The Editor's Favorite Cheeses Ever
9 Feb 2022
BEST OF COLD CHEESES
3 Nov 2020
in order
THE 9 BOLD FACED are highest RECOMMENDED
Of the hundreds of cheeses with national distribution, I've tested a couple hundred; other great ones likely are out there, but these are my favorites
After this short list of 14 best cold cheeses is the same group of cheeses tested MELTED
A-
Trader Joes – Unexpected Cheddar (medium)
Sartoni – Raspberry Bella Vitano (by far the best of their Bella Vitano flavors – I tried them all) (available at delis nationwide plus Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Yancy's Fancy – X Sharp (NOT XXX Sharp: not as good) (at Sprouts chain)
B+
Somerdale – Wensleydale and Blueberries (Sprouts chain)
Clawson – Blueberry Stilton (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Somerdale – Wensleydale cranberry (national deli counters, plus Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Castello - Havarti (national deli counters, plus Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Lincet – Papaya Delice (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Castello Jalapeno Havarti (at Sprouts)
Sierra Nevada Jalapeno Jack (at Sprouts)
Clawson – Apricot Stilton (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Heber Valley Cheese - Wasatch Back Jalapeno (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Trader Joes – Danish Havarti
Sargento – Colby-Pepper Jack (Walmart and most markets)
BEST MELTED CHEESES
3 Nov 2020
All these are from BEST OF COLD CHEESES list above, in order, except where noted (several are not very good, but are very good cold):
the 5 bold-faced are especially recommended
A-
Trader Joes – Unexpected Cheddar (medium)
B++
Yancy's Fancy – X Sharp Cheddar (NOT XXX Sharp) (at Sprouts chain)
B+
Castello - Havarti (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
B/B+
Somerdale – Wensleydale cranberry (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Sierra Nevada Jalapeno Jack (at Sprouts)
Castello Jalapeno Havarti
Sargento – Colby-Pepper Jack (Walmart and most markets)
Sargento Aged White Cheddar (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
B
Sartoni – Raspberry Bella Vitano (by far the best of their Bella Vitano flavors – I tried them all) (available at Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Sargento Sharp Cheddar (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
B-/B
Clawson – Blueberry Stilton (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Cache Valley Pepper Jack (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
Sargento Extra Sharp Cheddar (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
B-
Somerdale – Wensleydale and Blueberries (Sprouts chain)
Trader Joes Jalapeno Montery Jack (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
B- -
Lincet – Papaya Delice (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Heber Valley Cheese - Wasatch Back Jalapeno (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
C+/B-
Westminster aged 12 months sharp cheddar
Tillamook Triple Cheese (NOT BEST OF COLD CHEESES)
C-/C
Trader Joes – Havarti
C-
Fontal Caravaggio – Defendi Italy (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
C- -
Clawson – Apricot Stilton (Harmons in Utah – at the “cheese island”)
Editor's Note about American Cheese:
The word process in cheese-making is mis-used, as all cheese is technically processed; however, saying American cheese is not cheese is like saying meatloaf is not meat. American cheese has less than 51% of cheese, just as meatloaf isn't all pure meat, but I love meatloaf if made right, yet I don't care for American cheese, which was started overseas over a hundred years ago. About a century ago Mr. Kraft perfected it in the U.S. and did a good thing, taking scraps of different types of cheeses that would have otherwise gone to waste and blending them together with other stuff. On the other hand, real cheese is nearly 100% cultured dairy and I personally prefer it much more, especially certain favorite brands of Colby, Colby-Jack, pepper-jack, and cheddar. For "real cheese," a lot of companies make mediocre-tasting cheese, even of those favorites I listed. Below is my list of favorites, in order:
Colby Pepper Jack
COLD:
Sargento B/B+
MELTED: not tested
Pepper Jack
WHEN COLD:
A-
Rumiano (at Sprouts) A-/A
Kraft (at many stores) A-
Archer Farms/Target (from 2016 test, fit here, right between Kraft and Sargento A-
Sargento (at many stores) A-
Organic Valley (at Sprouts and many stores) A - -
Private Selection (Smiths/Kroger's own brand) (tested in 2016: not given a grade but it ranked just below Sargento; likely B+)
Birch Berry (at many stores) (tested in 2016: not given a grade but it ranked just below Private Selection); likely B+
WHEN MELTED (rated in order, rather than by grade):
Organic Valley
Rumiano
Sargento
Prima Della
(the others not tested when melted)
Colby
Rumiana B++
Prima Della B+
MELTED:
Archer Farms - not tested melted
Rumiano A-
Prima Della B+
Colby Jack
2020:
Prima Della B
Kraft B-/B
Sprouts B-
Sargento B - -
Birch Berry (at Ridley's and other groceries) B-
MELTED:
Kraft A - -
Sargento B - -
Sprouts C+/B-
Prima Della C
Birch Berry (not tested melted)
Gouda
2020:
Sargento C/C+
Archer Farms/Target (graded lower than Sargento, probably C)
MELTED:
Rumiano A
Sargento C-/C
CHEDDAR
Octo 2020 + 2019 August Tests: CHEDDAR, MILD, MEDIUM, AND SHARP CATEGORIES:
mild: Archer Farms (in assorted pak) B/B+
Archer Farms (in assorted pack; plasticy tasting) B-/B
medium Trader Joes raw milk cheddar 4 months min B-
Kretschmar (in assorted pack) B-
Kretschmar B/B+
WHITE SHARP CHEDDAR
COLD:
Private Selections/Target B++
Kroger B?
