Melting Cheese Guide
Best Melting Cheese: The Melt Chart for Every Dish
Why some cheeses melt like silk & others go grainy, which cheese to use for grilled cheese, mac, pizza & burgers, & how to get the perfect pull.
Young = SmoothYounger, moister cheese melts best
Blend 2One melter for texture, one for flavor
Grate Your OwnBagged shreds are coated & go grainy
1 Cup = 4 ozShredded cheese, by weight
The Short Answer
What Is the Best Melting Cheese?
Young, moist, semi-hard cheese: Monterey Jack, colby, young gouda, mild & medium cheddar, swiss & low-moisture mozzarella. They melt smooth & stretchy. Long-aged cheese brings far more flavor but has lost moisture, so on its own it can turn grainy or oily.
The fix is a blend: one cheese for the melt, one for the flavor. Here's why some cheeses melt better, & the honest answer to does extra sharp cheddar melt: yes, low & slow & finely grated.
Key Takeaways
- Moisture & age decide the melt. Young cheese melts smooth; aged cheese brings flavor.
- Blend a melter with a flavor cheese for mac, grilled cheese & quesadillas.
- Shred it yourself. Anti-caking coatings on bagged cheese make sauces grainy.
- Melt over low heat, & add cheese off the boil.
- Some cheeses aren't built to melt: parmesan grates, & bread cheese holds its shape.
Why Cheese Melts
The Science, in Three Parts
What happens inside a cheese when heat hits it.
Moisture
More water, smoother meltWater lets the cheese flow. Young cheese is moist & melts like silk; aged cheese has dried out, so it softens without flowing.
Protein network
Loose stretches, tight breaksMilk proteins hold cheese together. In young cheese the network is loose & stretchy. With age it tightens, so it breaks apart instead of pulling.
Fat & heat
Low & slowToo much heat squeezes fat out of the protein, & the cheese turns oily or rubbery. Gentle heat keeps fat & protein together.
For the oven, temperature matters as much as the cheese: here's what temperature does cheese melt & how to get the melt without the burn, plus the best cheese for baking for golden, bubbly tops.
Measuring for a recipe? Here's how many ounces of cheese in a cup: about 4 ounces of shredded cheese, 3 of grated parmesan, & 8 of cream cheese.
The Melt Chart
How Each Cheese Melts
From smoothest to sturdiest. Use the top half for texture & the bottom half for flavor.
| Cheese | Melt | Texture when hot | Best for | Gardner's pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Jack & colby | Excellent | Smooth & stretchy | Quesadillas, nachos, mac | Garlic & Herb Jack |
| Low-moisture mozzarella | Excellent | The best stretch | Pizza, baked pasta | |
| Mild & medium cheddar | Excellent | Smooth, little stretch | Mac, burgers, grilled cheese | |
| Aged gouda | Very good | Creamy, caramel notes | Mac, grilled cheese | Gardner's Aged Gouda |
| Swiss & gruyere | Very good | Glossy, nutty | Fondue, grilled cheese, burgers | Holey-Smoked Swiss & Cheddar |
| Provolone | Very good | Smooth, mild pull | Cheesesteaks, pizza | |
| Extra sharp & aged cheddar | Fair | Can go grainy or oily alone | Blend in for flavor | Dry Aged Cheddar melts creamiest |
| Cheese curds | Softens | Melts into pools | Poutine, burgers | squeaky cheese |
| Parmesan | Grate it | Clumps rather than flows | Tops, crusts, browning | Aged Parmesan |
| Bread cheese | Holds shape | Browns, never runs | Grill, skillet, air fryer | Wisconsin bread cheese |
Bread cheese is the one cheese built not to melt: it browns & softens but holds its shape. More in ourbread cheeseguide.
Best Cheese For...
The Right Cheese for Every Dish
Our picks, & the full guide behind each one.
Grilled Cheese
Melter + flavorHoley-Smoked Swiss & Cheddar won our melt test. The 9 best cheese for grilled cheese picks, & what to use on grilled cheese: the blends that beat any single cheese.
Mac & Cheese
Aged + creamyAged cheddar for flavor, aged gouda or jack for creaminess. The full cheese for mac and cheese guide has the ratio.
Pizza
Mozzarella + a boosterLow-moisture mozzarella for stretch, plus provolone or aged cheese for flavor. Here's what is the best cheese for pizza.
