Buying Guides
Buying guides for cheese: what to look for at the counter, what labels mean, and where the value is.
25 articles
The Best Cheese at Costco and Other Warehouse Stores
The best cheese at Costco by type: Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged Gouda, Normandy brie, English cheddar and goat cheese, plus label checks and freezing tips.
How to Build a Budget Cheese Board That Still Looks Generous
A budget cheese board needs about 2 oz of cheese per guest. See which cheeses give the most for the money, what to buy in bulk and what to skip.
Basic Cheeses for Beginners: A Starter Set From Mild to Bold
Basic cheeses for beginners, one per family, tasted mild to bold: mozzarella, goat cheese, brie, Havarti, Gruyère, cheddar, Parmigiano, Gorgonzola, Taleggio.
Cheeses for Gifting: Cheeses That Travel and Keep Well
The best cheeses for gifting are hard and aged: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Comté, aged Gouda, Manchego, aged cheddar and Stilton, and why each travels and keeps.
Splurge Cheeses Worth Paying More For
Splurge cheeses worth the price: aged Comté, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Roquefort and aged Gouda or cheddar, what drives the cost, and where a splurge is wasted.
Value Imported Cheeses: Which Imports Are Worth Buying in the US
Value imported cheeses explained: why Grana Padano, Emmentaler, Gouda and Manchego can be good buys, and how volume and age affect what you pay.
Buying Cheese Online: How to Order It Safely
Buying cheese online safely: when to order, what cold packs and transit time to expect, the 40°F check on arrival and what to do if a box shows up warm.
Cheese Subscription Box: What to Check Before You Join
How a cheese subscription box or cheese club works, and the questions to ask before joining: what you get, shipping, cancel rules, allergies and pasteurization.
How to Build a Starter Cheese Collection
Build a starter cheese collection with one cheese per family: mozzarella, Brie, Gouda, cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Taleggio, Gorgonzola and Manchego.
How to Buy Parmigiano-Reggiano (and Keep It Fresh)
How to buy Parmigiano-Reggiano: read the rind marks, pick an age for the job, see where the wedge was cut, and store it so a piece lasts weeks.
How to Choose a Ripe Brie at the Store
How to choose a ripe brie: press for an even give, check the rind, sniff for mushroom instead of ammonia, and read the date. Plus how to ripen one.
How to Choose Blue Cheese
How to choose blue cheese: mild creamy Gorgonzola dolce vs sharp Roquefort, soft vs crumbly texture, how salty each is, and signs a wedge is fresh.
How to Choose Goat Cheese
How to choose goat cheese: fresh logs for spreading and salads, aged rounds for a board. What to look for on the label, the surface and the smell.
How to Find Local Cheesemakers Near You
How to find local cheesemakers near you: state cheese guilds and trails, the American Cheese Society, farmers markets and cheese counters, with examples.
How to Judge Cheese Quality by Sight and Smell
How to judge cheese quality by sight and smell, plus texture and taste: signs of good and bad cheese and the USDA rules for mold on hard and soft cheese.
How to Read a Cheese Label: What the Words Mean
How to read a cheese label in the US: what process, cheese food, aged, raw milk, rBST, rennet and PDO actually mean, and which words are only marketing.
How to Shop at a Cheese Counter
How to shop at a cheese counter: ask for a taste, buy 1 to 2 ounces per person for a board, and know how your cheese is cut, weighed and wrapped.
How to Spot Authentic Feta at the Store
How to spot authentic feta: Greek PDO feta is sheep's milk or sheep's and goat's milk, from set regions, cured in brine. What US feta can be and what to check.
How to Store Cheese You Just Bought
How to store cheese you just bought: getting it home cold, unwrapping, rewrapping and the right fridge spot, with USDA FoodKeeper times and extension rules.
Pre-Cut vs. Cut-to-Order Cheese
Pre-cut vs cut-to-order cheese compared: freshness, plastic wrap, USDA price per pound for sealed packs, and when a prewrapped wedge is the better buy.
Questions to Ask a Cheesemonger
The questions to ask a cheesemonger, from when a wheel was cut to what milk it is made from, and what each answer tells you before you buy.
Real vs. Fake Parmesan: How to Tell the Difference
Real vs fake Parmesan explained: what US law lets a Parmesan be, the cellulose cases, and the shelf checks that separate Parmigiano-Reggiano from shaker cheese.
Seasonal Cheese Buying Guide
A seasonal cheese buying guide: spring goat cheese, summer alpage cheeses like L'Etivaz and Beaufort, and Mont d'Or season dates, with the rules behind each.
The Best Supermarket Cheeses and Why Each One Is Worth Buying
The best supermarket cheeses at an ordinary US grocery: extra-sharp cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged Gouda, brie, Manchego and more, with the reason for each.
What to Look for in a Good Cheddar
What to look for in a good cheddar: age on the label, block vs clothbound, white vs orange color, and crunchy crystals, plus which cheddar to buy for each use.