Randy Chandler
Cheddar is a beloved cheese, with its nutty, tangy, and sharp flavours, semi-firm texture, and admirable meltability. It is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed on its own as a snack, melted on top of a burger, or incorporated into dishes like mac and cheese, grilled cheese, and even apple pie. With its wide range of uses, it is no wonder that cheddar is a popular choice for many.
When it comes to determining the best cheddar, factors such as age, colour, shape, and brand come into play. Some popular brands include Kerrygold, Cracker Barrel, Cabot, and Tillamook, with the latter's 10-year-aged Cheddar being named the 'Best Cheddar in the World' at the World Cheese Awards. However, the best cheddar may also depend on individual preferences for sharpness, texture, and intended use.
In the end, while there are many excellent cheddars to choose from, the title of 'best' may be subjective and vary from person to person.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Bright, tangy, nutty, salty, sharp, bitter, creamy, sweet, spicy, mild, extra sharp |
| Texture | Semi-firm, cleanly slices without crumbling, bendy, oily, crumbly, soft, squishy |
| Meltability | Melts well, melts less well |
| Colour | White, orange |
| Shape | Block, shredded, sliced |
| Brand | Kerrygold, Cracker Barrel, Cabot, Trader Joe's, Organic Valley, Market Pantry, Whole Foods, Kraft, Tillamook, Cougar Gold, Black Bomber, Bellavitano, Wyke Farms, Renards, McCadam, Sartori, Happy Belly, Beechers |
| Awards | Scovie Awards, World Cheese Awards, International Cheese and Dairy Awards |
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What You'll Learn
Cheddar cheese for mac and cheese
Mac and cheese is a beloved comfort food, but choosing the wrong cheese can lead to a bland, greasy, or dry dish. The cheese you select can make or break your mac and cheese sauce. The two primary qualities you should consider when sourcing cheese are taste and meltability. Cheddar is a popular choice for mac and cheese because it strikes the right balance between these two qualities.
Cheddar brings more than familiarity to your dish. Its versatility and diverse aging profiles make it an essential component in any cheese sauce. The different cheddar varieties include:
- Sharp: Sharp cheddar’s bold, complex flavors develop during its extended aging process. While it requires more heat to achieve the perfect melt, its robust taste creates a deeply satisfying sauce base.
- Mild: Mild cheddar melts beautifully and provides a gentle, buttery flavor that appeals to most palates. It’s perfect for creating that classic, creamy mac and cheese. Its higher moisture content makes it ideal for achieving that perfect stringy pull.
- Medium: Medium-aged varieties offer the best of both worlds. They provide enough flavor complexity to keep things interesting while maintaining excellent melting properties. It can be used alone or as part of a cheese blend.
While sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, some people prefer medium cheddar for extra-creamy results. Medium cheddar has more moisture and melts more easily than sharp cheddar. When selecting cheddar for your mac and cheese, it is best to buy it in a block and grate your own. Pre-shredded cheese often contains additives like cornstarch and preservatives that can interfere with silky melting.
Cheddar can be used on its own or as a base cheese, but feel free to mix in different flavorful cheeses based on your taste preferences. Some classic combinations include:
- Cheddar and Gruyère: Gruyère melts similarly to cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor.
- Cheddar and Smoked Gouda: Smoked gouda balances the sharpness of cheddar perfectly.
- Cheddar, Gruyère, and Fontina: This combination has the perfect balance of creaminess and flavor.
- Cheddar, Gruyère, and White Cheddar: Combine with a pinch of nutmeg and a touch of Dijon mustard to amplify the natural flavors.
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Sharp cheddar vs mild cheddar
Cheddar cheese is a beloved staple in many kitchens around the world. It is versatile and rich in flavour, making it perfect for different dishes, whether it be a grilled cheese sandwich or a fancy charcuterie board.
There are different levels of cheddar cheese ageing, which determine its sharpness and complexity of flavours. Mild cheddar is aged for only a few months, while medium cheddar is aged for a few months longer. Extra sharp cheddar, on the other hand, is aged for 18 months or more. The longer the cheese is aged, the sharper and more robust the flavour becomes.
The sharp version of cheddar is noticeably tangier and richer in flavour than mild cheddar. Mild cheddar is creamy and buttery, with a subtle nuttiness, making it a great option for melting. The sharper a cheddar gets, the harder it is to melt. It will still melt, but expect less unity and more clumpiness than with the mild version.
Some sources suggest that sharp cheddar costs more because it has to be aged longer, so the producer cannot make money off of it for a longer period. However, others suggest that the price difference between sharp and mild cheddar is not always noticeable, especially with store-brand cheeses. It is also possible that producers add flavour additives to sharp cheddar to give it an "aged" flavour without actually ageing it.
