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Cheddar Facts

Here in Vermont—home to the world's best cheddar—we are quite passionate about our cheese. In fact, most of us can tell mild from sharp cheddar with just one bite!

And at Cabot, we really know a lot about cheddar cheese. How it's made, best served, and most importantly, how to distinguish its sharpness. We also analyze cheese market trends and industry statistics, particularly as they pertain to small cheese companies and naturally aged cheeses.

As a farmer-owned cooperative, Cabot works in partnership with the Vermont dairy Industry, the Vermont Cheese Council, and state agencies including Agriculture and Tourism. Because we are a small state, we can work closely with our friends and neighbors in related industries. If we don't have the answer to your question, we know who does!

As a farmer-owned cooperative, Cabot works in partnership not only with the dairy farmers, but also with members of the Vermont dairy industry, the Vermont Cheese Council, and state government agencies including Agriculture and Tourism. Vermont is a small state and one in which we have the luxury of working very closely with our friends and neighbors across many related industries. We're confident in saying that if we don't have the answer to your question, we know the person who does.


Top Ten Cheddar Facts

1. The Great Cheddar Debate: White vs. Yellow

Coloring was originally added to distinguish where the cheddar was made. (Yellow cheeses derive their color from an additive.) Cheddars made in the New England states—including Cabot Cheddar made in Vermont—traditionally do not contain color additives, retaining the natural white color.

2. Cheese Sweating?

It's common for some moisture to develop inside the package of naturally produced cheese as a result of the aging process, known as "synerisis". The proteins in the cheese are merely releasing moisture, which does not affect the quality. In fact, the process allows the cheese to reach the next stage—the sharp crumbly texture we love! Simply wipe off excess moisture, wrap the cheese in fresh plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

3. Cheddar Sharpness

Aging is the only difference between mild and sharp cheddar. The longer cheese is aged naturally, the sharper and more pronounced the cheddar flavor becomes. Mild cheddar is generally aged for 2 to 3 months, whereas an extra sharp might be aged for as long as a year. Aged Cabot Cheddars, like Cabot Private Stock is aged for about 16 months and Vintage Choice for at least 2 years.

4. Kosher & Halal Diets

Halal iconCabot is certified kosher and offers a broad range of kosher dairy products, including cheese, cultured products, and butters. Under the supervision of a rabbi, Cabot maintains kosher standards. And—Cabot cheeses are Halal. Cabot offers a broad range of halal cheddar cheeses that have met the rules and regulations specified by a supervising Islamic Administrator. All Cabot cheeses, with the exception of Colby Jack, Shreds, Slices (including American), 3/4-ounce Bars and Cubes are certified by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America and by Tablet K. Cabot Cheeses are free of all animal by-products, and our cheeses are made without any animal rennet.

5. Waxed vs. Waxless

Cheddar is packaged air tight to eliminate molding. Although wax packaging is the most traditional, modern methods utilize plastic films and vacuum packing or a "gas flushing" technique to remove the air before sealing. Although the surface mold is harmless, it may be trimmed off and resealed in fresh plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator.

6. Wine & Cheese: The Perfect Pair

Although pairing wine and cheese is ultimately a matter of personal taste, generally the flavors of both should complement each other. For example, intense flavored cheeses such as extra sharp cheddars, blue cheeses and goudas match well with a bold pinot noir or cabernet. Cheeses like mild cheddar and goat pair great with a round, mellow Merlot. A fresh and fruity Chardonnay is a heavenly match for milder cheese varieties, enhancing the creaminess of a Mild Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese with just the right whisper of sweet. Learn more about pairing wine with cheese.

Wine & Cheese Serving Tip

Like a fine red wine, cheddar cheese is always best served at room temperature. Allowing the cheese to sit for 30 minutes before serving brings out the full flavor and best consistency.

7. Pairing Beer with Cheese

Cheese and beer lovers share a common passion. They both appreciate award-winning taste! The right beer and cheese melded together can be a magical taste explosion. For instance, the pleasant bitterness of English Pale Ale—the British idea of perfect balance of malt and hops—is a beautiful complement to Extra Sharp Cheddar Roasted Potatoes. Roast wedges of potatoes with olive oil, rosemary and coarse salt and served with grape tomatoes. Learn more about pairing beer with cheese.

8. Melting

Mild cheddars will melt easily and consistently, however, low-fat cheddars and sharper cheddars will melt well if first shredded or cut into strips and cooked over low heat.

