I’m not sure any part of Aldi’s inventory has gotten a bigger boost in the last ten years than its cheese lineup. What was once a small collection of blocks, shredded cheese, and slices is now this big collection that takes up a good amount of space across the refrigerated section. I suspect a big reason is because cheeses pair with wine, and wine is big business. It might also be related to the increased interest in charcuterie boards and hors d’oeuvre platters.
Some days, I find myself just walking along the cheese section, taking it all in. On other days, I just might snatch up something from said cheese section to try it out. That’s how I found myself picking up these two items out of an Aldi mixed case.
The Emporium Selection Mozzarella Cheese Pre-Cut Log and Emporium Selection Mozzarella Cheese Ball are both Aldi Regular Buys. You can find them in stores all the time. Both of them are 8 ounces and both cost $3.29, or 41 cents an ounce.
Both of them say they take “inspiration from Italy” but are both made in the United States.
As advertised, one of them is a pre-cut log while one of them is a ball. Other than that, they’re identical in terms of ingredients and nutrition. They both contain a single allergen, milk.
I found the log to be easier to cut open than the ball. With the log, I was able to find a split-and-peel corner and then remove it; I had to take scissors to the ball. Both of them had a little bit of liquid that came out with the cheese, so be mindful of where you cut these open because they can be a little messy.
These are, as expected, very similar. The ball may have a slightly softer texture on account of having to cut it, but it’s not significant, if at all. They both taste the same, too, with an understated mozzarella flavor. They’re not as salty as some mozzarellas I’ve had over the years, but that’s not a criticism, as these feel like a cheese rather than a salt-infused snack. Our testers liked both of them and thought they could make for a nice complement to a spread.
The Verdict:
The Emporium Selection Mozzarella Cheese Pre-Cut Log and Emporium Selection Mozzarella Cheese Ball are interesting cheeses in the Aldi refrigerated section. Both have an artisanal vibe to them, and while the flavor is muted compared to some other seasoned mozzarellas, that may be exactly what some people are looking for.
