{"id":13813,"date":"2024-09-06T11:45:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T18:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/?p=13813"},"modified":"2024-09-26T15:52:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T22:52:40","slug":"best-provolone-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/article\/best-provolone-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Provolone Cheese Slices (Blocks, Too!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The best provolone cheese is smooth and mild, but it isn\u2019t bland. It\u2019s fatty, slightly salty, buttery, and sometimes smoky. Provolone is perfect<\/em> for melting on sandwiches like meatball<\/a> subs and hot Italian hoagies, but it\u2019s a great snacking cheese, too. Provolone is surprisingly versatile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that said, let\u2019s face facts: Provolone is mostly used as a sandwich cheese. That\u2019s why most of what you\u2019ll find on this list are provolone cheese slices (fresh from the grocery store deli counter and<\/em> prepackaged). When we sat down for our second taste test, we were determined to find a good block of provolone\u2014and we did. This is huge, guys! This opens a lot of new provolone doors: Now you can add it to a charcuterie board, shred it over a frozen pizza<\/a> to add that nutty sharpness and smoke that mozzarella<\/a> just can\u2019t muster. Here\u2019s all the best provolone cheese from our in-office taste tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Vegan Provolone Cheese<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Violife 100% Vegan Smoked Provolone Slices<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019m a big Violife guy. Their vegan cheese products do such a great job of recreating the real cheese experience. We\u2019re big fans of Violife\u2019s sliced cheddar cheese<\/a> because it\u2019s actually creamy like cheese,\u00a0 and, likewise, their slices of provolone cheese are salty, fatty, and smoky. And, unlike a lot of other vegan cheese, Violife products melt super well. This vegan provolone cheese would make an excellent vegan grilled cheese, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it would melt really well in some oat milk<\/a> to make a great vegan mac and cheese, too. Whatever you do with this, you can\u2019t go wrong. These are the best provolone cheese slices for plant-based folks, no doubt. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Bargain<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Happy Farms Non-Smoked Provolone Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sometimes mozzarella and provolone taste like string cheese<\/a>. That\u2019s what\u2019s going on with Happy Farms Non-Smoked Provolone Cheese from Aldi. This is salty and has that processed cheese quality to it, but you know what? Processed cheese rocks. American cheese<\/a> is delicious and it barely tastes like cheese. This is a bit rubbery and unnatural, but I still dig it. Plus, Happy Farms provolone melts super well, just like a good low-moisture mozzarella. The taste is so simple and straightforward that it works, especially if smoked provolone isn\u2019t your bag. You couldn\u2019t call this the best provolone cheese, but I put it on this list because sometimes you just want something simple and nostalgic, and this cheese will scratch that itch. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Grocery Store Brand<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kroger Smoke Flavored Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I kept eating slices of this Kroger provolone cheese because it\u2019s just so well balanced (and, you know, because I\u2019m a total glutton). It\u2019s got funk, smoke, salt, and fat in equal measure. That\u2019s four<\/em> different flavors and not a single one upstages the other. Instead, they all work together to provide a singularly delicious taste. I love it when food has good flavor alchemy, and Kroger\u2019s smoke flavored provolone is a great example of good chemistry. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Lower Sodium Provolone Cheese<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Boar\u2019s Head 44% Lower Sodium Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I really like this low-sodium provolone because the reduced salt content allows you to taste the milky cheese flavor even more. This tastes like cheese you bought at the farmer\u2019s market\u2014grassy, creamy, and delicious\u2014if cheese you bought at the farmer\u2019s market came in delightful-to-eat, paper-thin slices. It also has a great tang and a sharp funk. There\u2019s no real smokiness to speak of, but that\u2019s just fine with me. I oversalt my food, but when you go easier on the sodium, you really can taste other flavors better. That\u2019s what\u2019s going on here. If you\u2019re watching sodium but love cheese, these are the best provolone slices to toss in your shopping cart. