Often, the best way to find the cheese you’ll love is to head down to your local, independently owned cheese shop and talk to the cheesemongers about what’s in stock and what's tasting great. Like any agricultural product, cheese varies based on the season, what the animals are eating, and the choices made by the cheesemaker. That's why it’s best to taste before you buy. If there aren’t any cheese shops near you, or if you're looking for a specific type or hoping to send a cheesy gift, you're in luck. Online cheese stores offer high-quality cheese with exotic and gourmet options. These stores range from crowd-pleasing and inexpensive retailers to tiny producers crafting one-of-a-kind treasures. To help you choose, we researched over a dozen different companies. These Are the Best Places to Order Cheese Online, From Abertam to Zamorano These Are the Best Places to Order Cheese Online, From Abertam to Zamorano Final Verdict Compare Providers What to Look For FAQ Methodology Why We Chose It We chose iGourmet's as our overall best pick due to the large selection of both international and domestic cheese. In most cases, you'll have more than one brand or variation to choose from when searching for a particular cheese. Pros & Cons Pros Huge selection of domestic and international cheeses Both small producers and big names are available Cons Selection may be overwhelming Overview If you’re seeking something special and just can’t find it, iGourmet is the place to look with its vast selection. For instance, most shops have one water buffalo cheese—creamy, fresh mozzarella di bufala. iGourmet has a dozen water buffalo milk options, including buffalo milk butter, buffalo milk Gouda, and buffalo milk Gorgonzola. iGourmet has deli cuts, all the international greatest hits, cheese in bulk, a solid sale selection, and accompaniments galore. There are also well-thought-out sets and boxes, including sets of cheeses to pair with your favorite wines, from cabernet sauvignon to Riesling to pinot noir. Key Specs Why We Chose It Harry & David goes beyond the average curation with fun creations, like the Football Sausage and Cheese gift box, featuring an all-beef football-shaped sausage. Pros & Cons Pros A gift for just about every occasion Choose from crowd-pleasing favorites or artisanal selections Cons Can’t customize gifts Overview A curated basket from Harry & David feels like the pinnacle of thoughtful gift-giving, and the cheese selection is no exception. Browse boxes by sought-after American cheesemakers, like Rogue Creamery, Beehive Cheese Co., and Sartori. There’s a craft ale cheese collection, an organic cheese box, and even cheese and wine pairing boxes. While there are certainly deluxe options, there are also plenty of affordable boxes, too. Key Specs Why We Chose It You may know Murray's for its cheese, but the brand shines in offering a charcuterie selection, too, featuring some of the greatest hits from around the world. Pros & Cons Pros Many meat and cheese options Gift boxes to choose from Cons Pricey shipping, depending on your location Overview Need some prosciutto, too? Once New York City’s quirkiest cheese shop, Murray’s Cheese, is now owned by Kroger, America’s largest supermarket chain by revenue. Whether you’re looking for pâté, small-batch pepperoni, or prosciutto, this one-stop shop has got you covered. It also stocks smoked fish and sausages, like andouille and breakfast links. If you’re extra fancy, there are even truffle-infused options. Key Specs Why We Chose It Hickory Farms has a range of crowd-pleasing cheese options, from a classic orange cheddar to a smoked cheese flight, plus simple, but thoughtful gift boards and baskets (many of which ship for free). Pros & Cons Pros Many assortments to choose from (including some with holiday themes) Budget-friendly Cons Not many options for the foodie or those who prefer to buy from small producers Overview Next time you’re shopping for a range of ages, consider Hickory Farms. You won’t find Brie, manchego, or other international options here, but you will find a sausage and cheese gift basket, fruit and cheese baskets, cheese spread flights, and other delightful surprises.Cheese lovers of all ages will appreciate fun flavored options, such as the bacon and smoked cheddar blend, which, by the way, would be amazing on a grilled cheese sandwich. Key Specs Why We Chose It Not only is there a range of delicious, affordable cheese options, but Caputo's also offers affordable shipping prices—there’s no need to pay $30 or more for shipping unless you’re overnighting your order. Pros & Cons Pros Range of domestic and international cheeses Exclusive cave-aged cheeses Cons Cheeses go out of stock often Overview Caputo’s Market in Salt Lake City is one of the best under-the-radar spots to shop for cheese, period. It stocks American originals and European favorites, and it even has an affinage (or “cheese aging”) program, in which