Burgers
Match the styleSharp cheddar for classic, Buffalo Wing for smash burgers, gouda for sweet & smoky. Our burger cheese rankings & the best cheese for burgers melt tips.
Nachos & Quesadillas
Jack is kingA mild jack for the melt, a flavored cheese for punch. See the best cheese for nachos, & the best quesadilla cheese blend.
Cheesesteaks
Whiz, provolone or AmericanAll three are traditional; provolone is the flavor pick. The answer to what cheese goes on a Philly cheesesteak.
Copycats
Restaurant Cheese, Made at Home
Chipotle's shredded cheese is a blend of Monterey Jack & white cheddar: jack for the melt, cheddar for the bite. Here's what cheese does Chipotle use & how to match it.
Taco Bell's nacho sauce is a processed cheese product, but you can get close with real cheddar & evaporated milk. Our Taco Bell nacho cheese copycat shows how.
Dips, Soup & Fondue
Cheese You Eat With a Spoon
Game day calls for Wisconsin beer cheese, built on sharp aged cheddar & a good lager, & cold nights call for Wisconsin beer cheese soup, the supper club classic.
For fondue, gruyere is traditional & Holey-Smoked Swiss & Cheddar is the smoky Wisconsin stand-in; the full cheese fondue recipe is here. And the crowd favorite: buffalo wing cheese dip, made in a slow cooker.
Recipes
Cook With the Melters
Mac & cheese five ways, plus weeknight dinners that lean on a good melt.
Mac & cheese: smoked gouda mac and cheese, white cheddar cheese mac and cheese, bacon and gouda mac and cheese, & mac n cheese bites for parties.
Sandwiches & sides: the apple bacon gouda grilled cheese, & parmesan hot honey brussels sprouts with a crisp parmesan crust.
Weeknight dinners: cheesy crockpot chicken, the cheesy zucchini bake recipe, cheesy bbq biscuit cups, & the ultimate cheese meatloaf with oven-baked cheese folded in.
Keep Reading
The Best Melting Cheeses & Why Some Cheeses Melt Better Than OthersRead
Does Extra Sharp Cheddar Melt Well?Read
Ideal Temperature for Baking Cheese: Get the Melt Without the BurnReadBest Cheese for Baking: What Melts, Browns, and Tastes the Best?Read
How Many Ounces of Cheese in a Cup? The Answer, the Chart & Why Your Recipe Lied to YouRead
The Best Cheese for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich: 9 Cheeses That Melt Like a DreamRead
What to Use on Grilled Cheese: A Wisconsin Cheesemaker's Melt TestRead
The Best Cheese for Mac & Cheese: A Wisconsin Guide to the Creamiest BowlRead
The Best Cheese for Pizza: Building the Perfect Melty, Cheesy Slice at HomeRead
Best Cheese for Burgers: What Wisconsin Puts on the PattyRead
The Best Cheese for Burgers: How to Crown Your Patty Like a ProRead
The Best Cheese for Nachos: Build a Loaded Plate That Actually MeltsRead
The Best Cheese for Quesadillas: Get That Perfect Cheesy Pull Every TimeRead
What Cheese Goes on a Philly Cheesesteak? Settling the Whiz vs Provolone ArgumentRead
What Cheese Does Chipotle Use? (& How to Get the Same Melt at Home)Read
What Cheese Does Taco Bell Use? (And How to Make the Nacho Cheese at Home)Read
Wisconsin Beer Cheese: The Dip That Belongs on Every Game Day TableRead
Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup: The Recipe That Tastes Like a Supper Club in a BowlRead
Cheese Fondue Recipe: How to Melt Your Way to the Ultimate Wisconsin DipRead
Buffalo Wing Cheese DipRead
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese: A Wisconsin Take on the Ultimate Comfort DishRead
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Recipe: Ultimate Comfort FoodRead
Bacon and Gouda Mac and CheeseRead
Mac N Cheese Bites - 4 WaysRead
Apple Bacon Gouda Grilled Cheese RecipeRead
Parmesan Hot Honey Brussels SproutsRead
Cheesy Crockpot ChickenRead
Cheesy Zucchini BakeRead
Cheesy BBQ Biscuit CupsRead
Ultimate Cheese MeatloafRead
The Melt Library
Every melting, cooking & best-cheese-for guide we've written. Scroll each row sideways.
