I Asked 6 Chefs for Their Favorite Trader Joe’s Product—They All Said the Same Thing

Trader Joe’s is a haven for home cooks who prefer to keep their work in the kitchen to a minimum, with a generous assortment of delightful prepared foods in their refrigerator and freezer aisles. However, those who enjoy embracing a new recipe and preparing scrumptious dishes at home are also well served by this popular grocery store. Its seasonal products keep the shopping experience lively, and shoppers are persistently struck by the breadth of premium whole food ingredients available.

The store is equally favored by chefs and culinary professionals. Six chefs were queried about their favorite Trader Joe’s ingredient, and they surprisingly all pointed to the same item.

Matthew Cutolo, third-generation Italian-American chef; Erin Clarke, creator of the easy, healthy recipe blog and author of the best-selling cookbook; Melanie Gunnell, owner of food blog and author of the cookbook; Kat Marris, senior recipe developer; Joanne Gallagher, owner and operator of the recipe blog, and Phoebe Moore, Senior Editor and Recipe Developer were part of this poll.

Every one of these esteemed culinary professionals concurred on one thing: cheese! Numerous varieties of cheese were discussed, but the number one contender was Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.

“The cheese section at Trader Joe’s is broad and bountiful, I feel like I’m in a cheese shop in Italy or France,” said Cutolo. This illustrious cheese section can complicate making a purchase for anyone, not to mention professional foodies. “All the cheeses at Trader Joe’s are my weakness,” Gunnell revealed.

Unexpected Cheddar, as the name suggests, offers an astoundingly layered depth of taste. “It tastes like an expensive aged cheddar, but comes at an amazing price point,” said Moore.

For seven ounces and a price tag of $3.99, one can’t go wrong with this cheddar that melts perfectly into an elevated grilled cheese, adds a nutty bite to salads, or serves as a classic feature on any cheese board or charcuterie plate. As well as this, it is fantastic melted over burgers or baked potatoes, or added to warm cheese dip, sumptuous mac and cheese, flaky biscuits, or creamy broccoli cheddar soup. The possibilities are endless and only limited by one’s imagination.

While Unexpected Cheddar was the clear winner among the Chefs’ choice, several other delicious contenders were named, including Syrah Soaked Toscano Cheese, Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions, Cheddar & Gruyere Mélange Cheese, Saint André Triple Crème Brie, and Chèvre Goat Cheese. This points to the fact that you simply can’t go wrong when it comes to the amazing selection available in the cheese section at Trader Joe’s. No matter what you choose, you’re bound to encounter flavors that will elevate your gastronomic experience and take your home cooking to a new level. Not just for home cooks, but it’s clear that even professionals swear by the quality and variety available at this popular grocery store. So, the next time you visit Trader Joe’s, don’t forget to explore their cheese section; you might just find your next culinary inspiration.