Phantom Gourmet: Shredded Mozzarella Cheese Taste Test

BOSTON (CBS) -- Phantom recently purchased four bags of shredded mozzarella cheese at a local supermarket. The creamy contenders were Cabot, Crystal Farms, Kraft, and Sargento. See if you can guess which brand ended up at the top of the food chain.

Kraft finished at the bottom of the barrel. This big brand has been making cheese since 1914, but Phantom says it hasn't aged well. It tastes like the main ingredient in this cheese is salt, with very little discernible flavor beyond that.

Next up is Sargento. First the good news: this brand has excellent packaging, with a resealable zipper top to keep the product fresh. Now the bad news: the cheese is mediocre. The long thick shreds are too bland and not very creamy, although melting it does help to bring out a bit more flavor, making Sargento a decent choice to smooth out full flavored recipes.

The runner up is Crystal Farms. Finally a cheese that actually tastes like cheese! These shreds have a bit more color and a whole lot more flavor than the previous contenders. Delightfully tangy and pleasantly chewy, Phantom thinks this lesser known brand deserves a bigger chunk of the cheese market.

At the top of the food chain is Cabot. Owned by family farms in New York and New England, it's a local favorite, and for good reason. Salty, creamy, and tangy in every bite, this cheese is great straight out of the bag. Plus, the small pieces ensure even melting atop a pizza. That's why Cabot shredded mozzarella cheese is at the top of the food chain.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.