9. Lactose Intolerance

Aged cheeses, such as Cabot's naturally aged cheddar contain 0 grams of lactose. In fact, unlike many other dairy products, cheese in general is very low in lactose. Most contain less than 1 gram per serving and should not cause any lactose intolerance related symptoms.

10. Cheddar & Vitamin D

It is widely known that cheddar cheese and other dairy products are naturally high in calcium and protein. However did you know that Vitamin D—another critical nutrient for healthy bones—is also found in dairy products? Vitamin D aids in the body's absorption of calcium and may also affect the mood-lifting brain chemical known as serotonin. So how much calcium do you need? Learn more.

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May
    Help Cabot® Make It BIG… GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® BIG For Food Bank For New York CityCabot® Creamery Sets New Guinness World Records® Achievement for World's Largest SmoothieCabot Creamery Cooperative Announces April's Reward Volunteer 3.0 WinnersCabot® Creamery Cooperative Announces 5-Day 'Running for Health' Menu Planner
April
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative Returns to LA for the 11th Annual Grilled Cheese InvitationalGiving Time During National Volunteer Month with Reward Volunteers 3.0
March
    Celebrating National Nutrition Month by Cutting Calories and Boosting FlavorCelebrate ‘The Luck Of The Irish’ with Fabulous Beer and Cheddar Pairings from Cabot® Creamery CooperativeCabot Creamery Cooperative to 'Reward Volunteers' Again in 2013
February
    Say I Love You with the Gift of Time
January
    Reward Volunteers 2.0 Grand Prize Winners to be Announced at the End of JanuarySpice Up Your Big Game Party with Cabot Creamery's Bold & Tasty 'Superb Bowl' Recipes
December
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative Announces November Reward Volunteers 2.0 WinnersMake Entertaining 'Light' This Holiday Season with Cabot Creamery's Delicious Light Cheddars
November
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative Announces October Reward Volunteers 2.0 WinnersTurkey Again? Yes, Please!
October
    September Winners Announced for Reward Volunteers 2.0
September
    41 Volunteers from Across America Named 2012 Cabot Community Celebrities
August
    Agri-Mark Honored as 2012 'Business of Distinction' by New York Dairy of Distinction OrganizationNew Benefit to "World's Best Cheddar": Cabot Creamery Cooperative Achieves B Corp CertificationCabot Creamery is "Golden" at "Summer Olympics" for CheeseCabot Creamery Cooperative to 'Reward Volunteers' Again with Gusto
July
    2012 Community Tour Grand Finale Comes to Portland, Maine on Saturday July 7Cabot Creamery Cooperative Celebrates the United Nation's International Year of Cooperatives in Portland on July 7thReward Volunteers Mobile App Users Across the Nation Log Over 40,000 Hours of Community ServiceThe 2012 Cabot Community Tour Concludes with Huge Celebration in Portland, Maine
June
    Just One More Round to Go! Cabot Creamery Cooperative Announces the Latest Round of Reward Volunteers WinnersSpartanburg, SC Eigth-Grader wins Cabot® Creamery Cooperative's Poetry ContestCabot Creamery Cooperative Partners With Casella Waste Systems on Solar-Powered Waste Compactor
May
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative® Announces 2012 Community TourWe're Halfway There! Reward Volunteers Round Three Winner Announced by Cabot Creamery
April
    Cabot announces winners of Reward Volunteers® in honor of national volunteer month
March
    Cabot® Creamery Cooperative is headed west for the 10th Annual Grilled Cheese InvitationalCabot® Creamery Cooperative creates ‘The Healthy Kitchen Helper’Cabot® Vermont Cheddar Named ‘World’s Best’Vermont's Blue Spruce Farm Wins National Award for Dairy Farm SustainabilityHere's A Super St. Paddy's Day Secret...Luck is Amplified By Doing Good!Cabot® Creamery Cooperative & Green Education Foundation Help Students Go Green for St. Paddy's Day
February
    Giving Time Shows Love
January
