What a National Survey Reveals About Americans’ Cheese Preferences

HART Insight Summary

Cheese continues to hold a strong place in American diets, but new consumer research provides a closer look at why people choose it, how they eat it and which varieties they enjoy. A nationwide survey of 5,000 Americans found that cheese appeals to consumers for more than taste alone, with convenience, comfort, versatility and protein also influencing consumption. The findings provide dairy and cheese manufacturers with useful insight into the preferences and eating occasions shaping today’s cheese market.

Key Takeaways

• 82% of surveyed Americans consider cheese one of their favorite foods.
• 73% say they always or often purchase cheese while grocery shopping.
• Cheddar, mozzarella and Parmesan were among the most frequently selected favorite cheese varieties.
• 77% consider cheese a favorite snack, while 91% enjoy it as an ingredient or topping.
• Younger consumers reported particularly strong enthusiasm for cheese, led by Gen Z and Millennials.
• Taste remains the leading reason consumers enjoy cheese, followed by comfort, convenience and its ability to make meals more satisfying.
• More than half of surveyed cheese consumers also seek out cheese as a source of protein.

At A Glance

• Estimated Reading Time: ≈4 minutes
• Original Publish Date: June 2026
• Source: Food & Wine / Talker Research

Americans Continue To Have An Appetite For Cheese

Cheese remains a popular and versatile part of the American diet, according to new consumer research examining how people across the country purchase, eat and think about cheese.

Talker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans, with 100 respondents from each state. The results point to widespread enthusiasm for cheese, with 82% of respondents naming it among their favorite foods and only a small percentage reporting that they never eat it.

For many consumers, cheese is also a regular addition to the grocery cart. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they always or often purchase cheese while grocery shopping.

Its versatility appears to be part of the appeal. Consumers aren’t limiting cheese to a single meal or occasion. Ninety-one percent of respondents said they enjoy cheese as an ingredient or topping, while 77% consider it a favorite snack.

The findings demonstrate how cheese continues to fit into a wide range of eating occasions, from meals and recipes to convenient snacks.

Which Cheese Varieties Do Americans Prefer?

The survey also asked consumers which American-produced cheese varieties they enjoy, allowing respondents to select more than one.

Several familiar varieties ranked highly:

• Cheddar: 77%
• Mozzarella: 74%
• Parmesan: 64%
• American: 63%
• Cream cheese: 59%
• Provolone: 54%
• Monterey Jack: 53%
• Colby: 52%
• Pepper Jack: 52%
• Swiss: 51%

Rather than identifying one cheese as better than another, the results provide a snapshot of the wide range of varieties that appeal to U.S. consumers.

The findings also reflect the different roles cheese can play in the diet. Some varieties lend themselves naturally to snacking, while others are commonly incorporated into meals, used as toppings or selected for specific recipes. Strong consumer interest across numerous varieties highlights the diversity of today’s cheese market.

Taste Is Important, But It Isn’t The Only Factor

Taste remains the leading reason consumers choose cheese, with 74% of respondents identifying it as a reason they enjoy the product.

Other motivations demonstrate that cheese serves several purposes for today’s consumers.

More than half, 51%, associate cheese with comfort, while 49% appreciate its convenience. Another 46% said cheese helps make meals feel more satisfying or filling.

Nutrition is also part of the equation. Fifty-four percent of surveyed cheese consumers said they seek out cheese as a source of protein.

That finding is particularly notable as protein continues to influence purchasing decisions throughout the broader food and dairy industries. Cheese already has an established role in many consumers’ diets, giving the category an opportunity to meet demand for taste, convenience and nutrition across a variety of formats and eating occasions.

Younger Generations Show Strong Enthusiasm For Cheese

Cheese enthusiasm also varies somewhat by generation.

Among those surveyed, 61% of Gen Z respondents identified as cheese enthusiasts, compared with 57% of Millennials, 54% of Gen X and 44% of Baby Boomers.

Younger consumers’ enthusiasm for cheese may reflect the many ways the product fits into today’s eating habits. Cheese can be convenient enough for individual snacking while also lending itself to social and shareable experiences.

From snack-sized portions to charcuterie boards and other group eating occasions, cheese can adapt to changing consumer preferences without losing the familiarity that has made it a longstanding part of American diets.

For dairy manufacturers, understanding these generational differences can provide additional context when considering future products, formats and applications.

Cheese Fits A Wide Range Of Eating Occasions

One of the clearest findings from the research is the versatility of cheese.

Consumers aren’t choosing it exclusively as a standalone snack or an ingredient. They’re doing both.

That versatility gives cheese manufacturers opportunities to serve consumers across different parts of the day and a variety of eating occasions. A product developed for convenient snacking may have different portioning and packaging requirements than cheese intended primarily for foodservice, cooking or entertaining.

Consumer priorities can also overlap. A shopper may choose cheese because of its flavor while simultaneously valuing its protein content, convenience and ability to make a meal more satisfying.

As food preferences continue to evolve, understanding these overlapping motivations can help the dairy industry identify opportunities for new products and formats while continuing to serve established cheese categories.

HART Perspective

Consumer research offers dairy and cheese manufacturers valuable insight into what people want from the products they purchase. This survey demonstrates that cheese continues to appeal to consumers across varieties, generations and eating occasions, with taste, convenience, versatility and protein all contributing to its popularity.

For processors, evolving consumer preferences can translate into changing production needs. Different cheese varieties, portion sizes, applications and product formats can require manufacturers to accommodate greater product diversity while maintaining consistent quality.

As manufacturers respond to changing market opportunities, flexible and repeatable processing capabilities can help support product variety and maintain the characteristics consumers expect from one production run to the next.

What This Means For Dairy & Cheese Plants

• Product Variety: Strong consumer interest across numerous cheese varieties reinforces the importance of a diverse market capable of serving different tastes, applications and eating occasions.
• Snacking Opportunities: With 77% of respondents identifying cheese as a favorite snack, convenient formats and portion sizes continue to represent an important way consumers enjoy cheese.
• Generational Preferences: Gen Z and Millennials reported particularly strong enthusiasm for cheese, providing manufacturers with additional insight into the consumers who may influence future product and format trends.
• Protein Demand: More than half of surveyed cheese consumers seek out cheese as a source of protein, connecting the category with broader consumer interest in protein-forward foods.
• Versatility: Cheese’s ability to function as a snack, ingredient and topping gives manufacturers opportunities to serve multiple consumer needs and eating occasions.
• Production Flexibility: As consumer preferences influence product varieties, sizes and formats, processors may benefit from production systems capable of accommodating changing requirements while maintaining consistent quality.

About The Research

The findings are based on research conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Undeniably Dairy. The online survey included 5,000 Americans, with 100 respondents from each state.

Respondents were asked about how they consume cheese, the varieties they enjoy and the role cheese plays in their diets. Because participants could select multiple cheese varieties as favorites, the percentages reported for individual varieties do not total 100%.

Attribution

This article is based on consumer research reported by Food & Wine, with findings from Talker Research and Food & Wine. HART Design & Manufacturing has summarized the original reporting and added independent dairy-processing and manufacturing context. The original publisher and research organizations did not contribute to or review HART’s additions.

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