What Kind of Cheddar Should I Use in Recipes? | Cook's Country (2024)

FAQs

Which cheddar is best for cooking? ›

“If you're planning to use the cheese in a recipe, look for meltable mild to medium cheddars. Older cheddars will not melt as well, but will also have more robust flavor profiles for salads, sandwiches and cheese boards.”

New York Cheddar: New York Cheddar is a regional style of Cheddar cheese produced in the state of New York. It is typically aged longer than the standard Cheddar, resulting in a sharp and tangy flavor.

Can I Use Mild and Sharp Cheddars Interchangeably in Recipes? Mild cheddar melts more smoothly than sharper (older) cheddars, so swapping a sharper cheese in a recipe that calls for mild could result in a greasy, curdled mess.

Types of Cheddar

Medium cheddar has a slightly stronger flavor, while sharp cheddar has a tangy and robust taste that pairs well with bold flavors. Aged cheddar can range from one year to over a decade in age, with a crumbly texture and sharp flavor that intensifies with age.

Start with a Mild or Sharp Cheddar

Mild and Sharp Cheddar have a smoother, creamier texture than Extra Sharp and Seriously Sharp Cheddar. They also have a higher moisture content than Extra Sharp and Seriously Sharp Cheddar and are, therefore, easier to melt.

For most dishes a softer, Cheddar, creamy Lancashire, or Gruyère-style are almost perfect for cooking, having the strength of flavour and a structure (moisture/acidity/calcium) that means they melt extremely well. A bit of age to the cheese will help, as it gives a sharper flavour which will come through in the dish.

An overview of Food Network's mac and cheese roundup reveals that most recipes have one type of cheese in common: sharp Cheddar. Sharp Cheddar —especially the inexpensive, mass-market block you can buy at the supermarket —strikes just the right balance between meltability and flavor.

Arla B.O.B Cheddar gives you the best of both worlds. Made from 100% British milk, this mature cheddar has the delicious flavour of full fat mature without compromoising on taste with 30% less fat than standard mature. Ideal for operators who want to provide healthier meal options on their menus.

Although the flavor of Colby has many parallels with cheddar, it would be a disservice to describe it as simply a mild cheddar. Colby is a firm cheese that tastes lactic and mild, with a buttery finish. Compared to cheddar, Colby has a more open texture and a sweeter flavor.

When to use sharp cheddar cheese? ›

Sharp Cheddars pair well with fresh fruits, such as apple and grapes, and impart a rich flavor when shredded and melted into dishes, such as pasta or omelets.

Sharp cheddar is going to be more flavorful than mild cheddar but less intense than extra-sharp cheddar. You can also try aged cheddar for a richer cheese flavor. Cheddar cheese pairs well with an all-beef burger or something more exotic like a bison burger.

Just like its younger sibling, Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar, it is consistent from batch to batch. You know what you are getting every time. Seriously Sharp is another story; it's our “wild” cheddar. Its flavor is unpredictable, always earns a “puck,” and is usually even sharper than Extra Sharp.

The aging process is what gives each variety its distinctive flavor and texture. The term "sharp" refers to the changes in taste and texture that occur as cheddar cheese ages, which typically takes anywhere from two months to a year, or more, depending on the desired sharpness.

One of the most popular cheeseburger helpers is Cheddar cheese, which gives a cheeseburger a nice “tang” with bold flavor. White or yellow Cheddar varieties range from mild to sharp (or aged). Typically, young (mild) Cheddars will melt the best.

The shredded cheese melted easily and didn't make a mess. If you want a sharp, flavorful take on a classic, I'd say white cheddar is the best cheese for grilled cheese—particularly if you can pair it with truffle-flavored anything!

Since color doesn't determine quality and annatto dye doesn't affect flavor, which should you choose? Whatever you want! Select your cheese based on your personal preference to taste and sharpness, especially if purchasing pre-packaged options.

The longer cheese is aged naturally, the sharper and more pronounced the Cheddar flavor becomes. Mild Cheddar cheese is generally aged for 2 to 3 months, whereas an extra sharp might be aged for as long as a year. Mature Cheddar has a stronger flavour, extra mature is even better.