Mild vs. Sharp Cheddar, Tillamook Explains the Difference

Cheese has always been a central pillar in my family’s culinary toolkit, and it remains an essential fixture in my kitchen at all times to this day. Where Parmesan and mozzarella reigned supreme on my dad’s grocery list, my mother had a single cheese choice that was non-negotiable in any grocery run: cheddar.

For my mother and me, the cheddar of choice—for sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese boards, and pretty much anything that required a cheesy element—was sharp cheddar. With a lot of experience with this single variety of cheddar, I recently wondered about other kinds; so, I reached out to Jill Allen, cheese judge and Director of Product Excellence in R&D at Tillamook (my trusted cheddar providers), to get the scoop on the difference between sharp and mild cheddar. 

The Difference Between Mild and Sharp Cheddar

It’s a common misconception that the two kinds of cheddar have different ingredients. In fact, explains Allen, “Both cheeses start with the same recipe, but as they age in a temperature-controlled vault, a richer, more complex flavor and a firmer texture develops.” In other words, the difference between the two cheddars can be attributed to the length of aging alone.

It’s important to know that sharp and mild cheddar varies in flavor and texture across brands. “The FDA does not regulate the age declarations for terms like medium or sharp cheddar, so these labels are based on industry standards.” In other words, every brand has its own definition of what constitutes a sharp or mild cheddar.

Allen notes that Tillamook’s mildest cheese is called “medium” (as opposed to just “mild”), saying: “The primary difference between medium and sharp cheddar comes down to aging. Our medium cheddar is typically aged for a minimum of 60 days, while our sharp cheddar is aged for a full nine months.” Those extra 210 days make a difference not only in the flavor of the cheese but also in the color and texture.

The Best Cheddar To Use in Recipes

Where all cheddars have a “milky, buttery richness with balanced notes of sulfur, umami, and nuttiness as the cheese matures,” says Allen, “texturally, medium (or mild) cheddar is smooth, creamy, and pliable.”

Sharp, on the other hand, is drier with a deep, bold flavor. Therefore, if you’re wondering which of the two cheeses to use for a recipe, pay attention to the desired “moisture content and flavor intensity,” says Allen. “Because as cheddar cheese ages, it loses some of its moisture content and develops a slightly firmer texture and flavor intensity, medium (or mild) cheddar will tend to melt more smoothly and evenly.”

So if you’re working on a grilled cheese, a sauce, or mac and cheese, chances are you’ll want to opt for a mild cheddar. Conversely, “Sharp cheddar will tend to be bolder in flavor and will melt slightly less,” she explains, “making it ideal for use on burgers or sandwiches where a stronger cheddar flavor and texture is desired to stand up to other flavorful ingredients.”