesar salad. In Italy and other distinct cheese circuits, you’ll find the stuff served on cheese boards with an apertivo eaten as is or served alongside fine meats and olives.

So, find yourself A big piece of real things (or complete wheel If you have three thousand lying.) It will last a very long time if Treat it carefullyAnd Parmigiano-Reggiano doesn’t even need to be refrigerated (!).

Long live the king.

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