Exploring Cracker Barrel Cheddar: Processed Or Not?

Cracker Barrel Cheese is a brand of cheese that was founded 70 years ago out of a passion for creating high-quality cheese. The brand has over 17 flavours and formats, including the popular Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, which is described as smooth, sharp, and creamy. Cracker Barrel also offers other cheddar cheese varieties, such as Sharp Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar. The brand uses proprietary heirloom starter cultures, cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, and annatto for colour. But is Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese processed?

Is Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese Processed?

Explore related products

Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Chunk (8 oz Block)

$3.27

Vermont Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Chunk (8 oz Block)

$4.49

Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Sticks (10 Sticks)

$4.28

Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices (24 Slices)

$5.99

Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Chunk (8 oz Block)

$4.49

Marbled Sharp Cheddar Cheese Chunk (8 oz Block)

$4.49

Cracker Barrel Cheese: a brief history

Cracker Barrel Cheese has been around for about 60-70 years, with its dedication to creating the highest-quality cheese continuing to this day. The brand is owned by Kraft Foods, which has sold a line of cheese under the Cracker Barrel name since 1954, according to a lawsuit filed by Kraft in 2013.

The cheese brand is distinct from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, a chain of restaurants and gift stores with a Southern country theme, founded in 1969 by Dan Evins, a representative for Shell Oil. Evins developed the restaurant and gift store concept as a plan to improve gasoline sales, designing it to resemble the traditional country stores he remembered from his childhood. The name comes from the barrels of soda crackers that could be found for sale in small-town stores across the American South in the early 1900s. The first restaurant was built close to Interstate 40 in Lebanon, Tennessee, opening on September 19, 1969, serving Southern cuisine, including biscuits, grits, country ham, and turnip greens.

In 2012, Cracker Barrel licensed its name to Smithfield Foods John Morrell Division to sell meat products, leading Kraft Foods to file a trademark-infringement lawsuit, claiming that consumers would confuse the similarly-named products. A judge granted an injunction against the sale of Cracker Barrel-branded meat products, ruling that the ban should remain in place while the two companies fought the issue out in court.

Today, Cracker Barrel Cheese is known for its rich and bold flavor, achieved through the use of proprietary heirloom starter cultures and high standards of cheese-making. The brand offers over 17 flavors in various formats, catering to different palates and occasions.

Ingredients and nutrition

Cracker Barrel's cheddar cheese is made with a variety of ingredients that contribute to its unique flavour and texture. The specific ingredients can vary slightly depending on the type of cheddar cheese, but they generally include:

• Pasteurized milk or part-skim milk
• Cheese culture
• Salt
• Enzymes
• Annatto (colour)
• Natamycin (a natural mould inhibitor)
• Vitamin A palmitate

The combination of these ingredients gives Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese its characteristic creamy, smooth, and rich texture, along with a sharp and bold flavour.

In terms of nutrition, Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese is a good source of protein and calcium. It also contains other essential nutrients like vitamin A, which is important for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function. However, it's important to note that cheddar cheese is also high in fat and sodium, so it should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

The nutritional profile of Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese can vary slightly depending on the specific type and the serving size. For example, the Sharp Cheddar variety contains approximately 110 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 200 mg of sodium per 1-ounce (28-gram) serving. The Extra Sharp Cheddar variety has a similar nutritional profile, with slightly higher levels of sodium and calcium.

Overall, Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese is a delicious and nutritious option, but it's important to enjoy it as part of a well-rounded and balanced diet that includes a variety of whole foods.

Pasteurized vs part-skim milk

Pasteurization, developed by Louis Pasteur in 1864, is a heat treatment that kills bacteria in milk without significantly affecting its nutritional value or taste. It is an essential process as unpasteurized milk can cause illnesses such as tuberculosis, typhoid fever, sore throat, and scarlet fever. Pasteurized milk is also more affordable than skimmed milk.

