It’s nearly impossible to choose a favorite supermarket section. But if we were forced to do so, we’d probably choose the cheese case. Spanning from versatile, protein-rich cottage cheese to halloumi that’s perfect for grilling and funky blue cheeses, this section is packed with countless ounces of meltable, flavorful delight.
While having an abundant supply is beneficial, it also makes selecting the best option from many choices challenging. This is especially true in popular and crowded categories like cheddar cheese.
So, to help us all shop wisely the next time we’re faced with the Sophie’s choice of choosing one cheddar over another, we called in the experts.
Our Panel of Cheddar-Rating Chefs
- Erin Clarke, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based recipe developer and the author of “Well Plated Every Day: Recipes for Easier, Healthier, More Exciting Daily Meals”
- Yumna Jawad, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based CEO and founder of Feel Good Foodie and the author of “The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook: 125 Recipes Enhanced with Mediterranean Flavors”
- Arnold Myint, chef-partner of International Market 2.0 in Nashville, Tennessee, and the author of “Family Thai: Bringing the Flavors of Thailand Home”
- Emily Susman, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based chef, creator of Emma Claire’s Kitchen, and author of “Get Stuffed: Everyday Recipes Irresistibly Transformed”
Qualities of the Best Cheddar Cheese
Whether you’re investing in blocks, slices, or shreds, the chefs believe that the best cheddar cheese meets the following criteria.
- It has a sharp, bold flavor. “I’m always looking for bold flavor with a nice sharp bite, especially with aged cheddar,” explains cookbook author Yumna Jawad. If a cheese is bland or tastes overly processed or plastic-like, chef Emily Susman says it’s wise to pass.
- The consistency is creamy and smooth. In addition to being full of flavor, the best cheddars have “a creamy, smooth texture that isn’t crumbly or dry,” Susman adds. They should melt easily. Cheddar is a hard cheese, after all, so chef Arnold Myint notes that it should be dense. Waxy or rubbery cheddars are “a no for me,” Jawad says.
- The ingredient list is short. The best blocks and slices of cheddar contain pasteurized milk, cultures, enzymes, salt, and little to nothing else—the chefs agree. For shreds, Jawad looks for ‘cheddar’ listed in the ingredients, “without a bunch of additives or anti-caking agents.”
The Best Cheddar Cheese, According to Chefs
There are several solid selections in the cheddar category, the chefs tell us. But one came out on top with votes from half of our panelists: Cabot Creamery. Available in blocks, pre-sliced blocks, shreds, snack sticks (aka string cheese), and snack bars, Cabot’s cheddar is “creamy, tangy, and hands-down my favorite,” Jawad admits. Cabot earns bonus points for its wide availability, “making it an easy pick for everyday recipes,” Jawad adds.
Cabot Creamery / Allrecipes
Whether you choose one of the flavored varieties, classic sharp, extra sharp, seriously sharp, or an aged option, Cabot stands out due to its “bold, sharp flavor and high-quality consistency,” explains cookbook author Erin Clarke. “It’s perfect when you want a big punch of cheddar flavor combined with smooth meltability,” noting that it’s “my top pick for grilled cheese.”
Jawad applauds the fact that “you can really taste the aging process in the best way. I use Cabot’s block or shredded versions, and feel like the quality is always consistent.” That’s because, regardless of the format, the ingredient list is refreshingly short—the only ingredients added in the shreds versus the blocks are potato starch and tapioca starch.
Honorable Mentions
You probably won’t be disappointed if you add any of the top cheddars listed below to your cart, according to experts. Each of these options features a similar short ingredient list of pasteurized milk, cultures, enzymes, and salt, with differences mainly in fine details, such as their aging duration. (Usually, cheese becomes sharper as it ages.)
- Tillamook: Although they might be more well-known for their ice cream, Tillamook Farmers’ Collection Hickory Smoked Extra Sharp White Cheddar was named the best cheese in America in 2024. Tillamook’s classic cheddar is Clarke’s close runner-up to Cabot because it’s “buttery-smooth and has a nice balance of sharpness and richness. It’s my go-to for cheesy casseroles of all kinds, because it melts nicely and doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.”
- Cracker Barrel: Susman’s gold medal goes to this general store restaurant’s cheddar. The extra sharp in particular “has a bold, tangy flavor and a perfectly smooth texture that works for both snacking and cooking,” she tells Allrecipes. “It tastes like a classic, high-quality cheddar without feeling overly processed, and it always delivers consistency.”
- Trader Joe’s: Since Myint has a growing toddler at home, he likes to keep his cheese drawer well-stocked with blocks, slices, and sticks for easy snacking. Myint loves Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar for its punchy flavor, convenience, and regular sale prices. This cheddar is such a consistent fan favorite that the retailer now sells it as a spread.
- Kerrygold: Made with milk from grass-fed cows, the beloved butter brand’s cheddar is “nutty and super sharp,” Clarke says. The bold nature of this cheese makes it ideal for snacking or adding to cheese boards, she notes, rather than using it in cheesy recipes.
How To Use Cheddar Cheese, Chef Style
Each of these cheddar cheeses is delicious enough to enjoy on its own, but the chefs confirm that cheddar is one of the best team players in the cheese case. If you’d like to incorporate cheddar into your menu even more, consider these chef-approved ideas:
- Assemble a simple cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mayo to feel like a kid again
- Top a tortilla with your favorite spread, add deli meat and cheddar slices, then roll and slice for party-perfect pinwheels
- Shred your own cheddar from a block (it melts better than pre-shredded!) to cook down into a cheddar cheese sauce to drizzle over broccoli or baked potatoes
- Spread apple slices with honey or fig jam, then enjoy with a sliver of cheese on top
- Fold shredded cheddar into biscuits, scones, or savory muffin batter
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar into scrambled eggs, tacos, or quesadillas
- Mix shredded cheddar with a milder cheese like mozzarella or American for a beautifully balanced mac and cheese
- Showcase slices inside sheet pan grilled cheese
