Yes, It's Better to Shred Your Own Cheese—Here's Why

Shredded cheese is instrumental in so many comfort food recipes—lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and enchiladas are just a few examples. It’s also all over the dairy section in your grocery store, so it’s completely understandable if you just throw a bag of it in your shopping cart and proceed as normal. Pre-shredded cheese is a great shortcut—but if you have the opportunity and bandwidth, the benefits of shredding your own cheese are worth the minor arm workout. Here’s why.

Related: This Is the Biggest Mac and Cheese Mistake You’re Making

It Melts Differently

Have you ever noticed that store-bought shredded cheese usually doesn’t stick together? That’s because it’s coated in an anti-caking agent, most likely cellulose (a starch found in plant wall cells). Anti-caking agents prevent shredded cheese from clumping, but they remove moisture. While cellulose is edible, pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as nicely and won’t give the same ooey-gooey goodness to your grandma’s baked ziti recipe. 

It Tastes Better

Shredding your own cheese eliminates the need for those preservatives that keep store-bought cheese fresh such as cellulose and starch, which can also impact the way it tastes. So your cheese straws and quiches just won’t have that same bite if you use pre-shredded Cheddar.

Related: You Might Be Buying Fake "Parmesan" (Here's How to Tell)

It Costs Less

Store-bought shredded cheese obviously costs more—you’re paying for that convenience. Blocks of cheese are generally less expensive by the pound, since there’s the added at-home cost of labor. If you buy, say, a 10-ounce hunk of cheese and grate it yourself, you’ll end up with more cheese than if you were to purchase a bag that contains cheese, cellulose, and air. So get more bang (and cheese) for your buck—grocery shopping is already expensive enough.

The Bottom Line

Shredding your own cheese can yield higher-quality dishes, cuts out starchy preservatives, and is easier on the wallet. If you don’t want to shred your own cheese, though, we don’t blame you! Just pay attention to packaging labels at the grocery store and look for a cheese that doesn’t contain cellulose preservatives. (Buying pre-shredded cheese or shredding cheese at home is really your choice— but please, do not wash your store-bought shredded cheese.) 

Related: We Tested the Best Cheese Graters for Cheddar, Parmesan, and More

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