Quick Answer: At the supermarket: Happy Farms White Cheddar Curds from Aldi (Sporked's 9/10, beat Cabot). World champions: Decatur Dairy Muenster curds and Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery flavored curds. Hot appetizer: Kroger Breaded Curds.
Our top picks
Cheese curds are Wisconsin's board cheese: mild, salty, springy and squeaky when they're fresh. Here's what to buy whether you're near a creamery or not.
Which one should you buy?
- Best at the supermarketHappy Farms White Cheddar Cheese Curds (Aldi)
- Best overallDecatur Dairy Muenster Cheese Curds
- Best flavoredEllsworth Cooperative Creamery Curds
- Best plain cheddar curdsArena Cheese Curds
- Best garlicHappy Farms Garlic Cheese Curds (Aldi)
- Best chileBeehive Cheese Hatch Chile Curds
- Best frozen breadedKroger Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds
All 7 picks
Prices are store listings checked November 2026; supermarket prices vary by store.
Best at the supermarket
Happy Farms White Cheddar Cheese Curds (Aldi)
- Score
- 9/10 at Sporked
- Beat
- Cabot cheddar curds
- Where
- Aldi
Why it's here: Sporked's best of the best: fresher-tasting than Cabot's, mild, lightly salty and springy, more like real curds than chunks of cheddar.
Watch out: Store-bought curds don't squeak the way fresh creamery curds do.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
Best overall
Decatur Dairy Muenster Cheese Curds
- Won
- 1st, 2022 World Championship
- Style
- Muenster curds
- From
- Brodhead, Wisconsin
Why it's here: Won the first-ever unflavored cheese curd class at the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest: squeaky, salty, clean and mild.
Watch out: Mostly sold in Wisconsin and by mail order.
Why we picked it (sources)
Contest results (Green Bay Press-Gazette).
Best flavored
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Curds
- Won
- 1st, flavored class, 2022
- Flavors
- Hickory bacon, hot Buffalo
- From
- Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Why it's here: Ellsworth's hickory bacon curds won the flavored class at the 2022 World Championship, and its hot Buffalo curds also placed.
Watch out: Flavored curds compete with the meats; one flavored bowl per board.
Why we picked it (sources)
Contest results (Green Bay Press-Gazette).
Best plain cheddar curds
Arena Cheese Curds
- Placed
- Top 3, unflavored, 2022
- Style
- Cheddar curds
- From
- Arena, Wisconsin
Why it's here: A Wisconsin creamery that placed in the unflavored class alongside Decatur Dairy and Nasonville Dairy.
Watch out: Regional; look in Wisconsin grocery stores or order online.
Why we picked it (sources)
Contest results (Green Bay Press-Gazette).
Best garlic
Happy Farms Garlic Cheese Curds (Aldi)
- Score
- 7/10 at Sporked
- Flavor
- Like a firm Boursin
- Where
- Aldi
Why it's here: Springy, savory and garlicky enough to notice without taking over; Sporked preferred them to Cabot's pricier garlic curds.
Watch out: Garlic breath; pair with a plain cheese too.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
Best chile
Beehive Cheese Hatch Chile Curds
- Score
- 8/10 at Sporked
- From
- Utah
- Where
- Whole Foods
Why it's here: Savory, tangy curds with real green Hatch chile flavor; a good pick for a Southwestern or game-day board.
Watch out: Vacuum-packed and dense, so no springy squeak.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
Best frozen breaded
Kroger Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds
- Score
- 8/10 at Sporked
- Cook
- Air fryer or oven
- Where
- Kroger-family stores
Why it's here: Crispy in the air fryer with a well-seasoned coating and a good cheese pull; Sporked liked them better than Farm Rich.
Watch out: Thick breading; serve hot with ranch or marinara.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
How to keep curds squeaky and serve them on a board
- Fresh is everything: curds squeak best the day they're made and lose it after a day or two in the fridge.
- Bring back the squeak by letting them sit at room temperature, or microwaving a bowl for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Serve them loose in a bowl; no knife needed. About 1 to 2 oz per person.
- Wisconsin board: curds, summer sausage, kielbasa, sharp cheddar, dill pickles, pretzels and a local beer.
- Store in a closed container in the fridge and eat within about a week.
Finish the Wisconsin board: the best summer sausage, the best kielbasa and the best cheddar.
Cheese curd questions
What are the best cheese curds to buy?
At the supermarket, Aldi's Happy Farms White Cheddar Curds. From a creamery, Decatur Dairy and Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, both 2022 World Championship winners.
Why don't my cheese curds squeak?
Squeak fades as curds age. Let them warm to room temperature or microwave them for a few seconds.
Are cheese curds good on a charcuterie board?
Yes. They're mild and salty, so they go with summer sausage, kielbasa, pickles and beer.
Where can I buy cheese curds outside Wisconsin?
Aldi, Kroger stores, Whole Foods and online from Wisconsin creameries.
How long do cheese curds last?
About a week in the fridge once opened, though the squeak goes after a day or two.
How we picked these, and sources
We used Sporked's cheese curd taste test and the results of the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest, the first to judge curds in their own classes. Checked November 3, 2026.
- Sporked: the best cheese curds to buy (Mar 2025)
- Green Bay Press-Gazette: the best cheese curds in the world (2022 World Championship, via AOL)
For Wisconsin's other board cheese, see the best cheddar brands. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
