A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular Cheeses
Cheese lovers, you might not know this, but today celebrates you (and one of your favorite foods). Today, June 4, is National Cheese Day. It's the perfect time to pull out your favorite cheese-centered dishes, whether pizza, cheeseburgers or maybe even a cheese charcuterie board.
We're cheese fanatics, too, so while you decide what cheese dish you'll have today, check out our definitive ranking of the most popular types of cheeses.
7. American
American cheese doesn't have a distinct flavor, likely because it mixes different cheese and "flavor-enhancing" ingredients. Those mystery ingredients are also the reason we can't enjoy it. Natural cheeses taste light and airy and still have plenty of flavor without the extra chemicals.
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Also read about: I Tried a Vegan 'Cheese' Recipe Made From Sauerkraut (Yes, You Read That Correctly)
6. Swiss
We've never been big on Swiss cheese, except under rare circumstances. In order to enjoy it, we have to pair it with a barbecue burger or something similar. Otherwise, its thicker texture and slightly bitter taste are too much for us to handle.
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5. Pepper Jack
With almost every other food, spicy is always better. But with cheese, too much heat can take away from its flavor, which ranks pepper jack lower on our list. Don't get us wrong, though. It is delicious, but we must be in the mood for extra zest.
4. Parmesan
Parmesan is the go-to topping for all our favorite foods, including cheese. Its gritty texture adds so much life to pasta and pizza. However, the flavor isn't that strong. That said, it is still delicious.
Also read about: 12 Best Instagram Captions for All Your Photos of Cheese
3. Cheddar
Ah, the classic: cheddar. It's arguably the most iconic cheese on this list, and we understand why. It has that slightly buttery texture and the perfect level of smoothness—essentially, it's the epitome of what you think cheese would taste like. The only reason it doesn't rank higher on this list is because we often crave something more interesting.
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2. Colby Jack
As we mentioned earlier, we're not in love with spicy cheese, but the Colby part of Monterey Jack gives it a subtle edge. It's super savory because of the Colby (imagine cheddar with more intensity), which also offsets and enhances the tangy spicy of Monterey Jack. It's also one of the few cheeses we can eat with other foods or by itself.
1. Mozzarella
If there is one cheese we're saving, it will always be mozzarella. Think about it—it's the heart of many foods we love. Pizza almost exclusively uses mozzarella. You'll likely find it in your favorite lasagna or macaroni and cheese recipe, too. Understandably so, it's one of those more neutral cheeses that work well with any food, sweet, spicy, salty or savory. Yet, it also operates flawlessly alone because of its milky flavor.
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Curious about our other food opinions? Click HERE to discover a definitive ranking of every regional pizza style.