The Best Cheeses at Costco

In communities where no artisanal cheese shops exist, quesophiles often have to make do with grocery stores for their cheese needs. Among national chains, retailers such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s offer especially worthy cheese selections, as we’ve previously outlined here. If your weekly grocery shopping needs are larger in scale, however, and bulk retailers such as Costco are a necessary part of your routine, good news! There are also some dependable cheese finds, even among Costco big boxy aisles.

One of the hallmarks of Costco’s retail model is that buying in bulk offers huge cost savings, even when you factor in the yearly membership fee required to shop there. Those savings apply to cheese as well. While cheeses available at Costco are portioned similarly to what you might buy at a cheese counter — with the notable exception of an entire wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano — the price you’ll pay per pound for certain cheese staples is typically less. (The whole wheel of Parm comes in at less than $15 for each of its 72 pounds.) You won’t find a lot of small, local producer cheeses available at Costco, but there are some exceptions. 

On that note, the cheese selection at Costco also varies by region, as is also the case with retailers such as Whole Foods. (Sourcing local products also helps with the economics of bulk pricing.) In California, for example, you may see selections from some of the larger, artisanal producers such as Cowgirl Creamery and Cypress Grove, while East Coast Costco stores may have selections from Vermont-based Cabot Creamery, among others.

 

Emmi Le Gruyere AOP

Another hallmark of Costco’s business model is that the number of SKUs is kept to a minimum, meaning that you typically won’t see multiple brands of the same product to choose from. This is good news for cheeses such as Le Gruyere AOP, which can sometimes be placed next to American knock-offs with similar packaging in order to confuse consumers. At Costco, you can only get the real thing: Switzerland’s iconic, raw-milk, Alpine-grazed, sweet-and-savory melter.

 

Kerrygold Dubliner

If you crave Kerrygold for butter and have yet to dabble in its rich Irish cheeses, Coscto offers a favorable price with which to explore. Dubliner is an Irish cheddar-style cheese, though intentionally not branded as cheddar. You may compare it to cheddar hybrids such as Milton Creamery’s Prairie Breeze, or even Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar. Grass-fed cow milk and extended aging produce a sharp and full-flavored cheese, with a firm but creamy texture occasionally punctuated by a crystalline crunch. 

 

Gayo Azul Edam

Edam is often overlooked compared to its Dutch cousin, the more famous Gouda. Both are washed-curd cheeses, resulting in a less acidic, sweeter profile as the cheeses age. The primary difference between them is that Edam utilizes semi-skimmed milk, resulting in a denser texture but an equally butter flavor. Coscto’s Edam, available in a big round ball which is just fun, is distributed by Gayo Azul — a brand with Caribbean roots, hence its commitment to importing the real-deal Dutch products.

 

Kirkland Pecorino Romano

If cacio pepe pasta is on regular rotation in your household, firstly, please invite me to dinner, and secondly, Costco has you covered for your Pecorino Romano cheese needs. Costco’s Pecorino Romano is labeled with their proprietary Kirkland brand, but it is imported from Italy and bears the P.D.O. stamp. Salty and earthy, pecorino refers to any sheep’s milk cheese coming from Italy, but Pecorino Romano is the requirement for cacio pepe. (I will not be entertaining opposing viewpoints at this time.) As of yet Costco doesn’t offer whole wheels into which you can simply dump your noodles and swirl, but at Costco’s prices you can afford to be as generous as you wish with the cheese.

 

Cabot 3 Year Cheddar

I would argue that Cabot is one of the most reliable grocery store brands when it comes to cheese. For starters, Cabot is based in Vermont, which we inherently trust with our cheese needs. Even through its growth, Cabot has remained true to its roots, as a cooperative whose profits go back to the farmers at the heart of the operation. But it’s not just about feel good, it’s about taste good, and Cabot also has the cred where that’s concerned, with an award-winning legacy. Its 3 year cheddar seeks to achieve a balance of “smoothness and bite,” a worthy adversary for all of your sandwich, mac, or snack needs. In addition to the East Coast, it’s also available in the Midwest. 

 

6 Month Manchego D.O.P.

Manchego is often cited as a cheese that can do no wrong, no matter if you get it from a specialty cheese shop or a grocery store. Salty and nutty, with a hint of olive in its savory character, Manchego is one of the ultimate snacking cheeses, as its starring role in Spanish tapas would suggest. Costco’s Manchego is another selection packaged as a Kirkland signature product, but it also has the necessary DOP seal that ensures the quality and provenance.

 

Tropical Queso DeFreir

Depending on where you live, you might have a selection of Tropical’s cheeses in your local grocery, one of the largest producers of Hispanic cheeses available in the U.S. While Tropical’s products are familiar to me, and consistent in their flavor and quality, I hadn’t noticed their Queso DeFreir until I spotted it at Costco. Its function is in the name, whether or not you speak Spanish. Sound it out and you’re there: a cheese meant for frying. Not every cheese can take the heat, but the production of certain fresh cheeses like this Queso DeFreir, or Greece’s Kasseri, can caramelize while maintaining their structural consistency, making them ideal candidates for a brûlée, sauté pan, or grill treatment.

 

Parmigiano Reggiano

The king of cheeses, in its most regal format. Yes, Costco also sells Parmigiano Reggiano as wedges and shaves, but what’s the fun in bulk shopping if you’re not going to extend that mentality to cheese? And where else are you going to casually pick up an entire wheel of Parm? (Full disclosure, I believe this is an online sale opportunity, but still I like the idea.)

 

Meredith Dairy Marinated Goat Cheese 

In the Midwest and possibly elsewhere, you’ll find Meredith Dairy’s goat cheese marinated with herbs and garlic. The cheese is divine, but so too is the oil that is perfect for drizzling on vegetables, pizza, or pasta. Read more about Meredith Dairy. 

 

Point Reyes Farmstead Original Blue

This blue cheese is both creamy and crumbly. It’s made with raw milk and vegetarian rennet and aged 3 ½ months. Produced since 2000, it’s at home on a cheeseboard, crumbled on salads, or in recipes. It’s available in some California locations. Read more about Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. 

 

Marin French Petites

Marin French offers a quad package of their Petite Crème, Petite Breakfast, Petite Camembert and Petite Truffle. Marin French, based in Petaluma, California, dates back to 1865 and is best known for these cheeses, especially the breakfast cheese, a mild and approachable cheese they developed for miners to enjoy for breakfast during the gold rush. The 4 ounce size is convenient and because Marin French cheeses are typically sold on the fresher side, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy them. This is a popular selection in California.