The #1 Cheese You Should Always Buy at Trader Joe's, According to a Food Writer

Karla Walsh
·5 min read
1

Unexpected Cheddar seems to get all the love, but this wildly affordable find is the best buy in the cheese section.

Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

As a food writer, I’ve covered news about Trader Joe’s for more than five years—and have shopped there for more than 13. At this point, the crew members know me by name, and every time I check out, we love comparing notes about what’s new and trending on their shelves.

As a household of one, the bulk of my selection is usually in the condiment, spice, sauce and freezer sections, but I also frequently stock up on salad kits and dressings, as well as fresh flowers. And I never, ever skip the cheese section.

The cheeses TJ’s stocks are so affordably priced, make fantastic additions to cheese and charcuterie boards and meals and are a totally reasonable and healthy thing to eat in moderation every day. (That is, unless you have a lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy, in which case, it’s best to steer clear.)

Luckily, cheese agrees with me, so that entire refrigerator section is open for consideration. That being said, similar to the cereal aisle at a traditional supermarket, the variety in the Trader Joe’s cheese selection can admittedly feel overwhelming. I’ve sampled my way through dozens at this point, and find myself returning to one.

Related: The 9 Things I Buy From Trader Joe's for Quick Dinners, According to a Food Writer

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The Best Cheese to Buy at Trader Joe's, According to a Food Writer

Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Unexpected Cheddar might get more glory in the fan-selected best products at Trader Joe’s each year. This is true. I would also like to nominate Parmigiano Reggiano Aged 40 Months and Creamy Toscano Cheese Soaked in Syrah as my treasured runners-up. (That latter option is so beloved, in fact, that Trader Joe’s also sells Chardonnay-soaked, cinnamon-dusted and spreadable variations of the creamy Toscano cheese.)

But my personal selection for the best cheese from Trader Joe’s is the Chevre Goat Cheese. It might not be the splashiest item in the cheese section, but this fresh, spreadable and versatile cheese is a mainstay in my refrigerator.

Here are five reasons why I think Chevre Goat Cheese is the best cheese at Trader Joe’s:

1. The Price

Sold for just $2.99 for a five-serving log (60 cents per serving), this is a very affordable “little luxury” to add to your cart.

2. The Nutrition

Trader Joe’s Chevre Goat Cheese is made with just cultured pasteurized goat’s milk, salt and enzymes. It has 80 calories, 6 grams of fat (4½ grams saturated), a very reasonable 80 milligrams of sodium (4% of the Daily Value) and nearly as much protein as an egg (at 5 grams per serving compared to an egg’s 6 grams).

For those who do tend to struggle with digesting products made with cow’s milk, some people find they can better digest dairy that comes from goats, suggest Michigan State University experts. This is likely due to the different forms of proteins in each.

3. The Versatility

Plain goat cheese might sound a bit plain, true. Trader Joe’s does sell jazzed-up versions, including with honey, cranberries, blueberries and more, depending on the time of year. However, I find myself most frequently sticking with the standard, since it’s a staple that I can then transform to align with the season:

I’m a firm believer that goat cheese can help take produce from ho-hum to how did I ever live without this? Case in point: Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Hot Honey, Crispy Smashed Shallots with Goat Cheese & Fig Jam and Delicata Squash Fries with Whipped Honey-Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce.

4. The Ease of Use

One of my biggest hosting secrets is my back-pocket two-ingredient recipe that tastes amazing, yet is a cinch to pull together. To re-create it, smash a log of Chevre Goat Cheese across the bottom of a small oven-safe baking dish. Top with 1 cup of marinara sauce. Bake in a 375°F oven for 15 minutes or so, or until the cheese is soft and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. Serve with crostini, breadsticks, crackers or veggie sticks for scooping. Voilà: An ultra-easy appetizer recipe that looks like it took way more effort than it did.

5. The Viral Recipe Appeal

Sure, feta has a starring role in that TikTok-popular baked pasta dish. However, the meltability of Chevre Goat Cheese makes it far better than feta in this format! (Try this Baked Tomato, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta and you’ll see what I mean.) Always having a package of goat cheese or two in the fridge means that I’m never more than minutes away from trying other TikTok food trends like whipped goat cheese, goat cheese boards and lemon goat cheese pasta.

Read the original article on Eating Well.