    Attention All Middle-School Poets! Announcing Cabot® Creamery Cooperative’s Poetry Contest – Entry Deadline is April 30th!
December
    Make Your Holidays Ring with Farmer-Inspired Recipes From Cabot Creamery CooperativeAdd Some Flavor to Your Hanukkah Latkes This Year
November
    November is American Diabetes Month - Take Control of Your Diet with a 5-Day Menu Planner from Cabot Creamery CooperativeCabot Creamery Cooperative Spreads Holiday Joy with Farmer-Inspired Thanksgiving Day Recipes
October
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative's Apple-Cheddar Recipes are the Perfect Pairing of Health and Taste
August
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative Celebrates National S'mores Day with Classic Cheddar S'mores RecipeMake Back-to-School Easy by Planning Meals in AdvanceCabot Creamery Continues Legacy of Awards at American Cheese Society Competition
July
    SAY Soccer Partners With Cabot Creamery Cooperative To Provide Players, Parents With A Healthy Snack Option
June
    Father's Day Has Special Meaning on the Farm and in the Kitchen for Cabot Creamery DadsDeclare Your Independence - Add Some Fireworks to Your Fourth of July Recipes From Cabot Creamery Cooperative
May
    Cabot Puts the Focus on National Women's Health Week and Celiac Awareness Month with Smart Recipes & Healthy Ideas
April
    Write Your Own Haiku for National Grilled Cheese Month Win Great Cheddar CheeseCabot Releases 'OU Kosher for Passover' Sharp Cheddar Just in Time for the Holiday
March
    The Way To A Healthy Diet? Take It One Day At A TimeCabot Aged Cheddar is Seriously the Nation's Best
January
    Food Bloggers to Host In-Home ‘Soup Swap’ Parties Sponsored By Cabot Creamery CooperativeCabot Clothbound Cheddar Wins At First Annual Good Foods Award Ceremony In San FranciscoCabot Creamery Cooperative Honors 'Community Celebrities' for Volunteerism
December
    The Flavors Of HanukkahA New Take on New Year's Eve Parties'Lighten' Up With Delicious Cabot Winter Solstice Recipes
November
    Turkey Again? Yes, Please.
October
    Something Wickedly Delicious This Way ComesWinners of Cabot Creamery Cooperative's 'Feel Good Family Recipes' Contest Announced
September
    Cabot Creamery Cooperative Earns Four Blue Ribbons at American Cheese Society CompetitionDad's Got A Bun In The Oven, TooGain Yardage - Not Inches! Kick Off the Tailgate Sason with a Trim WaistCabot Creamery and Chef John Folse & Company Set Guinness World Record for Largest Mac & Cheese
August
    Dust off the Lunchboxes, It's Back-To-School Time
July
    Hot-Off-The-Grill Ideas for Healthy (and Delicious) Backyard Celebrating
June
    ENJOY YOURSELF THREE TIMES A DAY, EVERY DAY. JUNE IS NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH.
May
    THINK 'MY MOM AND BEYOND' THIS MOTHER'S DAY
April
    APRIL IS NATIONAL GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH MONTH!'FOURTH TRIMESTER' IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR NEW MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE
March
    American Dietetic Association's National Nutrition Month® Helps You Focus On Healthy Eating All Year AroundCabot Clothbound Cheddar Honored As World's BestA Wee Bite O' The IrishPassover Meal Preparation Requires Time and Careful Planning
February
    Make Valentine's A Day-Long Day To RememberWinners Announced in Cabot® Creamery Cooperative's 'Butter Up The World' Poetry Contest
January
    "V2V Rock-and-Roll Reset " Is Cabot Creamery Co-op's (and your) Online Health And Fitness Challenge!Dip Into Healthy Goodness With These "SUPERB BOWL" Party Favorites
November
    HO, HO, HOLD THE SUGAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
September
    Back to School? Back to the Breakfast Table First.MOMS-TO-BE CAN EAT WELL, EVEN ON A BUDGET
August
    EATING WELL IS EASY AS A SUMMER BREEZE WHILE CAMPING, HIKING OR TOURING, WITH DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
July
    MAKE YOUR JULY 4TH CELEBRATION POP LIKE FIREWORKS WITH DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
June
    PICNIC WITH CHEESE, HUG A FARMER AND KISS A COW. JUNE IS NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH.