it teams up with small producers to perfect its cheeses. If you’re only trying one cheese, go for the house-aged cheddar. After being aged for 10 months, it’s buttery and potato-y with the faintest note of sweet horseradish. Key Specs Why We Chose It Zingerman's is quirky, genuine, and a place that values its employees. That same sort of thoughtfulness goes into the online cheese-buying experience. Pros & Cons Pros Range of domestic and international cheeses Great tasting notes on every cheese Cons Cheeses go out of stock often Overview It’s hard not to love Zingerman’s of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Looking for cheese made with vegetarian rennet or cheese from a specific state? Maybe you’re just looking for brunch cheese. No matter your situation, Zingerman's can probably help. The site's search function is tailored to the customer—you can even search by the required shipping method (soft cheeses, for example, are more perishable and should be delivered with more haste). Each cheese’s landing page tells its story, complete with tasting notes for the current batch. The gift options are also solid, too, with options by origin and desired pairings. Key Specs Why We Chose It Saxelby Cheesemongers is one of the best-known cheese shops in the country, especially when it comes to small-production American cheese. Pros & Cons Pros Tiny-production gems, many of which you won’t find elsewhere Great gift boxes Cons Pricey shipping, depending on your location Overview Anne Saxelby opened Saxelby Cheesemongers in 2006 in Manhattan’s historic Essex Market after cutting her teeth at New York City’s famous cheese shops. Online, you can choose from some of the best cheeses made in America or just go for the cheese of the month (or cheese and chocolate of the month!) club. The gift selection is extensive and creative, with selections by producer and state. There's also a beer lover’s box, cheddar flight, a woman-made box, and more. If you only want the best of what America has to offer, opt for the American Cheese Society Winners quintet or trio. Key Specs Why We Chose It Though Formaggio Kitchen stocks some American favorites, the cheese selection is decidedly old-world and, frankly, unrivaled when it comes to European cheeses. Pros & Cons Pros Range of domestic and international cheeses Some cheeses can't be found anywhere else in the U.S. Cons Selection may be a bit esoteric for the average cheese lover Overview Boston-based Formaggio Kitchen carries the finest artisan foods from around the world. Take nutty, mild Comté: most shops stock one version, usually aged between eight and 12 months. They might bring in a two-year version around the holidays. Formaggio Kitchen, on the other hand, stocks four to six Comtés on any given day, each with a different age and flavor profile. For the cheese explorer, the “taste of” collections are also exceptional, featuring exotic cheese from Italy, France, the British Isles, and more. Oh, and if you love charcuterie, many of the products are house-made. Key Specs Why We Chose It Organic produce isn’t all that hard to find, but certified organic cheese is. Even if a cheesemaker follows organic practices, the certification is expensive and very strict, but Cowgirl values sustainability and thinks cheese tastes better when it’s made with organic milk. Pros & Cons Pros Great gift boxes Features hard-to-find certified-organic cheeses Cons Can’t just buy one or two cheeses Overview If you’re a cheese lover, you’ve likely already heard about Cowgirl Creamery’s incredible cheese. Mt Tam, its triple cream Brie-style cheese, is mushroomy, creamy, and a total dreamboat. Perhaps you’re more of a Red Hawk fan, with its distinctive orange rind and characteristic meaty funk. The store doesn’t sell its cheese piecemeal on the website (you can usually find it online at Murray’s), but its collections feature its flagship cheeses, plus wonderful small-batch meat, jam, crackers, and other accouterments. Key Specs Why We Chose It There’s a burgeoning scene of small American cheesemakers making award-winning cheese, and Georgia-based Sweet Grass Dairy is a perfect example of small-batch American cheese done right. Pros & Cons Pros Range of cheese styles, from camembert to pimento Small, sustainable producer Cons Pricey shipping, depending on your location Overview States like Vermont and Wisconsin get most of the credit for cheesemaking, but it's not the only place to find good products. Using a system called rotational grazing, Sweet Grass Dairy ensures happy, pasture-fed cows.When you take a bite of the cheese, that grass-fed flavor speaks for itself. It offers a wide variety of cheese in the online shop, including decadent Camembert-style Green Hill and a crowd-pleasing pimento cheese. Smear either on your favorite baguette or pick up some southern-made charcuterie, jam, crackers, or pecans to pair. Our best overall pick for the best place to