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best Smoked Provolone<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tillamook Farmstyle Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Walmart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Folks, Tillamook knows what\u2019s up. Their butter<\/a>, cheese<\/a>, and ice cream<\/a> is always a hit with our team of taste-testers. These provolone cheese slices have a ton of saturated fat (25% of your daily value per serving!) and a buttload of salt, too. Salt and fat contribute flavor, though, so I\u2019m not hating. It\u2019s also so darn smoky, almost like a\u00a0 smoked gouda. The cheese itself is uniquely delicious and the slices are thick as hell. Calling it \u201cfarmstyle\u201d is good marketing, too. You\u2019re thinking of a cow, just like I am. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best VERY Smoked Provolone<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Red Apple Smoked Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Vons<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If smoked gouda is your typical cheese-counter purchase, I insist you give this block of smoked provolone a shot next time you need a cheese to accompany apples on a cheeseboard or something to shred onto a pizza. Red Apple Smoked Provolone is nice and soft and has the perfect amount of smoke. Some smoked provolone tastes bad\u2014like, it was trapped inside a burning building. This is a genuine, complex woodsmoke flavor that permeates the cheese but doesn\u2019t overpower its other great qualities. The cheese itself is pretty mild, but you can still taste its creaminess. \u2014Gwynedd Stuart<\/em><\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"primo
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Best Bite<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Primo Taglio Provolone Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Pavilions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Primo Taglio provolone cheese has an elusive smokiness and tang that you don\u2019t really get with other provolone cheeses. The primary flavors are fat, smoke, and a buttermilk-like smack. There\u2019s something almost acidic about this provolone\u2019s bite. It\u2019s also deeply fatty and sumptuous, and it straight-up made me drool like a cartoon character. It\u2019s up there with Boar\u2019s Head (our number one pick), so if your grocery store doesn\u2019t carry that brand at the deli, keep your eyes peeled for Primo Taglio. (Note: We got this freshly sliced at the deli, not prepackaged.) \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Pavilions<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Best of the Best<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Boar\u2019s Head Deli Picante Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Pavilions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Boar\u2019s Head Picante Provolone is around $12 a pound and worth every penny. Its texture is thick and floppy, and it\u2019s full of wonderful milk fat. The taste is deliciously funky and sharp\u2014the bite you get on the finish smacks you in the mouth in the most wonderful way. This cheese makes me want a muffuletta<\/a> so bad. Load me up with deli meats<\/a>, olive oil, olive salad<\/a>, and a sharp, fatty provolone cheese, and watch me go. This is the best provolone cheese to make deli-quality cold sandwiches at home, but it also melts incredibly well, too. Use it for grilled cheese or melt it over a crock of French onion soup. Sharp provolone just has more flavor, and while other sharp provolone cheeses might be a bit too funky, Boar\u2019s Head knows exactly where the line is and doesn\u2019t cross it. This is the best provolone cheese for a variety of reasons. \u2014Danny Palumbo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Pavilions<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

10\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Other products we tried<\/strong>: Sargento, Applegate Organics, Lucerne, Follow Your Heart, BelGioso Sharp, Sargento Ultra Thin, Private Selection, Trader Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S<\/em><\/strong>hare your favorite foods with us using #SporkedTasteTest for a chance to be featured on our social pages!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The best provolone cheese is smooth and mild, but it isn\u2019t bland. It\u2019s fatty, slightly salty, buttery, and sometimes smoky. Provolone is perfect for melting on sandwiches like meatball subs and hot Italian hoagies, but it\u2019s a great snacking cheese, too. Provolone is surprisingly versatile.\u00a0 All that said, let\u2019s face facts: Provolone is mostly used…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":40453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,9],"tags":[],"articletype":[46],"coauthors":[398,385],"class_list":["post-13813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deli-dairy","category-dairy","articletype-rankings"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/RANKING-UPDATE_PROVOLONE-CHEESE_header.jpg","posts_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13813"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41901,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13813\/revisions\/41901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13813"},{"taxonomy":"articletype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articletype?post=13813"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}