Sargento

Sargento is a family-owned cheese company and brand of natural cheese based in Plymouth, Wisconsin (USA). Sargento Foods Inc. has been making cheese since 1953 and still carries the founding family's name.

Sargento has no single signature cheese. The brand offers classic American and European cheeses cut and packed for everyday cooking: cheddar of different sharpness, Monterey Jack and pepper jack, colby-jack, Swiss, mozzarella, provolone, and blends of several cheeses for Mexican and Italian dishes.

On the official website the cheeses are grouped by format. Sargento Shredded Cheese comes in Fine Cut and Traditional Cut. Sargento Sliced Cheese includes thin Ultra Thin slices and the Creamery series. Sargento Snack Cheese covers cheese sticks, mozzarella string cheese and cubes. Sargento Reserve Series gathers aged cheeses such as aged white cheddar, aged gouda and an aged Italian blend.

According to the company, most Sargento natural cheeses are made with non-animal rennet; animal rennet is used for traditional Italian-style cheeses such as Romano, provolone, Asiago and fontina.

Shredded cheese suits pizza, pasta, bakes and tacos, slices suit sandwiches and burgers, and snack cheese is made for eating on the go. Keep the cheese refrigerated and, once opened, use it within the time stated on the pack.

Why it matters to you: Sargento is a brand, not a kind of cheese, so check the cheese name on the pack (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss) and the cut. More brands are listed under Cheese producers and brands.