The Best Types of Cheese for Cooking at Home: Your Ultimate Cheese Guide

How to Use Different Types of Cheeses Like a Pro

When cooking with cheese, taste and texture work hand in hand. Here’s how to pick the perfect cheese for every dish, from sauces and sandwiches to charcuterie.

The Best Cheeses for Cheese Sauces

Wondering how to make cheese sauce that’s velvety, rich, and packed with flavor? It starts with choosing the right cheese. Whether you’re whipping up a classic mac and cheese or prepping the best cheese for fondue, look for full fat varieties that melt smoothly and evenly.

Try: Cheddar, Gruyère, Fontina

Quick Tip: How to Use Parmesan Rinds

Toss parmesan rinds into simmering soups or sauces for an umami-packed flavor boost!

Ultimate Stovetop Mac and Cheese Recipe

Say goodbye to boxed blends—this stovetop mac made with Land O Lakes® Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese brings creamy, dreamy comfort.

Make this cheesy classic now

Freezer Cheese Sauce Recipe

Perfect for make-ahead meals, this creamy sauce freezes beautifully. Busy weeknight? Just thaw and pour.

Get the full recipe + pro tips

The Best Cheeses for Sandwiches

Semi-hard cheeses are sandwich MVPs. They slice cleanly, melt evenly, and bring serious flavor. Whether you’re building a panini or a deli-style stack, these cheeses hold their shape and shine through every bite. Your grilled cheese sandwich never had it so good.

Try: Cheddar cheese, American cheese, Provolone, Havarti, Swiss

Quick Tip: Slice Right
For cleaner slices, let semi-hard cheese sit at room temp for 10–15 minutes before cutting—it softens just enough for smooth slicing.

Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This beloved classic never goes out of style. It’s made even better with Land O Lakes® Deli American Cheese.

Grab ingredients & start cooking

Cuban-Inspired Pressed Cheese Sandwich

This bold sandwich layers Land O Lakes® Deli American Cheese with savory ham for the ultimate handheld meal.

Cook this crowd-favorite tonight

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich

Busy mornings meet cheesy goodness in this satisfying breakfast sandwich featuring KELLOGG’S® EGGO® Homestyle waffles.

Build the Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

The Best Cheeses for Pasta

Pasta and cheese are a match made in comfort-food heaven. The best pasta dishes don’t rely on just one cheese. They combine creamy, melty favorites with bold, salty finishes. Use one cheese for a creamy sauce and another for a golden garnish.

Try: Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano, Mozzarella, Fontina, Ricotta, Feta

Quick Tip: Save Some Pasta Water
Before draining your pasta, reserve ½ cup of the cooking water. It’s perfect for loosening thick cheese sauces and helping them cling to noodles.

Baked Pasta with Two Cheeses

Classic comfort in a casserole dish, made even better with Frigo® Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese.

Double the Cheese, Double the Comfort

Broccoli and Cheese Pasta

Loaded with veggies and Daisy® Cottage Cheese, this easy pasta is a weeknight hero the whole family will love.

Sneak in the Veg

Pasta with Ricotta Sauce

This light, creamy pasta dish features Frigo® Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Fresh herbs seal the deal.

Meet Your New Pasta Go-To

The Best Cheese Board Combinations

Cheese boards aren’t just appetizers. They’re conversation starters. Whether you’re hosting friends or treating yourself, here is the best cheese for charcuterie boards.

Try creamy and spreadable cheeses like Brie and Camembert for melt-on-your-cracker luxury. These soft cheeses don’t need much fuss—just unwrap and let them shine.

Try semi-hard picks like Gouda for a sliceable option that pairs with everything from apple slices to cured meats. (They’re also some of the best cheeses for snacking.)

Try hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Aged Cheddar for texture and intensity. Break them into rustic chunks for a relaxed vibe, or shave them into elegant curls.

Want to turn your cheese board into a travel-ready treat? Try this fun twist: see how to make a charcuterie box that keeps your favorites fresh on the go. 

Quick Tip: Serve at Room Temp
Take cheeses out of the fridge 30–45 minutes before serving. Letting them warm up brings out their full flavor and ideal texture.

The Best Types of Grating Cheese

Grated cheese is the finishing touch that takes a dish from good to can’t-stop-eating. The best cheese for grating adds bold flavor and just the right texture.

