A cheesemonger told me how to find cheap, great cheese
There aren’t many foods with a broader appeal than cheese. The love of cheese knows no economic bounds, and so those without a Bentley budget should still be entitled to premium parmesan and high-end havarti. Finding great cheese at a low price isn’t impossible, especially if you know where to look. Or in our case, you know someone who knows where to look.
“A lot of it is a matter of scalability economics,” says Zach Berg, cheesemonger and owner of Detroit’s Sellers’ Facilities“When you talk about a farm, you have to talk about the costs of raising and feeding the animals before you even talk about the costs of making the cheese. That’s done in a very different way than a large industrial company.”
Buying small-scale artisanal cheese not only tastes better, but feels better, knowing that your extra dollars are supporting smaller or more local businesses. However, that doesn’t mean that all artisanal cheese is created equal when it comes to price, or that there isn’t great value to be found in the world of luxury cheese — and that you can’t score good cheese for (relatively) cheap.
For this reason, Berg discusses a number of professional strategies for saving money. cheddar on your cheddar… and gruyere, and camembert and so on. (We also have tips on how to store cheese so it lasts longerAnd how to find cheap wine that tastes expensive.)
Talk to a cheesemonger
It is very likely that it will pay off to become friends with your local cheesemonger.
“Finding a person to talk to is step one,” Berg says. “I would think of it as finding an ally.” As sommeliersCheesemongers are equipped to help you get the most bang for your buck, no matter where your money goes. If you know you’re planning a cheese platter for a certain number of people, and you want a certain number of cheeses, the pros are best equipped to help you get the most and best cheese for your budget.
“Going to places where there is someone to talk to is always so important to maximize your dollar,” says Berg. “Although Trader Joe’s is amazing, it’s harder to get the most out of your money even though the prices are low.”
In my own experience, all cheese professionals have a (metaphorical) bag full of cheeses that they know their customers will like, and that consistently deliver more than they pay for. All you have to do is ask. A few that Berg likes are: Prairie Breeze from Milton Creameryan American cheddar/gouda hybrid, Piavean Italian Alpine-style smelter, and Fromager from Affinois: “It’s what people think of when they think of brie,” says Berg. The latter qualifies more as an industrial cheese than an artisanal one, but that’s all the more reason to talk to the pros.
“You can still use some of the bigger players that have some of those economies of scale without having to sell your soul to the devil or eat bad cheese,” says Berg, who also quotes Mitica/Forever cheese And Hook’s as larger scale dairy companies that can offer lower prices but still have high quality products.
Ask for discounts, offers and promotions
Keep an eye out for promotions like Whole Foods’ 12 Days of Cheese, which usually take place in December.
Even luxury cheese sometimes goes on sale. “We give discounts if we buy too much, to be completely transparent,” says Berg, another reason to befriend a cheesemonger today, so he can point you to the items on sale.
“All cheese has a lifespan,” he adds (note: it’s probably longer than you think), “and I’d much rather you take something home and I don’t lose all my money than have it end up in the trash. Often there’s something that needs a home this weekend, and we offer it at 20% to 50% off, and honestly it’s a fun way for our customers, especially the adventurous ones, to learn about new cheeses because it feels like it’s less risky.”
If there is nothing on offer that interests you that day, ask about future cheese deals, offers and promotions that may be available.
Ask for bad pieces of good cheese
It wouldn’t hurt to ask your local cheesemonger about tough cuts of cheese, which are sometimes sold at a discount.
Speaking of less financial risk, “we have a ‘good cheese, bad cuts’ bin that we always try to maintain,” Berg says. “It’s always really good cheese,” he says, that might just be oddly cut, or come from a little scrap at the end of a larger wheel.
These chunks aren’t the fancy points you’d want to place on an Instagram-worthy cheese board, but if you’re trying out new cheeses yourself or creating a killer blend of grated cheese for grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, or fondue, these quirky little chunks can add a huge amount of value.
Even larger retailers like Whole Foods or the Murray’s counters in Kroger stores often have a selection of smaller or awkward pieces. You can also look for, or ask for, a discount basket of small pieces at your local grocery store.
Understand Cheese Statistics
Cheese departments often list prices per kilo. If you are not used to thinking about practical figures, the price can be a bit of a shock.
“I think most consumers don’t think in terms of weights and measures when it comes to cheese,” Berg says, especially if they’re used to buying industrial cheese by the case rather than by the pound. Artisan cheese shops often list prices in pounds (or fractions thereof), which can lead to sticker shock if you’re not used to thinking about how much of that $30-a-pound cheese you’re actually buying. (I’ve seen a few retailers combat this, though, by pricing their cheese by the quarter pound.)
Industrial blocks of cheese—the shrink-wrapped cheddars and Colby Jacks in your dairy aisle—typically come in eight-ounce, or half-pound, portions, so unless you’re planning on becoming a cheese bender in a single weekend or making a cheese board for a particularly large party, a typical slice of artisan cheese for most households is between a quarter and a half pound. So if you’re looking at those per-pound prices, start dividing and save yourself the heart attack.
On the other hand, because cheese is already in a state of controlled decay, it has a long shelf life. So if you get a discount for buying more at a time, know that you have little reason to expect to have to throw the cheese away due to spoilage, provided you store it properly.
Discover loyalty and subscription programs in store
Many of the best cheese shops now offer subscriptions and loyalty programs for customers.
Many cheesemongers offer loyalty or subscription programs, or both, which are also ways to save money on your fancy cheese needs. For example, if you sign up with Mongers’ Provisions, you’ll get 2% back on in-store purchases. “It’s a way for us to stay more connected to our customers,” Berg says, “and let them know that it really means something that someone is spending their money with us.”
Cheese subscription boxes from your local shops or dairies may seem like a luxury, but they can also save you money and time. “For people who live further away from the store, or don’t like going to a store every time, our subscription boxes may include discounts, and the more you buy, the cheaper the items become.”
Buy local cheese
By supporting good, local cheesemakers, they can keep prices low.
Regardless of how much you spend on artisanal cheese, and even if you don’t buy directly from a cheesemaker or cheesemonger, shopping local by getting to know the local brands in your area can provide value, if not necessarily savings. “There’s a lot of value in buying local brands,” Berg says, “because you’re getting great food, your money is staying in your local economy and having a bigger impact there.”
On a related note, the little crunchy bits you often find in aged cheeses are called tyrosine crystals, which are not too far removed chemically from dopamine. Which is to say that when you buy local, artisanal cheese, cheese can feel good for more reasons than one.
Looking for more useful information tips and ways to save money this year? We found the cheapest place to shop online and calculated How much you save when you buy private label products.
