What Differentiates Sharp Cheddar from Extra Sharp Cheddar?

Are you a cheddar cheese fan? When you head to the store do you head straight to the cheese aisle to check out the different sharp cheddar and extra sharp cheddar options? But, did you know that there are distinct differences between sharp cheddar and extra sharp cheddar cheese? Every kind of cheddar cheese is different and the more flavor and bite you like with your cheese, the sharper you want to go. So, between the sharp cheddar and the extra sharp cheddar cheese, you will have a lot of great options that you can choose from and decide which one you like the best. But, first, let’s understand the differences between sharp and extra sharp cheddar cheese.

There is no set Criteria

The first thing to know is that while there are differences between sharp cheddar and extra sharp cheddar, they aren’t set in stone. The labels “sharp” and “extra sharp” aren’t defined by FDA guidelines and aren’t uniform across the board. So, while there will be a flavor difference between the two cheese blocks, you may find that one brand may have a more distinct difference between the two than the other one does.

Age is Beauty

For people that are really extra sharp cheddar cheese lovers, the big difference between the two varieties of cheese is the time that they are aged. The cheese goes through the same process to be made. But, the flavor may depend on the starter cultures, the amount of salt, and the moisture content in the cheese. This balances out as it is aged and can cause different flavors to come out. However, the main difference for sharp and extra sharp is when they are aged. Sharp cheese is generally aged for six to nine months and extra sharp cheese is aged for between one and a half to two years, there is a huge difference there. The other thing that causes the cheese to taste different is that the older it gets, the more bacteria enzymes that are produced and that breaks down the fats and protein, which creates a different taste.

Whether you are a sharp cheddar connoisseur or an extra sharp cheddar cheese connoisseur, there are subtle to very noticeable differences between these cheeses due to their age and the different breakdown of the enzymes in the cheese. Depending on what your palette enjoys, check out the different kinds of these cheeses that you can try out.

-Written By: Viktoria Carella