Cheese Expert Reveals Best Budget-Friendly Cheese That Melts Perfectly for Raclette!

The raclette season has officially begun. As the chill sets in and the days grow shorter, there’s nothing quite like a hearty serving of melted cheese to lift your spirits. However, the excitement may wane when you see the prices at the cheese counter: traditional raclette can cost upwards of $30 per kilogram, and specialty versions even more. With these prices, your grocery budget might just evaporate like the cheese in your pan! While pre-sliced cheese from the supermarket is more wallet-friendly, it often doesn’t taste as good. But don’t worry, we’ve discovered a cheese that offers the best bang for your buck, thanks to a secret tip from a cheesemonger.

While reblochon, tomme de Savoie, and Saint-Nectaire are all viable options for raclette, one cheese stands out from the rest, according to our expert. “I really like using it for raclette: it’s mild and melts wonderfully!” he shares. This cheese is typically enjoyed on a toasted slice of bread, rather than melted in a dish. It’s delectable even when raw, the cheesemonger admits: “It has a creamy texture with a very mild, milky flavor,” he describes. Also, the price is quite reasonable: depending on the store and the age of the cheese, it can be found for around $20 per kilogram. Recognizable by its cream-colored body and a distinctive dark line, this cheese is none other than morbier, a raw cow’s milk cheese from the Jura region.

However, don’t be misled by the dark line running through it; it doesn’t indicate a blue or veined cheese. Morbier is not a type of blue cheese; the line is made from vegetable charcoal, an edible ingredient that adds no flavor, the industry experts explain. The taste of morbier is subtly fruity and vanilla-like, and it melts just as well as traditional raclette cheese when heated. You’ll have to try it and see for yourself!

With morbier, you can indulge without breaking the bank. The cheese stretches, the aroma builds, the plate clears… and your budget finally gets some breathing room. It’s time to kick off the raclette season with this top-notch tip. Prepare for cozy evenings of enjoyment without counting the cost.