order cheese online is iGourmet. It offers everything you could ever imagine on your next charcuterie board or grilled cheese, including a massive selection of both international and domestic cheese. You can choose to order a thoughtful gift box, a bulk order of cheese, meats, and more. Lifespan: In general, cheesemongers will advise you to order less cheese more often, rather than stocking up, but sometimes we go overboard. Should you be buying in bulk, make sure to eat softer cheeses, like Brie and burrata, first. Harder cheeses, like parmesan and cheddar, can last months in your fridge as opposed to a few weeks for the softer stuff. Storage: Your cheese will likely come packaged in butcher paper—and that’s where it should remain. Plastic wrap will suffocate cheese and impart unpleasant flavors. Assortment: Many shops offer assortment boxes that make a lovely cheese plate. Should you be curating your own cheese board selection, stick to a range of milk types and textures. An old cheesemonger saying is “something old (harder, aged cheese), something new (soft, young cheese), something stinky, something blue.” Yes! The shipping cost will likely be higher for your cheese order than it might be for other food items, and that’s because cheese does better with less transit time. It requires lots of pampering, too, like ice packs and insulation. Cheese loves humidity and will do best if it’s in your crisper drawer. If your cheese arrived in plastic wrap, it’s best to repackage it in butcher paper. Unless you plan to cook with it, never freeze cheese. Freezing will compromise its texture and flavor. Cheese should be served at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture. Let your cheese sit out for at least an hour before serving. Harder cheeses, in general, are less perishable than soft cheeses. Fresh cheeses, like mozzarella or chevre, should be eaten within a week of purchase. Most soft cheeses will last seven to 14 days in your fridge. Hard cheeses will last at least 14 days and sometimes longer—something like Parmigiano Reggiano will last for months. We looked at more than a dozen online retailers that ship cheese before paring down out list. Factors we considered while choosing which companies to include were price, types of cheese offered, shipping policies, and more. We then took these criteria and ranked our top picks in different categories to ensure that our choices offer something for every kind of cheese lover. Take a Trip to the Ocean With the Best Salt Water Taffy You Can Buy OnlineThe 10 Best Places to Order Cheese Online in 2024
Best Overall : iGourmet
Key Specs
Best for Gifting : Harry & David
Best for Cheese and Charcuterie : Murray’s Cheese
Best for Families : Hickory Farms
Best Budget : Caputo’s Market
Best Shopping Experience : Zingerman’s
Best for Artisanal American : Saxelby Cheesemongers
Best for European Cheeses : Formaggio Kitchen
Best Organic : Cowgirl Creamery
Best for an American Original : Sweet Grass Dairy
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Places to Order Cheese Online
Company Cost Specialty Shipping iGourmet Best Overall From $58/monthly Soft and hard cheeses, flavored options, and cheeses for dietary restrictions Nationwide starting at $24.99 for perishable items Harry & David Best for Gifting From $34.99 Award-winning and gourmet cheeses with meat pairing options Nationwide starting at $8.99 (free on some club orders) Murray's Cheese Best for Cheese and Charcuterie From $76 Artisanal cheeses with charcuterie options Nationwide starting at $7 (free on orders over $150) Hickory Farms Best for Families From $31.99 Signature flavors, savory and spicy cheeses, and pairings for meats and sweets Nationwide starting at $9.99 Caputo's Market Best Budget From about $12/pound Domestic and international cheeses from large and small producers Nationwide starting at $7.99 (free on orders over $75) Zingerman's Best Shopping Experience From about $20/pound International and domestic cheeses with a large variety of options Nationwide starting at $12.99 Saxelby Cheesemongers Best for Artisanal American From about $30/pound American-made cheeses with small-batch flavors Nationwide starting at $12 (free on orders over $100) Formaggio Kitchen Best for European Cheeses From about $15/pound Exclusive European-focused cheeses Nationwide, calculated per order Cowgirl Creamery Best Organic Collections from $95 Organic cheeses with pairings for meat and wine Nationwide, calculated per order (overnight only) Sweet Grass Dairy Best for an American Original From about $15/pound Georgia-based cheeses with award-winning flavors Nationwide starting at $15 What to Look for When Buying Cheese Online
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe to Eat Cheese Bought Online?
How Should You Store Cheese Once It Arrives?
How Should You Serve Cheese?
How Long Does Cheese Last?
Methodology
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