Cheddar cheese is a staple in kitchens across America, but not all cheddars are created equal. From mild to sharp, crumbly to creamy, the world of cheddar offers something for everyone’s taste buds.
I’ve sampled countless varieties and narrowed down the absolute best (and not-so-great) options you’ll find in grocery stores today. Get ready for some cheesy opinions as we slice through the competition!
1. Cracker Barrel Sharp White
Holy cow, this cheese is the undisputed champion of the cheddar world! Cracker Barrel’s Sharp White delivers a perfect balance of tangy flavor and creamy texture that makes other cheddars weep with inadequacy. The clean finish leaves you wanting more without overwhelming your palate.
What makes this cheddar truly special is its versatility. Melts beautifully on burgers, stands proud on a cheese board, and transforms an ordinary sandwich into something magnificent. The white color means no artificial dyes, just pure cheese goodness.
2. Kerrygold Aged Cheddar
Straight from the green pastures of Ireland comes a cheddar that practically sings with flavor. Kerrygold’s rich, grass-fed milk creates a distinctive golden hue and a taste that’s simultaneously sweet and savory with tiny crunchy calcium crystals throughout.
Unlike many competitors, this Irish import manages to be both accessible to cheese novices and complex enough for connoisseurs. The texture strikes that magical balance between crumbly and smooth, breaking apart in satisfying chunks when cut.
3. Tillamook Sharp Cheddar
Bright orange and unapologetically bold, Tillamook’s flagship sharp cheddar has been converting mild cheese fans since 1909. This Pacific Northwest classic ages for over 9 months, developing a robust flavor profile that’s tangy without crossing into bitter territory.
The texture deserves special mention – firm enough to slice cleanly yet still maintains a buttery mouthfeel that melts beautifully. Home cooks swear by its performance in mac and cheese, where it creates the perfect gooey consistency without separating.
4. Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Vermont’s dairy pride shines through in every bite of Cabot’s sharp offering. The farmer-owned cooperative has perfected their recipe over 100 years, creating a cheese with a distinct New England personality – straightforward, reliable, and just a touch stubborn in its tang.
Remarkably versatile, this cheddar performs equally well in a grilled cheese sandwich or atop an apple pie (yes, really – try it). The texture leans toward crumbly rather than creamy, with a pleasant snap when bitten into.
5. Organic Valley Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Unpasteurized milk creates a game-changing difference in this hippie-approved cheddar. Organic Valley’s raw milk version contains living enzymes that develop complex flavors impossible to achieve in pasteurized alternatives – think grassy notes with hints of hazelnut and a surprisingly long finish.
The texture deserves praise too – slightly crumbly yet creamy enough to satisfy, with occasional crystalline crunches that cheese aficionados treasure. Sourced from small family farms committed to organic practices, this cheese satisfies both your taste buds and ethical concerns.
6. Boar’s Head Sharp Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese
Deli counter royalty enters the cheddar arena with a respectable, if somewhat predictable, offering. Boar’s Head’s Wisconsin-sourced cheddar delivers exactly what you’d expect – a reliable sharp flavor that’s consistent from first bite to last, if lacking the exciting peaks and valleys of more ambitious cheddars.
Texture-wise, it hits the sweet spot between firm and yielding, slicing beautifully for sandwiches without crumbling. The melt factor is impressive too, making it a solid choice for hot applications from burgers to Welsh rarebit.
7. 365 Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Whole Foods’ house brand makes a surprisingly decent showing in the cheddar competition. This no-frills option delivers a clean, straightforward sharp flavor that, while not particularly complex, avoids the plastic-like quality that plagues many budget cheddars.
The texture leans toward the firmer side, with a satisfying density that holds up well to slicing and grating. Melting properties are adequate though not exceptional – expect decent but not spectacular results in your next grilled cheese adventure.
8. Good & Gather Sharp Cheddar
Target’s fancy rebranding effort delivers a surprisingly decent budget cheddar option. Good & Gather’s sharp variety offers a respectable tang that develops slowly as you chew, though it dissipates more quickly than higher-ranked contenders on our list.
Texture-wise, it’s slightly waxy but melts adequately for casual cooking needs. The color is naturally derived (no artificial dyes here), resulting in a more subdued orange hue that signals its better-than-expected ingredient list.
9. Kraft Sharp Cheddar
Bringing up the rear is the cheddar that’s probably lurking in millions of American refrigerators right now. Kraft’s ubiquitous offering barely qualifies as sharp, with a mild flavor profile that disappears faster than free samples at Costco.
The texture veers dangerously close to processed cheese territory – slightly plastic-like and suspiciously uniform. Its one saving grace is meltability, performing reliably in cooked applications where stronger flavors can mask its shortcomings.