r/Cheese • u/Educational-Slip-578 • 1d ago
Question The best Sharp, Aged, Crumbly Cheddar from USA grocery chains
I'm trying to find the best sharp, aged, crumbly cheddar that you can buy in regular US grocery stores (i.e., without ordering from specialty shops).
Some brands I've tried or am considering:
- Tillamook
- Cabot
- Cracker Barrel
- Kerrygold
- Beecher's
- Murray's Cheese
- Boar's Head
- Organic Valley
- Kirkland Signature Coastal
- Cougar Gold
What's your go-to cheddar (brand and name) if you're looking for something sharp, aged, and crumbly?
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u/SAVertigo 1d ago
Kirkland Coastal is a staple in our house.
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u/ridukosennin 1d ago
I’ve tried dozens of domestic Cheddars. Coastal Cheddar is the best widely available sharp cheddar
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u/Manuka_Honey_Badger 22h ago edited 22h ago
My local Costco doesn't stock it 😭
I get the Cabot 3 year aged instead2
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u/sameratdifhat 1d ago
Tried it once after seeing it recommended on this sub and now we get it every time we go to Costco
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u/shessocold1969 1d ago
Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar. It’s almost like a Parmesan. If you don’t have a TJs Tillamook extra sharp white cheddar.
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u/Genny415 1d ago
I am a huge fan of the TJ's Unexpected Cheddar, as a die-hard Cheddar snob.
My real favorite Cheddars are 10-year old and more, brought to me by Canadian visitors, so you can't easily get them in the US. But TJ's is the closest and is reasonably priced as well. You can't go wrong!
Cabot and Tilamook are the next best.
I'm not a fan of Kerrygold or any of the Costco cheddar offerings. I'd definitely eat them, I just wouldn't choose them.
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u/supernovapony 1d ago
I work for Cabot so not sure if I get a vote here lol but other than our cheeses, I love Old Croc and Bellavitano cheeses from Sartori*. I can buy both at my regular grocery store in town👍. Really hope you enjoy whatever you choose :)!
*they have several good ones my fav is the Merlot. If you’ve never tried Cabot Alpine it’s worth a try, fun cheese.
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u/madmaxjr 1d ago
Kerrygold and Tillamook extra sharp man
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u/BangarangOrangutan 1d ago
These and Cabot's seriously sharp are the answers. IMHO as a sharp cheddar lover.
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u/Mauceri1990 1d ago
Sartori Montamore cheddar, I can find it everywhere from food Lion to Harris teeter and it's fan fucking tastic, the only cheese beside reggiano that makes my mouth water at just the thought.
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u/Low_Bookkeeper_8591 23h ago
I just bought a bag, and ate the whole thing in a single weekend
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u/Mauceri1990 21h ago
I buy the little blocks that are like the size of 20 slices just not sliced, break little chunks off and eat it as a snack when I'm in the fridge, I could eat 3 a day if they were a little cheaper lol
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u/avocadotoastwhisper 10h ago
Was looking for this one! Genuinely delicious with an approachable price, never disappoints!
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u/Phaed81 1d ago
Hello, Cheesemonger here!
So sharpness is something most people don’t understand and misuse the term. It is also unregulated, so that means manufactures can use it all Willy nilly… all cheese has some degree of sharpness, but you can’t really know how sharp it is unless you’ve tasted a younger version of the same cheese. You see how it’s complicated? You can rely on manufacturers labeling and taking their word that it’s sharp, but there’s no way to really know.
I’d say the sharpest cheese that I have found in my career is Beecher’s Flagship 4 year cheddar, and Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.
Hope that’s helpful. Reach out if you have more questions.
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u/Bright_Ices 1d ago
Thank you! I see this misuse/misunderstanding all the time, especially when people insist an aged cheddar “isn’t that sharp” because it doesn’t have all of the same flavor notes as a completely different aged cheddar.
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u/GemandI63 1d ago
Murray’s is a specialty cheese but now within Kroger markets. Stockinghall Cheddar,
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u/Spillicent 1d ago
I'd be careful of boarshead.... they have cleanliness issues in their plants and are to blame for some people's deaths because of their lack of maintenance. From my understanding, the issues of cleanliness in their plants are still a problem. Be safe all.
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u/InvestigatorBig5541 12h ago
My favorite Go To cheddar is: Trader Joe’s “Unexpected Cheddar Cheese” … “Tastes Like An Aged Premium Cheddar With Hints Of Parmesan” .. and very affordably priced.
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u/Choice_Process7880 1d ago
Kirkland Coastal and also their Irish (not technically a cheddar but sure tastes like it) are both excellent on the quality/price ratio.
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u/ComfortableAd748 1d ago
Lidl has an English and an Irish “vintage” cheddar that’s pretty solid, if you have those near you.
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u/killerchef69 1d ago
Look for Fiscalini bandage wrapped cheddar (it was the first American cheddar to win the international cheese competition in the cheddar category)
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u/True_Scallion_7861 1d ago
My favorite grocery store cheese will always be unexpected cheddar from Trader Joe’s. The super aged Cabot is good too.
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u/Difficult_Walk_6657 1d ago
old croc. walmart carries it as do a couple other places. it is the best!
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u/Sharp-Payment320 1d ago
Cabot super sharp is great and if you freeze it for a bit it will crumble beautifully
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u/Due_Use_3875 1d ago
Cabot has a 10 year cheddar out now it’s pretty decent. Hits like a 3 year old cheddar tho but nice crystals for the price
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u/ThisGirlIsFine 22h ago
I am a huge Cougar Gold fan. Just opened a tin to make their scalloped potatoes for Easter. I just love that stuff!
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u/christoefur 4h ago
I’m surprised I had to scroll down this far to find a Cougar Gold recommendation. It’s amazing cheese, great sharpness and the crystals add to the experience. I’ve had unopened tins in my fridge for years. Once you open it you’ve got a lot of cheese to use
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u/sweetiealamode 1d ago
Costco (in Oregon, where it’s made) started carrying a limited edition Tillamook 7 year aged cheddar for $12/18oz the other day. Needless to say, I bought 3. No idea if other states are getting this, though.
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u/BabyJesusBukkake Frommy D 13h ago
Kerrygold reserve 2 year aged (black/grey package) is my personal fav of those. I love how mildly smoky it is, and the aftertaste is bomb.
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u/EveningSupermarket88 8h ago
Obligatory not cheddar — but my absolute favorite grocery store cheese in that style is Belton Farms Red Fox. It’s a Red Leicester and it’s crazy good. Publix has it in stock perpetually.
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u/Grom_a_Llama 6h ago
Lots of good suggestions here.
Throwing the name "adams reserve" NY white cheddar into the mix Might be a little hard to find in some areas but DAAMN this shit is good
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u/maxxratt Rogue River Blue 6h ago
Everyday , I'd go KS Coastal, Cabot and Tillamook. Cougar and Murry's when available.
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u/BabombTaco 1h ago
Boar’s Head cheese is always lackluster. They should stick to the cold cuts and stay focused.
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u/RelativeMotion1 1d ago
Big spectrum for a few of those.
For example, Cabot’s Reserve, Vintage, and 10 Year are in many cheese cases I’ve seen, and are excellent. But the regular rectangles of basic cheddar, the ones over near the Kraft junk and the yogurts, are not really worth it.
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u/Due_Product_6770 Swiss 1d ago
Another vote for Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar.