TJ’scheese departmentis another reason to love this quirky grocery store.
There are even someplant-basedand lactose-free cheese options.
Trader Joe’s has all your cheesy needs covered.
Photos by Lizzy Briskin. Design by Eat This, Not That!
The store stocks fancy cheeses for entertaining and a great mix of pre-shredded Parms and mozzarella for topping pizzas.
Of course, there are also slices for sandwiches and burgers and tubs of cream cheeses and spreads.
Even the professionals shop at TJ’s.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
For cooking, Bronwne notes that it comes down to the recipe you have in mind and personal preference.
I picked up seven of the most popular cheeses at Trader Joe’s to sample for myself.
I took note of how each cheese looked, smelled, and, of course, tasted.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:The cheese presumably comes from a long tube.
The grocery store sells it in a thick, round patty shape with a rust-brown rind around the perimeter.
The center is yellowish, and the cheese has a firm but squishy, rubbery texture.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The rind is edible, and it can be peeled off easily.
The center of the cheese was mild and creamy, but nothing stood out.
It’s sold in wedges, presumably taken from a large wheel.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The center is off-white and marked by slivers of mixed mushrooms and air bubbles of various sizes.
It has a semi-firm texture, so this is not the uber-creamy, spreadable brie you may expect.
Wisconsin Extra Sharp Cheddar
This plank of extra-sharp cheddar is a product of Wisconsin.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:This is a pretty standard-looking block of white cheddar cheese.
It’s just under 1 inch thick and has a firm texture that gives a bit when squeezed.
It slices easily into neat rectangles.
Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The packaging doesn’t specify where this cheese is from.
The look:This cheese is sold in the signature thick wedge.
The cheese is the firmest in this test and has a pale yellow color.
Lizzy Briskin for Eat This, Not That!
I think pricier imported parmesan cheeses have a more robust flavor.
The look:This thin wedge is coated on one side with a generous sprinkling of dried rosemary.
This asiago also has a firm rind on one side.
The taste:I immediately noticed the funky aroma of this cheese after opening the package.
It has a sharp but creamy flavor with an herby finish.
I Tried 8 Trader Joe’s Frozen Pizzas & the Best Was Tasty (and Adorable!)
Double Cream Gouda Cheese
This gouda comes from Holland and is made with cow’s milk.
Like the parm, it’s sliced from a larger wheel and has a rind on two sides.
It has a darker yellow rind that’s quite hard and waxy.
It’s sharp but creamy, with a richness that coats your mouth.
The texture is semi-hard, and the cheese is easy to slice into planks or cubes.
The rind also peels off easily.
The look:The high-fat content of this soft cheese is visible.
The taste:This cheese is insanely creamy and rich.
you might cut away slices, but they nearly fall apart on your knife.
This is a cheese that needs a cracker for spreading.
The flavor is wonderfully buttery and has a funky back-of-the-throat flavor that you get from well-made cheeses.