May
    CELEBRATE CINCO de MAYO IN STYLE WITH FESTIVE RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVEWHAT DOES MOM WANT FOR MOTHER'S DAY? FOR STARTERS, BREAKFAST IN BED FEATURING DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVECABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE'S 'VERMONT TO VEGAS' ONLINE HEALTH AND FITNESS CHALLENGE IS A VIRTUAL BLASTGET OUTDOORS AND GRILL WITH MOUTH-WATERING RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
March
    NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH 2009TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF PASSOVER MEAL PREPARATION WITH CABOT'S KOSHER SHARP CHEDDAR
February
    FEAST YOUR FAMILY OF FOUR - FOR LESS THAN $10CELEBRATE OSCAR NIGHT WITH THE CHEDDAR THAT RECENTLY WON THE OSCAR FOR TASTE AT THE U.S. CHEESE MAKERS COMPETITIONCABOT KOSHER CHEESE LINE EXPANDING
January
    TAKE AN OATH TO LIGHTEN UP WITH DELICIOUS INAUGURATION - DAY PARTY RECIPES
December
    WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS COME TO CALL IT'S THE HAPPIEST SEASON OF ALL!
November
    DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING RECIPES FROM CABOT CREAMERY SAY
October
    HALLOWEEN PARTY RECIPES SO DELICIOUS THEY'RE SCARY!
September
    CABOT HONORED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATIONCABOT® INTRODUCES 50% REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR WITH OMEGA-3 DHA
August
    PREPARING TO SEND YOUR CHILDREN OFF TO SCHOOL? HEALTHY BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACK IDEAS FROM CABOT® CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER, MORE PRODUCTIVE SCHOOL YEAR
July
    GO FOR THE GREAT-TASTE GOLD WITH CABOT® CHEESE OLYMPIC-THEMED RECIPESCABOT® CHEESE ADDS GREAT TASTE TO AMERICA'S FAVORITE OUTDOOR SUMMER FUN
June
    THE 'GREAT AMERICAN VOTER TREK' AIMS HIGH TO REGISTER VOTERS FOR THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
May
    SUMMER'S ON THE WAY! FIRE UP THE GRILL!
April
    GOT THE CHUTZPAH TO FACE COOKING FOR PASSOVER, BUT LACK THE KNOW HOW?
March
    CABOT® 75% REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR JUDGED "WORLD'S BEST LOWFAT CHEDDAR"
February
    NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
January
    SAY "BE MY VALENTINE" WITH BREAKFAST IN BEDTORN BETWEEN TWO LOVES: FOOTBALL AND CHEESE
December
    HAVE MORE FUNE WITH LESS STRESS WHEN YOU PLAY LIKE A PRODon't Let The Holidays Go To Waist!
November
    OHPAH! (Greek for Hooray!)SAME-OLD, SAME-OLD TURKEY? NOT THIS THANKSGIVING THANKS TO CHEESE!
October
    OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTHNO ONE IS AFRAID OF HEALTHY HALLOWEEN TREATS
September
    SUDBURY'S SCHWARTZ FAMILY WINS MENU MAKEOVER CONTEST AND VISIT FROM CELEBRITY CHEF JON ASHTONSCORE ONE FOR THE HOME TEAM WITH DELICIOUS TAILGATING RECIPES MADE FROM CABOT® CREAMERY CHEESE
August
    CABOT & MCCADAM MAKE STRONG APPEARANCES AT THE AMERICAN CHEESE SOCIETYWHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL, THINK OUTSIDE THE LUNCHBOX
July
    HEALTHY SUMMER RECIPES WITH CABOT CHEESE
May
    CABOT CREAMERY SUPPORTS NATIONAL DAIRY MONTHCABOT® CREAMERY COOPERATIVE PRESENTS CHAKRA WINDOW TO THE COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CARE & ASESTHETICS INSTITUTE
April
    CABOT OBSERVES NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH WITH CALCIUM RICH RECIPES
March
    CABOT CHEESE HONORED ON BOTH SIDES OF ATLANTIC OCEANFOUR-LEAF CLOVER
February
    BONE HEALTH TAKES MORE THAN LUCK
December
    KOSHER CHEDDAR
November
    FAMILY HEADQUARTERSHEALTHY HOLIDAY CHOICESTHANKSGIVING LEFTOVERSCABOT INTRODUCTS MILD RESERVE CHEDDAR
October
    HALLOWEEN CHEDDAR MINISAMERICAN CALCIUM CRISIS
September
    BIG WHOOP ABOUT ZIPSCORE ONE FOR THE HOME TEAM WITH DELICIOUS TAILGATING RECIPES MADE FROM CABOT® CREAMERY CHEESE
August
    WORLD PREMIERE OF THE CABOT CHAKRA WINDOW IN PORTLAND
July
    VERMONT CHEDDAR JUDGED BEST NORTH AMERICAN CHEESE
March
    CABOT SHARP IN "WORLD'S BEST CHEDDAR" REPEAT
February
    CABOT'S OSCAR NIGHT RECIPES HIT THE RED CARPET