Why Cheese Melts The science & the oven
The Best Melting Cheeses & Why Some Cheeses Melt Better Than OthersReadDoes Extra Sharp Cheddar Melt Well?ReadIdeal Temperature for Baking Cheese: Get the Melt Without the BurnReadBest Cheese for Baking: What Melts, Browns, and Tastes the Best?ReadHow Many Ounces of Cheese in a Cup? The Answer, the Chart & Why Your Recipe Lied to YouReadBest Cheese For... Dish by dish
The Best Cheese for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich: 9 Cheeses That Melt Like a DreamReadWhat to Use on Grilled Cheese: A Wisconsin Cheesemaker's Melt TestReadThe Best Cheese for Mac & Cheese: A Wisconsin Guide to the Creamiest BowlReadThe Best Cheese for Pizza: Building the Perfect Melty, Cheesy Slice at HomeReadBest Cheese for Burgers: What Wisconsin Puts on the PattyReadThe Best Cheese for Burgers: How to Crown Your Patty Like a ProReadThe Best Cheese for Nachos: Build a Loaded Plate That Actually MeltsReadThe Best Cheese for Quesadillas: Get That Perfect Cheesy Pull Every TimeReadWhat Cheese Goes on a Philly Cheesesteak? Settling the Whiz vs Provolone ArgumentReadCopycats, Dips & Fondue Restaurant favorites
What Cheese Does Chipotle Use? (& How to Get the Same Melt at Home)ReadWhat Cheese Does Taco Bell Use? (And How to Make the Nacho Cheese at Home)ReadWisconsin Beer Cheese: The Dip That Belongs on Every Game Day TableReadWisconsin Beer Cheese Soup: The Recipe That Tastes Like a Supper Club in a BowlReadCheese Fondue Recipe: How to Melt Your Way to the Ultimate Wisconsin DipReadBuffalo Wing Cheese DipReadRecipes Cook with it
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese: A Wisconsin Take on the Ultimate Comfort DishReadWhite Cheddar Mac and Cheese Recipe: Ultimate Comfort FoodReadBacon and Gouda Mac and CheeseReadMac N Cheese Bites - 4 WaysReadApple Bacon Gouda Grilled Cheese RecipeReadParmesan Hot Honey Brussels SproutsReadCheesy Crockpot ChickenReadCheesy Zucchini BakeReadCheesy BBQ Biscuit CupsReadUltimate Cheese MeatloafReadMelting Cheese FAQ
Your Questions, Answered
The melting questions we hear most.
What cheese melts the best?
Young, moist, semi-hard cheeses: Monterey Jack, colby, young gouda, mild & medium cheddar, swiss & low-moisture mozzarella.
Why does some cheese not melt smoothly?
Aged cheese has lost moisture & its proteins have tightened, so it can break, clump or release oil instead of flowing. Blend it with a younger cheese.
Does extra sharp cheddar melt well?
It melts, but not as smoothly as mild or medium cheddar. Grate it finely, use low heat, & blend it with a better melter.
What is the best cheese for grilled cheese?
A blend: one melter for texture & one flavor cheese. In our melt test, Holey-Smoked Swiss & Cheddar was the best all-around single cheese.
What is the best cheese for mac & cheese?
A blend of aged cheddar for flavor & a creamy melter like aged gouda or jack.
What cheese is best for pizza?
Low-moisture mozzarella for stretch, with provolone or a little aged cheese for flavor.
Why is my cheese sauce grainy?
Usually too much heat, or pre-shredded cheese with anti-caking coatings. Shred your own & add it off the boil.
How many ounces of cheese are in a cup?
About 4 ounces of shredded cheese, 3 ounces of grated parmesan, & 8 ounces of cream cheese.
What cheese does Chipotle use?
A blend of Monterey Jack & white cheddar.
Which cheese does not melt?
Bread cheese, also called oven-baked cheese, is made to hold its shape when heated, so you can grill or pan-sear it.
Keep Exploring
More Guides from Gardner's
Bread Cheese GuideWisconsin oven-baked cheese: what it is & how to heat it.Read the guideCheese Curd Recipe GuideFried, air fryer, poutine & more ways to cook curds.Read the guideSharp Cheddar Cheese GuideMild to 20-year: what changes as cheddar ages.Read the guideTypes of CheeseCheese families, the cheeses worth knowing & a swap chart.Read the guide
Melt Something Worth Talking About
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