CATEGORY
Cheese Spreads
2009 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER
Kaukauna
What Makes a Great Sharp Cheddar Cheese Spread?
Cheese spread's wonderful versatility can add flair to many of your favorite snacks. Use the sharp cheddar variety as a dip for a vegetable party platter, spread it on crackers or flatbread for a bracing infusion of flavor, or try it on a toasted bagel as a delightful change of pace from cream cheese.
The best sharp cheddar cheese spread will have a yellow-orange color while appearing thick, yet easily spreadable.
Look for a moderately intense cheese aroma that recalls real cheese rather than a powdered approximation. You may also sense notes of smokiness and grassiness that add complexity to the spread's aroma. Expect these individual aromas to carry through to the spread's flavor profile at similar intensities.
Saltiness will lead the basic taste profile of a great sharp cheddar cheese spread, at a moderate level. A low amount of sweetness will follow, with sourness' intensity falling in between.
A top-quality cheese spread will be dense but still creamy, less so than butter. Above all, its texture and flavor should complement that with which it's paired, whether a toasted bagel or a simple cracker.
We know what makes a great sharp cheddar cheese spread, but what makes a bad one?
Our expert chefs were turned off by cheese spreads whose flavor dominated that of crackers. Often times, these inferior spreads were either slick and oily, or grainy and gritty — neither of which are palatable qualities in a cheese spread.
Why is Kaukauna the best sharp cheddar cheese spread?
Kaukauna's sharp cheddar cheese spread offered delectable cheese character and superior creamy texture, both of which helped it earn our Best Taste Award. Its singularly sharp flavor and aroma also dutifully impressed our chef panelists.
This judging was for sharp cheddar cheese spread, not including refrigerated sliced, shredded or chunk cheese products, cream cheese, or shelf-stable processed cheese snacks.
Other Leading Brands:
Rondele
ONE-STEP IDEAS
Make your mashed potatoes extra cheesy by adding sharp cheddar cheese spread just before serving.
Spread on crackers or toast rounds as a flavorful base for hors d’oeuvre.
Use as a crowd-pleasing stuffing for omelets.
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TASTING
TERMINOLOGY
PRODUCT
FUN FACTS
- More than 200 varieties of cheese are produced in the U.S.; more than 1400 varieties are produced worldwide.
- Americans consume more than eight billion pounds of cheese annually.
- A turophile is a connoisseur of cheese.
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The ChefsBest Award for Best Taste is awarded to the brand rated highest overall among leading brands by independent professional chefs.
