What's the Best Sliced Cheese to Eat?

December 30, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Wisconsin's Master Cheesemaker program, it takes ten pounds of milk to produce just one pound of cheese, emphasizing the concentrated flavor and nutrients packed into each slice. To find out what's the best sliced cheese to eat, you need to consider more than just the brand; you need to match the cheese's properties to its purpose.

Quick Summary

This guide explores a variety of sliced cheeses, detailing their best uses, melting characteristics, and flavor profiles. From robust cheddar to creamy American, learn how to select the ideal slice for your next sandwich, burger, or savory snack.

Key Points

Match Cheese to Purpose: The best cheese depends on your dish. Consider meltability for hot sandwiches and flavor intensity for cold ones.
American Cheese is a Melt Champion: Processed American singles are formulated for a perfect, creamy melt, making them ideal for grilled cheese and burgers.
Cheddar Offers Versatility: With flavor ranging from mild to sharp, cheddar is a reliable choice for everything from burgers to classic sandwiches, though aging can affect melt.
Swiss is Perfect for Reubens: Swiss cheese's mild, nutty flavor and good melting qualities make it a classic choice for hot sandwiches with strong ingredients like corned beef.
Provolone Adds Italian Flair: Provolone provides a smoky flavor and excellent melt for Italian-style sandwiches and cheesesteaks.
Room Temperature Enhances Flavor: For natural cheeses, letting them warm up to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cooking improves both flavor and melting consistency.
For a Gooey Grilled Cheese, Combine Cheeses: Using a blend of cheeses, like American for creaminess and Havarti for buttery flavor, can result in the ultimate grilled cheese.
Proper Storage is Key: Store most sliced natural cheeses in parchment paper inside an airtight container in the fridge to preserve quality and texture.

Why the Right Sliced Cheese Matters

Choosing the right cheese can elevate a simple sandwich or burger from good to great. The key is understanding how different cheeses behave and taste. Factors like meltability, flavor intensity, and texture play a crucial role in the final dish. While American cheese is a classic for its unparalleled melt, a sharp cheddar or provolone can offer a more complex flavor profile for more adventurous eaters.

The Meltability Factor

For many dishes, such as a gooey grilled cheese or a perfectly topped cheeseburger, a cheese's ability to melt smoothly is paramount. Processed cheeses, like American singles, are engineered specifically for this purpose, thanks to emulsifying agents that prevent separation when heated. Natural cheeses, however, contain fats and proteins that can sometimes break apart under high heat. Choosing a semi-hard or softer cheese is often best for melting, as they have higher moisture content. For example, Havarti and Monterey Jack are excellent choices for a consistently smooth, melted texture.

Flavor Intensity

Sliced cheeses offer a spectrum of flavors, from mild and creamy to sharp and pungent. A milder cheese, like a young Swiss or a mild cheddar, is versatile and won't overpower other ingredients. On the other hand, a sharp cheddar or aged provolone adds a bold, zesty kick that can stand up to strong flavors, like a smoky bacon or spicy jalapeño. Your choice of cheese can balance or contrast the other components of your meal, creating a more dynamic eating experience.

Popular Sliced Cheeses and Their Best Uses

Cheddar

Flavor Profile: Ranges from mild to extra sharp, offering nutty and tangy notes.
Best For: Grilled cheese sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and cold deli sandwiches. Sharp cheddar adds depth and flavor.
Melting: Melts well, especially milder versions. Older, sharper cheddar can become oily when melted at high temperatures.

American

Flavor Profile: Mild, salty, and creamy.
Best For: The quintessential grilled cheese, classic cheeseburgers, and deli sandwiches. Its perfect melt and familiar flavor are what make it a timeless favorite.
Melting: Superb meltability due to its processed nature, creating a silky-smooth, cohesive layer.

Swiss

Flavor Profile: Mild, nutty, and slightly sweet with distinctive holes caused by gas-producing bacteria.
Best For: Reubens, French dips, and other specialty sandwiches. Pairs well with ham and other savory meats.
Melting: Melts nicely, making it a good candidate for hot sandwiches where a nutty flavor is desired.

Provolone

Flavor Profile: Mild and smoky when young, becoming sharper with age.
Best For: Philly cheesesteaks, submarine sandwiches, and Italian-style heroes. The smoky flavor is a perfect complement to cured meats.
Melting: Melts beautifully, creating long, satisfying cheese pulls.