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Best cheddar cheese brands
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a higher calcium content than softer cheeses. It is the indisputable favourite of Americans. Cheddar cheese is labelled as mild, sharp, extra sharp, or seriously sharp, with the latter being aged for two years or more. The labels, however, do not have official designations.
Kerrygold
Kerrygold is an Irish cheddar with a buttery texture. It is one of the top five cheddars, according to Bon Appetit.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is a classic cheddar cheese that was launched by Kraft in 1954. Its shape allows for slices that fit well on crackers. It has a complex flavour with buttery notes and a soft texture.
Cabot
Cabot cheddar is a well-balanced, rich, buttery, and zesty cheese. It also offers a habanero-infused variety that delivers on spice and has a fruity flavour.
Tillamook
Tillamook offers a medium white cheddar cheese made with milk, salt, and enzymes. It is a great option for those who prefer milder flavours and do not want the extra-sharp taste.
Boar's Head
Boar's Head is a Wisconsin cheddar that is suitable for cheeseburgers.
Other notable cheddar cheese brands include Bega, Coles, Organic Valley, and Woolworths.
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Best imported cheddars
Cheddar cheese is named after a village in Somerset County, England, and the best way to understand this variety of cheese is to sample some of the top examples from its place of origin. Here are some of the best English cheddars:
Neal's Yard Montgomery's Cheddar
Neal's Yard Montgomery's Cheddar is a partnership between Neal's Yard and cheesemaker Jamie Montgomery. It is made with milk from Manor Farm, which is overseen by his nephew, Rory. It is made in both raw and pasteurized forms from milk collected from Friesian cows. Each wheel is wrapped in a muslin cloth and rubbed with lard before being stored on wooden shelves in the cellar for 12 to 18 months. This extended period of ageing makes it a crumbly, crystalline cheddar with brothy, nearly meaty notes.
Quicke's Cheddar
The Quicke family has been raising cattle on their family farm since the 1500s. Their cheese is made using equipment and techniques that date back hundreds of years. The current proprietor, Mary Quicke, has been working on the farm since 1984, and her daughter, Jane, now leads the company.
Wyke Farms
Wyke Farms cheddar is available at Publix for a very reasonable price of around $6-7 a block. It is an excellent choice for a supermarket cheese and is imported from the UK.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a top choice for those looking for a well-rounded cheddar with a good balance of flavours. It is a popular brand that delivers a rich, buttery, and zesty flavour profile. Their habanero-infused cheddar is also a great choice for those who like it spicy.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is a classic, tasty, and affordable cheddar that can be found at most grocery stores. It is shaped so that when you slice the brick, you get little squares that are perfect for piling on top of crackers.
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Best uses for cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some of the best uses for this popular cheese:
Cooking and Baking
Cheddar cheese is an excellent cooking and baking ingredient due to its meltability and flavour. It can be shredded and added to dishes like mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and casseroles. It can also be used as a topping for dishes like broccoli mac and cheese, cheesy sweet potatoes, and apple pie.
Snacking
Cheddar cheese is a popular snack option and can be enjoyed on its own or with crackers. For a quick and easy snack, pair it with some crackers or bread. Its sharpness and tanginess make it a tasty standalone snack.
Cheese Boards
Cheddar is a great addition to cheese boards, offering a range of flavours and textures. Include different varieties of cheddar, such as sharp, medium, or mild, to add interest and variety to your platter.
Pairing with Other Foods
Cheddar pairs well with a variety of foods. It can be melted on top of burgers or used as a filling in sandwiches. It also goes well with crackers, making it a versatile ingredient for snacks and appetizers. Additionally, consider pairing aged cheddar with drinks like stout beer, Cabernet Sauvignon wine, or paloma cocktails.
Storage and Ageing
Some cheddars benefit from ageing, developing complex flavours and crunchy calcium lactate bits. Storing cheddar in the fridge for a few years can result in a more flavourful and textured cheese.
Cheddar cheese is a versatile and popular ingredient that can enhance a variety of dishes. Its sharpness, tanginess, and meltability make it a favourite for cooking, snacking, and entertaining.
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Frequently asked questions
A good cheddar should have a bright, tangy note of lactic sourness without tasting like spoiled milk or funky yoghurt. It should have a well-balanced sharpness that complements the natural creaminess of the cheese. The texture should be semi-firm and slice cleanly without crumbling. Finally, a good cheddar should melt well.
Some popular cheddar brands include Kerrygold, Cracker Barrel, Cabot, Organic Valley, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Market Pantry, Kraft, and Tillamook.
Some of the best cheddars include Tillamook's Maker's Reserve 2014 Extra Sharp White Cheddar, which was named the 'Best Cheddar in the World' at the World Cheese Awards, and Cougar Gold, which is known for developing crunchy calcium lactate bits when aged.
Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in many ways. It can be eaten as a quick snack, on crackers or on its own, or used in cooking, such as in mac and cheese, grilled cheese, or on top of a burger.
