The Best Supermarket Raclette, According to 60 Million Consumers
Planning a raclette evening? 60 Million Consumers magazine has recently tested six supermarket raclette cheeses to determine which offers the best balance of flavor, melt, and value. Their findings reveal a clear winner, and highlight some brands to avoid.
The panel sought a cheese that melts well and complements accompaniments without overpowering them, prioritizing accessibility and affordability.They focused their comparison on natural raclette cheeses with rind, made from pasteurized milk and sold in vacuum-packed slices.
Ultimately, the winning cheese wasn’t the most expensive. The testers found that the key differences between brands came down to structure, aromatic intensity, and salt levels.
Several cheeses failed to impress. RichesMonts (€4.26 for 420g at E.Leclerc) was described as having a “neutral taste.” Entremont Flavor of Yesteryear (€4.39 for 350g), despite having the lowest salt level of the group at 1.5% (compared to 1.7% for others), was perceived as too salty, masking its flavor. Silver Oak (Lidl, €3.49 for 400g) was criticized for its “unappealing appearance and an elastic texture.” Products from the Les Croisés and RichesMonts brands were generally disliked “because of their unpleasant taste, or the absence of flavor,” and were noted for less satisfactory melting.
The market is largely dominated by two production sites: the Entremont Alliance dairy in Côtes-d’Armor (producing Entremont, U, and Carrefour Original) and La Compagnie des fromages and RichesMonts in Haute-Loire (producing Les Croisés, RichesMonts, and Chêne d’Argent). All tested cheeses shared a similar composition: pasteurized cow’s milk, salt, ferments, maturing ferments, coagulating enzyme rather of rennet, and natamycine.
Here’s a rapid guide to the panel’s observations:
* Classic RichesMonts: Neutral taste, possibly bland with spicy accompaniments.
* Entremont Saveur d’Antan: Lowest salt level (1.5%), but perceived as too salty.
* Silver Oak (Lidl): “Unattractive appearance and elastic texture.”
* Les Croisés and RichesMonts: Unpleasant taste or lack of flavor, poor melting.
Price matters. In Paris, Lidl’s Chêne d’Argent was the most affordable at €8.72 per kilo, followed by E.Leclerc’s Les Croisés at €8.55 per kilo. More established brands were pricier without necessarily offering a notable taste improvement.
A key takeaway for budget-conscious shoppers: raclette cheese with crust is generally cheaper than the version without crust. For example, at Auchan, the difference was 27 cents, and at Carrefour, 30 cents. U stores were an exception, pricing both versions the same. If you don’t mind the rind, it’s a simple way to save money.
