Are you looking for a good substitute for cheddar cheese? Stick around as we share a list of alternatives you can use below.

Since its inception in Devon, England, cheddar cheese became one of the world’s most renowned and popular cheeses.

Typically, people use it in the preparation of sandwiches and pizzas, as well as appetizers, casseroles, and a wide variety of bread and rolls.

Cheddar, despite its fame, isn’t widely accessible. With that being said, this article contains the best substitutes for cheddar cheese. Read on for more details.

What is Cheddar Cheese?

Cheddar’s history encompasses a wide spectrum of cultures and cuisines due to its origins in the rich dairy meadows of southern England near Wells Cathedral.

This semi-hard cheese, manufactured from cow’s milk, has a mellow, nutty flavor with a prolonged hazelnut and brown butter aftertaste.

Cheddar’s age, coating, dairy cultures, and pasteurization substantially influence its flavor and texture.

The cheese cultures employed and the age of the cheese are the main factors in determining the flavor, ranging from mild to sour. As the cheese ages, it develops a more pronounced taste.

For an extra hint of flavor, add chilies, onions, or black pepper to certain cheddars.

You can also use cheddar cheese in cooking different dishes. Using thin slices of cheddar during cooking ensures the cheddar coats the entire food dish.

When cheese is a topping for baked goods, it becomes crispy and golden in the oven yet mushy and stringy when heated.

The quickest and easiest way to melt cheese is using grated cheese. Grated cheese is the best way to get a crispy, pleasing feel to your food.

Best Substitutes for Cheddar Cheese

1. Gouda Cheese

The flavors of gouda vary from moderately sweet and buttery when fresh to extremely nutty and caramelized when matured for a year or more.

As an artisan cheese for cheese plates, it’s readily accessible and is a younger cheese that slices and melts nicely for toast.

While some types of gouda have a pale yellow or off-white tint, others have a bright golden or orange color.

Comparable to cheeses like cheddar, annatto is added to the milk before cheesemaking to give it the orange tint.

You can make Gouda cheese by heating the curds to a scalding point, then stirring the curds to remove any remaining moisture.

To remove as much lactose as possible from the cheese, you must wash the whey away.

2. Yellow Cheddar

The traditional yellow color of yellow cheddar comes from annatto food coloring.

During the manufacturing process, those that make yellow cheddar add annatto, an all-natural vegetable food dye, to create the yellow color.

A variety of dishes call for yellow cheddar, including grilled cheese and omelets.

Regarding age, there is no difference between yellow and white cheddar, so yellow cheddar cheese is an excellent choice.

3. Colby Cheese

Colby cheese is a semi-hard American cheese made of cow’s milk and compares it to Monterey Jack in flavor and texture.  It has an orange hue and a buttery, lactic flavor with a faint nutty undertone.

Due to dairy rules in the United States, this form of cheese is always in supermarkets.

Cheddar’s flavor is similar, but the texture and openness of Colby cheese are strikingly different.

Since it’s a mild table cheese, people often grate, grill, or add it to sandwiches or snacks. It rarely ages very long.

4. Edam Cheese

Edam cheese, created from pasteurized cow milk and originated in Edam City, the Netherlands, may deceive you into thinking it’s an apple slice.

This yellow-hued aged semi-hard cheese has a crumbly and dry feel. A mellow combination of creamy and nutty flavors develops in Edam’s taste as it matures over time.

Edam and cheddar have a lot in common, so they can easily substitute for each other. Edam’s unique flavor pairs well with fruity flavors like apricots and peaches.

To give salads a salty-creamy flavor boost, grate or cube the cheese before serving.

5. Cantal Cheese

Cantal cheese, which dates back to the Roman era, is one of France’s oldest cheeses with a characteristic cheese flavor. People recognize the soft, off-white Cantal for its light butter and sweet taste.

Its sharp cheddar-like flavor intensifies as it matures. Most people eat Cantal as a side dish to fruits such as apples, pears, or grapes. To give a creamy texture, use small slices in sandwiches.

Due to these qualities, cantal cheese deserves the title of the best alternative to white cheddar cheese. 

Takeaway

Cheddar cheese is a staple in American cuisine because of its wide range of culinary applications. If you’re looking for an alternative to cheddar, you’ll find many options just as good or even better.

We hope this list of substitutes for cheddar cheese helps you decide what cheese to try next when you run out of cheddar on your shelf.

5 Best Substitutes for Cheddar Cheese

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Check out these great substitutes for Cheddar Cheese that have been shared on Pinterest.

• Author: Recipe Marker

Ingredients

1. Gouda Cheese
2. Yellow Cheddar
3. Colby Cheese
4. Edam Cheese
5. Cantal Cheese

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Instructions

1. Click on each link above to view the pin.
2. Learn more about the ingredient.
3. Purchase the ingredient.
4. Add a substitute to your recipe =)