Who is this choice for?

People taking lunch with them

If you’re planning to take a chilled product on deck, keeping it cold matters more than how easy it is to portion. The DGCCRF recommends using a cool bag for a picnic.

People looking for a ready-grated topping

Grated cheese saves you having to grate a block when you’re preparing a meal. Depending on the product, it may be Emmental or a blend intended for a particular recipe, so check the packet before choosing.

People making a creamy sauce

Crème fraîche meets a different need from grated cheese. Elle & Vire, for example, offers full-fat and light crème fraîche, with different stated fat contents.

What should you look for before buying?

Crème fraîche

Choose it: when your recipe calls for a sauce or a creamy texture.

Keep in mind: it won’t replace a cheese topping and must be transported according to the storage instructions on its packaging.

Grated cheese

Choose it: to add ready-grated cheese to a dish, depending on the use recommended for that product.

Keep in mind: it can’t take the place of a sauce, and ingredients vary between blends.

Both ingredients

Choose them: if your recipe needs both a creamy preparation and a cheese topping.

Keep in mind: check the storage and after-opening instructions on each packet separately.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Keeping it chilled during the journey The temperature stated on the packaging and whether you can keep the product cold until mealtime. I need to take my lunch on deck and keep a chilled ingredient at the temperature stated on its label. Around 42% of consumers would put this need first.
Ready-to-use topping The type of cheese, ingredients and suggested culinary use stated on the packet. I want to finish preparing my meal without grating cheese, so I’m looking for a ready-to-use topping that suits the recipe. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Creamy texture The type of cream, stated fat content and recommended use for that product. My recipe calls for a sauce or creamy texture rather than a cheese topping. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this need.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘pre-grated’ means a type of crème fraîche

    Crème fraîche and ready-grated cheese have different roles in a recipe: one doesn’t automatically replace the other.

    Before choosing a product, decide whether your meal needs a sauce, a cheese topping or both ingredients separately.

  • Taking a chilled product with you without a way to keep it cold

    How easy a tub or packet is to carry doesn’t change its storage temperature. The DGCCRF recommends using a cool bag for a picnic.

    Check the instructions on the packaging and, if it will help you follow them until mealtime, take an insulated bag with a cool pack.

  • Assuming the packaging can be resealed after opening

    A lid or resealable packet makes a product easier to use, but it doesn’t replace refrigeration or the instructions to follow after opening.

    Reseal the packaging and follow the storage conditions and use-by period after opening stated for the product you’ve bought.

  • Treating all grated cheese as the same blend

    Les Croisés’ gratin cheese combines Emmental and Comté, while the Auchan product mentioned here includes mozzarella and Maasdam, among other ingredients. So the generic term ‘grated cheese’ doesn’t tell you what’s in the packet.

    Compare the product name and ingredient list of products intended for the same type of recipe.

Brands to consider for different recipes

Elle & Vire

Crème fraîche for recipes that need a creamy texture.

  • Elle & Vire states that its full-fat crème fraîche in a pouch contains 30% fat, while its light version in a pouch contains 12%.
  • These creams aren’t grated cheese; follow the chilling instructions for the product you choose.

Carrefour Classic'

A gratin-style grated cheese for recipes that call for this type of topping.

  • Carrefour lists a 150 g packet of grated cheese for gratins.
  • Check the ingredients of the packet you choose rather than assuming they apply to other products from the brand.

Les Croisés / Marque Repère E.Leclerc

A gratin-style grated cheese whose blend is specified on the product listing.

  • E.Leclerc states that this 150 g product contains 60% Emmental and 40% Comté.
  • This composition doesn’t apply to all grated cheeses from the retailer. Check the product and its availability at your chosen collection point.

Auchan

A 200 g packet of gratin-style grated cheese with a resealable top.

  • For this product, Auchan lists mozzarella, Maasdam and up to 2.5% potato starch.
  • The product listing says to store it between +2 °C and +6 °C. This ingredient list doesn’t apply to other Auchan grated cheeses.

Chêne d’Argent / Lidl

Grated French Emmental, which Lidl recommends for dishes such as gratins and composed salads.

  • Lidl describes it as a resealable packet, made in France with French milk.
  • Check the information on the packet and availability when you shop.

Milsani / Aldi

A range of grated cheese formats and varieties to choose from depending on your recipe.

  • Aldi’s range includes Emmental, mozzarella and blends of grated cheeses.
  • Ingredients vary by product, so check the packet and availability at your chosen store.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take crème fraîche or grated cheese with me for lunch on deck?

Yes, as long as you can keep it at the storage temperature stated on the packaging until mealtime. The DGCCRF recommends using a cool bag for a picnic and advises against leaving chilled products out of the fridge. Don’t assume a resealable packet is enough.

Is gratin-style grated cheese suitable for a cold meal?

Choose it for a cold meal only if the product and your recipe are suitable, rather than relying on the words ‘for gratins’ alone. Check the ingredients and recommended use. Lidl, for example, also suggests its grated French Emmental for composed salads.

How can I check the ingredients and allergens?

Read the ingredient list on the packaging of the product you’re buying. The DGCCRF says allergenic ingredients must be highlighted. Grated cheese blends can also vary in the cheeses and other ingredients they contain.

Is the use-by date enough after opening?

No. According to the DGCCRF, the stated use-by date is no longer useful once the packaging has been opened. From then on, follow the storage conditions and after-opening period shown on the label.