Monterey Jack and Pepper Jack

Flavor Profile: Monterey Jack is mild and buttery; Pepper Jack has a spicy kick from chili peppers.
Best For: Tex-Mex dishes, spicy sandwiches, and melting over nachos. The mildness of plain Monterey Jack makes it versatile, while Pepper Jack adds heat.
Melting: Melts very well and smoothly, ideal for topping hot dishes.

Comparison Table: Choosing Your Sliced Cheese


Cheese Type	Best Use Case	Flavor Intensity	Melting Quality	Pro-Tip
American	Grilled cheese, burgers	Mild	Excellent and creamy	The standard for classic comfort food melt.
Sharp Cheddar	Burgers, deli sandwiches	Medium to High	Good, can become oily if aged	Use a quality brand like Tillamook for best flavor.
Swiss	Reubens, deli sandwiches	Medium (Nutty)	Good and stretchy	Pairs exceptionally well with ham and pastrami.
Provolone	Cheesesteaks, subs	Mild to High (Smoky)	Excellent and gooey	Aged provolone offers a sharper, more complex taste.
Monterey Jack	Everyday sandwiches	Mild	Excellent and smooth	The buttery flavor makes it a versatile choice.
Pepper Jack	Spicy sandwiches, Tex-Mex	Medium (Spicy)	Excellent and smooth	Adds a flavorful kick without overpowering.
Havarti	Grilled cheese, paninis	Mild (Buttery)	Excellent and rich	Creates an exceptionally creamy, decadent melt.

Tips for Perfecting Your Sliced Cheese Experience

Bring to Room Temperature: For the best melting and flavor, remove natural cheese from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to soften and its flavor compounds to become more aromatic.
Layering for Grilled Cheese: For an ultimate grilled cheese, use a combination of cheeses. A slice of American can provide the perfect, smooth base, while a slice of sharp cheddar or a semi-soft cheese like Havarti can add more complex flavor.
For Burgers, Melt at the End: To get that perfect, slightly bubbly melted top on a cheeseburger, place the slice on the patty for the last minute of cooking and cover the pan to trap heat.
Storing Sliced Cheese: Natural sliced cheese keeps best in its original packaging or wrapped in parchment paper, then placed in an airtight container to preserve freshness. Processed singles can be stored in their packaging. Avoid freezing, as it can affect the texture.

Conclusion

While a definitive answer to "what's the best sliced cheese to eat" is subjective and depends on the specific dish, a little knowledge goes a long way. For a melt-focused sandwich, reach for the tried-and-true American or Havarti. For a flavor-forward experience, a sharp cheddar or provolone is a stellar choice. By considering your desired melt, flavor profile, and application, you can confidently select the perfect sliced cheese to make your next meal memorable. A little experimentation in your kitchen can uncover a new favorite for your repertoire. Check out more details on cheese production from the Wisconsin Cheese website to enhance your cheese knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a grilled cheese sandwich, American cheese is known for its excellent, creamy melt, while Havarti offers a richer, buttery flavor. A blend of both is often considered the best choice for both flavor and texture.

Processed cheeses like American Singles melt exceptionally well due to additives that prevent separation. Among natural cheeses, semi-soft varieties like Havarti, Monterey Jack, and Provolone are top contenders for smooth, gooey melting.

Whether natural or processed cheese is 'better' depends on your use. Natural cheese, like cheddar or Swiss, offers more complex and varied flavors. Processed cheese is designed for superior melt and a consistent, mild taste, which is ideal for certain applications like a classic cheeseburger or grilled cheese.

For a cold sandwich, consider a sharp cheddar for a bold flavor, Swiss for a nutty complement to deli meats, or Provolone for a mild, slightly smoky profile. The flavor profile of the cheese should complement the other ingredients.

Nutritional value varies widely, but some options are lower in calories or sodium. Swiss cheese is a good choice if you are monitoring sodium levels, while mozzarella is lower in both calories and fat than many other cheeses. Look for part-skim or lower-sodium varieties if health is a primary concern.

Proper storage is key. For natural cheeses, wrap them in parchment paper followed by plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container to reduce air exposure. For processed cheese, keep it sealed in its original packaging.

Cheddar is a natural cheese with a wide range of flavors, from mild to sharp, and its meltability varies with age. American cheese is a processed cheese product that provides a consistently mild flavor and superior melting qualities.

While it's possible to freeze sliced cheese, it's not generally recommended, as the freezing and thawing process can negatively impact the texture and flavor. Hard and semi-hard cheeses tend to freeze better than soft or processed ones.