To us, cheddar cheese is a non-negotiable for a great burger, integral to grilled cheese sandwiches, and foundational to our best-ever homemade mac and cheese recipe. It’s sharp, creamy, and salty, and it’s one of our go-to cheeses at the deli counter (it’s great on sandwiches!). But which cheddar cheese is the best one to buy, exactly?

We don’t like wasting time at the grocery store, so we tapped a few chefs to see which cheddar they keep in their fridge. The unanimous recommendation? A block of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar. 

The first person I asked was Stacey Mei Yan Fong, chef and cookbook author of 50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie. Stacey is a “ride or die East Coast truther,” so for her it’s “gotta be Vermont-based Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar all the way.” It’s creamy, and “what cheddar cheese eating dreams are made of.” She also has a great Tater Tot Hot Dish Pie inspired by North Dakota that I know this cheese would be great in. 

Meanwhile Ashia Auborg, Portugal-based recipe developer and chef resident at Asha’s Place in Lisbon, is also all-in on Cabot. “Flavor-wise, Cabot’s Extra Sharp Cheddar balances being sharp and creamy really nicely,” she says “It also tastes so good melted into or grated freshly onto so many dishes.”

I wasn’t too surprised to find out that Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar is beloved by a few of my favorite chefs, because it’s also a staple at my local deli. When I asked Mohammand, my deli guy in Brooklyn, what kind of cheddar cheese he loves, he pulled out a few slices of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar and said that it’s “perfect” for sandwiches. Sold!

Buy:Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar, $3.49 for 8 ounces at Amazon 

Are you a fan of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar? Tell us about it in the comments below.