Skimmed milk, on the other hand, is a product from which the cream has been removed from whole milk. It is intended for those who are obese or have high blood pressure. However, contrary to popular belief, drinking skimmed milk does not help lower calorie consumption.

Cracker Barrel Cheese, a brand known for its high-quality cheese, uses pasteurized milk in its products. Their Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, for example, is made with pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto (for color), and natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor). The pasteurized milk ensures that the cheese is safe to consume and does not affect its taste or nutritional value.

The brand also uses part-skim milk in some of its products, such as the Sharp Cheddar Cheese. This variety is made with pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto, vitamin A palmitate, and natamycin. The use of part-skim milk gives this particular cheese a different nutritional profile than those made with whole milk.

Explore related products

Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Chunk (8 oz Block)

$4.49

Cubes, Aged Reserve Cheddar Cheese (2 oz Bag)

$1.83

Cubes, Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese (2 oz Bag)

$1.59

Cheddar Jack Cheese Sticks (10 Sticks)

$4.28 $5.49

Oven Baked Sharp White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (12.3 oz Pouch)

$7.15

Cracker Cuts Pepper Jack, Cheddar Jack, Asiago & Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slice Variety Pack, 48 ct Tray

$8.48

Cheese culture and enzymes

Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese is a processed cheese with a unique selling point in its smooth texture and mild, buttery flavour. The manufacturing process, including the careful selection of bacteria and precise aging, contributes to its taste and consistency.

The cheese is crafted using a technique that involves heating the milk to a specific temperature, then adding bacterial cultures and enzymes to curdle it. The specific strains of cultures and types of enzymes used are carefully selected to create a unique flavour profile, often described as a sharp, slightly tangy cheddar. The combination of milk, cultures, and enzymes is a delicate balance, and Cracker Barrel's expertise lies in perfecting this blend.

The bacterial cultures play a crucial role in the fermentation process, producing enzymes that break down milk proteins and create a softer, creamier texture. This blend is then aged, allowing the flavours to develop and mature, resulting in the familiar, slightly crumbly texture of Cracker Barrel Cheddar.

The enzymes added during the cheese-making process help coagulate the milk proteins, forming a gel-like structure that traps the whey (the liquid part of the milk). This step is essential for the cheese's final consistency, giving it a semi-solid, spreadable texture. The precise control of the manufacturing process ensures that the final product has the desired smooth and creamy consistency that Cracker Barrel Cheddar is known for.

In terms of additives, Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese has been classified as having low processing concerns. This means that it generally contains fewer artificial ingredients and more ingredients that are either whole foods or minimally processed. The product has been found to contain enzymes and cheese culture, which are necessary for the cheese-making process and contribute to its unique flavour and texture.

Cracker Barrel Cheese awards

Cracker Barrel Cheese, which was founded 70 years ago out of a passion for creating the highest-quality cheese, has continued to uphold its dedication to quality. The company uses the same proprietary heirloom starter cultures that it has used for over half a century to give its cheese a rich and bold flavor.

Cracker Barrel Cheese has won several awards over the years, including first-place honors for the best sharp cheddar (aged six months to one year) category at the 2012 World Champion Cheese Contest. This biennial international competition was held in Madison, Wisconsin, and the win prompted the company to introduce an advertising campaign highlighting its awards. The campaign aimed to persuade consumers who may have underestimated the brand and to give context and credibility to the awards by focusing on the scrutiny of cheese judges.

The advertising campaign for Cracker Barrel Cheese, created by Droga5 of Manhattan, included television, print, digital, and in-store advertising. The company expected to spend $20 million to $30 million on the campaign, targeting the 26% of cheese buyers who consider award claims on packaging an important factor in their purchasing decisions.

Cracker Barrel Cheese offers over 17 varieties of cheese, designed to fit perfectly on a cracker and suit taste preferences for any occasion. The company's commitment to quality and unique flavor combinations has made it a favorite among consumers, with its products available across the United States in various cooking and snacking formats.

Frequently asked questions