While we all would love to have the time on our hands to crumble cheese from blocks like any true gourmet, sometimes it’s not practical. Not to mention, it can also be wasteful and expensive if you don’t need a large amount of cheese beyond a meal or two.
Recognizing this, cheese makers have released more and more varieties of crumbly cheese over the years. If you stroll through the cheese section of your local supermarket, you can see this product explosion for yourself.
They’re a great shortcut and a huge time and money saver because let’s face it, it will take most of us a long time to get through a block of cheese. By the time we do, it might go bad and that just leads to frustration and a waste of money.
So, if you’ve never tried crumbled cheese or are curious about the types that are available, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got all the popular varieties covered in depth for you.
1. Blue (Bleu) Cheese Crumbles
Blue cheese is a worldwide favorite thanks to its blend of creamy mouthfeel and tangy, but smooth finish. Blue cheese crumbles are used on everything from salads to burgers. It also melts well so it can easily be used in recipes calling for a creamy sauce.
Interestingly, in this survey of consumers who taste tested blue cheese crumbles, the folks running the taste test discovered brands made with raw milk were favored over brands that used pasteurized milk.
The reason?
It was their conclusion that raw milk cheeses were more popular because flavor developed more quickly and is more intense than cheese produced from pasteurized milk. The most popular blue cheese crumble they found was “Buttermilk Blue” which is made by Roth Cheese.
You can check that out on the Ross Cheese website here – https://www.rothcheese.com/cheese/buttermilk-blue/#crumbled-blue-cheese
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cheese Crumbles | Creamy and tangy, smooth finish | Salads, burgers, creamy sauce | Melts well |
2. Cheddar Cheese Crumbles
Ah cheddar cheese.
It’s been declared the world’s most popular cheese and for good reason. Cheddar has a wide-ranging taste profile that can suit almost any occasion. When young, cheddar has a mild, milky flavor but as it ages, the cheese takes on a pungent, powerful flavor. It’s also more crumbly as it matures which only serves to deepen the cheese’s richness.
Cheddar is an exceptional melting cheese which is another reason its popularity is so widespread. From classic grilled cheese sandwiches to delectable cheddar cheese sauces, cheddar cheese crumbles can be used for almost any recipe.
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Aging | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar Cheese Crumbles | Mild and milky (when young), pungent and powerful (when aged) | Young is mild, Aged is pungent and more crumbly | Grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese sauces | Exceptional |
3. Cojita Cheese Crumbles
Cojita is a popular cheese used primarily in Mexican cuisine. Cojita is well known for its saltiness, so in most recipes, it’s used sparingly. It’s not a classically melting cheese but when used atop warm dishes like elote or street tacos, it will soften and turn slightly creamy, adding a decadent mouthfeel to any dish.
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cojita Cheese Crumbles | Saltiness | Mexican cuisine, sparingly used in recipes | Not a classically melting cheese, turns creamy when used on warm dishes |
4. Feta Cheese Crumbles
While feta cheese crumbles don’t melt, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t one of the most popular types of crumbled cheese available. Feta cheese has a sharp and salty flavor that makes it a great salad topper or a finisher for roasted veggies. Once it’s warmed, the texture of the cheese will take on a creamy, delightful consistency.
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feta Cheese Crumbles | Sharp and salty | Salad topper, roasted veggies finisher | Doesn’t melt, but texture becomes creamy when warmed |
5. Goat Cheese Crumbles
For some, goat cheese is a take it or leave it choice. But for those that love the funky, tart earthiness this cheese delivers, it’s hard to beat. Goat cheese crumbles are a great option for omelettes at breakfast, crostini for appetizers or as a tangy topping for potatoes at dinner. In terms of melting, goat cheese crumbles are heat sensitive and can turn grainy if overheated so it’s best to go slow.
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goat Cheese Crumbles | Funky, tart, earthy | Omelettes, crostini, topping for potatoes | Heat sensitive, can turn grainy if overheated |
6. Gorgonzola Cheese Crumbles
While gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese, what makes it different is that it’s made only from cow’s milk whereas other blue cheese can be derived from cow’s milk, sheep’s milk or goat’s milk. Like other varieties of blue cheese, gorgonzola melts well and can be used on its own as a topping but more often is used to make rich, creamy sauces.
| Type of Cheese | Flavor Profile | Origin | Uses | Melting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorgonzola Cheese Crumbles | Blue cheese | Made from cow’s milk | Topping, creamy sauces | Melts well |