Separate, second test for all others compared:
Prima Della C+
Organic Valley C-
Sargento C
Rumiano D+/C-
MELTED:
Private Selections/Target (not graded for melted)
Sargento B/B+
Organic Valley C/C+
Prima Della C-
Rumiano D/D+
EARLIER TESTS:
COLD:
Archer Farms/Target B/B+
Second, separate test for those below:
Sargento B
Rumiano B-
Organic Valley C
MELTED:
Archer Farms (not graded when melted)
Rumiano B
Sargento B-
Organic Valley C/C+
Havarti
COLD:
Private Selections/Smiths B+
Separate, second test for all others compared:
Prima Della B+
Rumiano B/B+
Archer Farms/Target B/B+
MELTED:
Prima Della B+
Rumiano B/B+
Private Selections (not graded melted)
Archer Farms (not graded melted)
Medium Cheddar
COLD:
Rumiano B - -
Sargento C-
Applegate (at Target) C (tested in 2016, not with above 2) C
2017 test:
Krogers (no grade given but below Sargento; probably C-)
MELTED:
Sargento C+
Rumiano C
Applegate (not tested when melted)
Munster (rates just above Havarti when melted)
COLD:
2017 test:
Archer Farms/Target B/B+
Prima Della C-
Sargento C - -
Spanish brand at Wal-Mart: almost a tie with Prima Della; probably C - -
2016 test:
Archer Farms/Target B/B+
Prima Della B
Birch Berry B-
Applegate (at Target) C+/B-
Sargento C/C+
Gossner C+
MELTED:
(test 2017)
Archer Farms/Target (not tested melted)
Prima Della C-
Sargento C - -
Baby Swiss
COLD:
2016 test:
Market Pantry (another Target brand) B
Prima Della B-
Boars Head (at Smiths/Krogers and many groceries in deli section) C+
Sargento (2016 test, with all other Baby Swiss brands receiving same grade as in 2017) C
Private Selection/Smiths C
Cheddar Jack
(2016 test)
Archer Farms B -
Land O Lakes B - -
Provolone
COLD:
2016 test:
Boars Head: their Domestic cheese (at Smiths/Kroger) C+
Birch Berry C
Sargento C-/C
Swiss
COLD:
2016 test:
2016 test, in order:
Boar's Head: their imported Switzerland Gold Label: C-
Prima Della C
Archer Farms/Target C
Kraft C-/C
Sargento C-
Private Selection/Target C-
Birch Berry C-
Gossner C - -
Parmesian
COLD:
2016 test:
Kraft C - -
OTHER CATEGORIES OF CHEESES, NOT PLACED IN ORDER OF ABOVE LIST:
Hot Pepper Jack
COLD:
Sprouts C+
Cheddar Jack
COLD:
Archer Farms/Target B-
Land O' Lakes B - -
Cheddar-Mozzarella blend
COLD:
Sargento C/C+
MELTED:
Sargento C+
Exotic and soft Cheeses found in more elaborate deli's:
Note: Harmons and some other grocers also currently or have recently carried these samples, which are among thousands for sale worldwide, with distribution in the U.S. of probably several hundred.
2017, July:
The top 7 are ranked in order. They are sold at grocer deli's such as the regional store Harmons:
1. Havartia Jalapeno - Castillo. Denmark. B+/A-
2. Fondal Caravaggin (like moist, creamy Havarti). B+
3. Wasatch Back Jack (with jalapeno, de arbol, green tomatillos) - Heber Valley Cheese, Utah. B/B+
4. Saint Angel - Triple Cream. Guriloteau, France. B/B+
5. 1 Le de France - Brie Bites Soft Ripened. B
6. Danish Fontina - Denmark's Finest. Denmark B-
7. Wensleydale Creamery, with cranberries. C+/B-
SOFT CHEESES AT SPROUTS (in order):
a. President. Brie. Soft ripened. C/C+
b. Pere Brie. 60% Double Cream (melted, it tastes better than Havarti Creamy Castillo) C/C+
c. Wicked River. Bergenost. Buttery triple cream. C
d. Pere Brie Triple Creme. C-/C
(also for sale at Sprouts is #5 best above: 1 Le de France.)
SOFT CHEESES NOT RANKED IN ORDER, sold at grocer deli's such as the regional store Harmons:
Raclette de Scey - semi-hard - Jean Perrin. France C
Havarti Creamy - Castello. Denmark C++
Champs Elysees Brie. France. C+
Supreme. France C/C+
Rougette. Champignon. Germany (soft bleu cheese) D
Cambozola Black Label. Champignon. Germany (like bleu cheese, soft) C - -
Amish Brie. Salem. Wisconsin. (soft, bleu cheese) C - - -
Fromage D/Affinois Truffle. Guilloteau. France. C-/C
Fontal Caravaggio. Defendi. Italy. C-
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