Kerrygold Cheddar

Kerrygold Cheddar is the cheddar range of the Irish brand Kerrygold, owned by the Ornua co-operative. The cheese is made in Ireland from pasteurized cow's milk from herds that graze on grass for most of the year. The ingredient list is short: milk, salt, cheese cultures and enzymes.

The range comes in several ages. Aged Cheddar is matured for one year and graded by the cheesemakers along the way; it is pale yellow, rich, rounded and creamy. Reserve Cheddar gets an extra year of ageing, so it is sharper, stronger and denser, with a smooth finish. There are also Sharp Cheddar and Extra Sharp White Cheddar, a white cheddar with no colouring and a bold bite. Aged Cheddar is also sold in slices.

How to use it: the younger cheeses suit sandwiches, toasties and sauces; Reserve and Extra Sharp work on a cheese board, with wine or beer, in bakes and in macaroni cheese. Cheddar with warm apple pie is a pairing the brand itself suggests. Other Kerrygold cheeses include Kerrygold Dubliner and Skellig.

Cheddar belongs to the hard cheeses; the longer it matures, the less moisture it holds and the stronger its flavour.

Why it matters to you: the age on the pack tells you which cheese to pick, a milder one for everyday cooking or a sharp one for the cheese board.