Try: Parmesan, Parmesan-Reggiano, pecorino Romano

Quick Tip: How to Grate Cheese Without a Grater
No grater? Use a vegetable peeler to make thin ribbons of hard cheese or crumble it by hand. 

Cheesy Smashed Potato Upside Down Pie

This inventive dish stars Borden Triple Cheddar Shreds for a sharp, buttery finish.

Flip Your Dinner Routine

Our Favorite Melting Cheeses

The melt factor matters. Whether you’re going for stretchy or smooth, certain cheeses shine when heat hits. These melting cheeses make it easy to achieve that iconic cheese pull. 

For pasta, nothing beats Mozzarella, Fontina, or a Muenster-Cheddar blend. These cheeses melt into creamy sauces and stringy layers that cling to every bite of noodle.

For sandwiches, Provolone, Swiss, and American lend a luscious, diner-style melt. These options play well with bold ingredients such as pickles, bacon, and tangy mustard.

For nachos, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Queso Blanco melt smoothly and keep your chips crisp, not soggy.

Quick Tip: Go Low and Slow
Melt cheese over low to medium heat to avoid oil separation and get that perfect stretch.

Split Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread

This garlic loaf is stuffed with Borden® Cheese Mozzarella Shreds, making every tear irresistible.

Tear, Share, Devour

The Best Frying Cheese

Choosing the best cheese for frying makes all the difference. You want a cheese that holds its shape, and brings flavor without turning greasy. Chill your cheese before frying, or lightly coat in breadcrumbs to create a crispy crust and lock in the melt.

Try: Cheddar, Mozzarella

Quick Tip: Air Fry Like a Pro
For crispy, golden cheese in the air fryer, coat it in breadcrumbs and give it a light spritz of oil.

Korean Corn Cheese Balls Recipe

These crispy, golden cheese balls are packed with sweet corn and Galbani Mozzarella Cheese.

Get in on This Crunch

Tips and Ideas for Cooking with Different Types of Cheese

Cooking with Soft Cheese

Soft cheeses bring mild, buttery richness to your recipes. Use them as the creamy base in a hot dip, the finishing touch on a sandwich, or the star of a baked appetizer. Favorites like Brie, Neufchâtel, and herbed goat cheese melt quickly and mix easily. They’re perfect for recipes that call for a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Quick Tip: Elevate with Herbs or Citrus
Blend soft cheese with chopped herbs, lemon zest, or garlic for an instant upgrade.

Cooking with Semi-Hard Cheese

Semi-hard cheeses like Cheddar, Gouda, and Provolone are kitchen workhorses. Slice them onto sandwiches, melt them into casseroles, or fry them into crispy snacks.

Quick Tip: Store Semi-Hard Cheese Like a Pro
Wrap cheese in parchment or wax paper, then place it in a partially sealed container in the fridge. It keeps moisture in while letting the cheese breathe.

Cooking with Hard Cheese

Choose a hard cheese when you want to add that final, flavorful flourish to a dish. Shave or grate Parmesan onto a salad. Stir Pecorino into risotto. Break aged cheese into rustic chunks for a snack board.

Quick Tip: Precise Slice

Wondering how to slice hard cheese? Let it come to room temperature, then use a sturdy knife or slicer to get clean cuts.

Cooking with Fresh Cheeses

Fresh cheeses are some of the most versatile in the fridge. Think Queso Fresco crumbled over tacos, Ricotta folded into pancake batter, or Mozzarella melted into baked pasta. You can even try cottage cheese in your morning smoothie. These soft, high-moisture cheeses melt quickly and blend easily. They won’t give you a crispy crust or deep stretch, so save them for creamy, smooth results.

Quick Tip: Add at the End
Fresh cheeses melt fast—add them toward the end of cooking to keep their mild flavor.

Cooking with Blue Cheeses

Love a cheese that makes a statement? Blue cheese delivers. Yes, it contains mold—but it’s the good kind! Blue cheese is perfectly safe and totally delicious when used in the right recipes. Start with flatbreads, burgers, or roasted veggie dishes for easy wins.

Quick Tip: A Little Goes a Long Way
Blue cheese packs big flavor, so start with small amounts and build from there—especially in dressings, sauces, or toppings.