We Tasted 11 Cheddar Cheeses From the Supermarket — and Our Favorite Is Under $5

As much as we’d like to consistently splurge on artisanal wedges of cheddar from a cheesemonger, we’re often more likely to pick up a block from the dairy aisle. But good news: good cheese doesn’t have to be expensive. Many large-scale cheese producers have been perfecting their craft for decades, relying on some of the same old-school techniques used for more artisanal wheels. The result: creamy, nutty, genuinely interesting cheese for less than $5 a block.

To discover which store-bought cheddars fit that mold, we tasted 11 side by side. Read on for the five that will upgrade any grilled cheese, charcuterie board, or pasta bake.

How we selected the cheddar

For this taste test, we considered only cheddar found in the dairy aisle of the supermarket. These cheeses are generally packaged and sold in blocks and are less expensive than what you’d pick up at the cheese counter. We selected brands that are accessible nationwide in grocery stores and online. 

Most of these cheese brands produce several types of cheddar, such as mild, sharp, and extra sharp, but we only tasted “sharp” cheeses, which we considered to be the benchmark. 

Sharpness generally increases as cheddar ages and develops more concentrated, tangy flavors.  Legally, there are no exact specifications that differentiate sharp from other types of cheddar, but when it comes to supermarket cheddar, you can expect a flavor that’s slightly tangier than mild but more subtle than extra sharp.  Kerrygold doesn’t sell a “sharp cheddar,” so we opted for the closest equivalent — the aged cheddar cheese. 

How we tested

Every cheddar was cut into cubes and placed into bowls labeled by numbers so our editors had no indication of which products were included. We evaluated the cheeses based on taste and texture. 

For taste, we were looking for complexity — interesting notes like grass, toasted nuts, butter, and fruit — and an even balance between saltiness, sweetness, and sharpness. For texture, we wanted a firm cheddar that was supple, creamy, and slightly chewy. 

The tasters also gave each cheddar an overall score that reflected their personal preferences and how likely they’d be to buy it again. We averaged the scores to determine the five best cheddars on the market.

Best overall: Kerrygold Aged Cheddar

This cheddar is the closest you can get to gourmet cheese in the dairy aisle. Aged for one year, the Irish cheese is made with grass-fed cow’s milk, giving it a complex savory flavor. “It has a nice lip-smacking umami quality, almost like Parmesan,” said Senior Editor Audrey Morgan. The texture was firm, bordering on crumbly, but delightfully creamy on the palate. Add a slice to your next turkey sandwich, grate it into a salad, or serve it alongside preserves.

Most classic: Cracker Barrel Vermont Sharp White

This is the prototypical white cheddar. The flavor reminded us exactly of Annie’s white cheddar macaroni and cheese or white cheddar Cheez-Its — bright, slightly acidic, and very nostalgic. “This one is a tad saltier than others,” said Senior News Editor Karla Alindahao. Chewy and bouncy, this Vermont cheddar is perfect for a hot dip or breakfast sandwich — any time you want the cheese to be the star.

Best yellow cheddar: Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheddar

The only major difference between yellow and white cheddar is the inclusion of annatto, a natural food coloring. And yet, we found this Cracker Barrel cheese to be quite singular. It was by far the creamiest cheddar we tasted — pleasantly rich and mouth-coating.

“This is sharp compared to the others, but mildly imbalanced," said Associate Editorial Director Ashley Day. To cut the richness, serve this cheddar with fresh fruit like apples or strawberries.

Best for snacking: Tillamook Sharp Cheddar

Light, salty, and firm, this cheddar is highly snackable, akin to a cheese-flavored chip. “This tastes like the very standard supermarket cheddar you’d enjoy at a party with crackers,” said Morgan. While some of our editors found the texture to be gummy or “plastic-like,” we’d still recommend this sharp cheddar as a reliable, affordable crowd-pleaser.

Best mild cheddar: Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar

Tillamook’s white cheddar had a nearly identical texture to the yellow, but it had a subtler flavor. “It’s on the milder side, but it’s also got legitimate character,” said Editorial Director Dylan Garret. “It threads the needle between being too sharp and nondescript.” This is ideal for any recipe that requires the meltiness of cheddar cheese without the sharpness that often comes with it, such as macaroni and cheese or Korean Army Base Stew.

The full list of contenders, ranked from highest to lowest

1. Kerrygold Aged Cheddar
2. Cracker Barrel Vermont Sharp White
3. Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow
4. Tillamook Sharp Cheddar
5. Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar 
6. Cabot Vermont Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
7. Black Creek Sharp Cheddar Cheese
8. Kraft Sharp Cheddar
9. Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese
10. Land O' Lakes Sharp Cheddar Cheese
11. 365 by Whole Foods Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese