Of course, then there’s thecheesearguably the star of the showand don’t forget thewine!
Scroll to your favorite category and check out which cheese placed first.
“It really depends on what you like.
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Crave also buys the store brand, aka private label, at his local grocery store.
Those are cheeses made by a well-known producer but packaged with the store’s own branding.
These typically have a lower price point than a name-brand cheese.
Milton Creamery
“This is one way to still have good cheese at an affordable price.”
Also: ask for samples!
Mary Ann Ferrer is a cheese and dairy educator at the University of Guelphfood science department.
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She advises shoppers to taste-test any samples offered at the deli counter.
“If you see a sign mentioning ‘award-winning’ you should try it,” she says.
Don’t forget to look at the ingredient list.
Klondike
(A quick note: prices will vary based on your location.)
“A perfect bite and a great melter.”
“Those could be sitting in their case and suffocating in plastic wrap for weeks,” she says.
Instacart
Prairie Breeze Cheddar retails foraround$6.50 for a five-ounce piece.
This year, it placedfirstin the aged cheddar category at the American Cheese Society competition.
What makes it so great?
Innit
Ferrer says it’s sharp, but not in-your-face sharp.
“The body has the smoothness and silkiness I expect from this age,” she says.
She says this cheese strikes a perfect balance between nuttiness, saltiness, and sharpness.
“This is not the average grocery store cheese, it actually tastes like artisanal, farmstead cheese.
It is the perfect high-end grilled cheese sandwich cheese!”
This retails foraround$5 for an eight-ounce block.
Odyssey Feta from Klondike
This family-owned cheese company in Wisconsin knowsits feta.
Ferrer says Klondike’s Odyssey Feta, flavored or unflavored, is a winner in many cheese competitions.
“That is an amazing score!”
The eight-ounce in brine retails foraround$5, with price varying depending on chunks or crumbles.
Moist yet firm, it’s aged three months for a buttery and spicy flavor.
“But ‘cheap’ is a relative term,” he explains.
“I’d rather educate consumers about cheese and how to buy it.”
One thing to keep in mind?
“Not all cheese gets better with age.
Some cheese made and aged properly can have better flavor profiles than cheeses aged much longer.”
