Jarlsberg 2 lb Norwegian Swiss Cheese
Jarlsberg is the kind of pantry anchor that quietly upgrades a dozen different weekend projects — from cheese boards to fondue to savory baked pastries — with its signature nutty, buttery depth.
TL;DR Summary
Pros
- Melts exceptionally well — silky and smooth for fondues, gratins, and croque monsieurs
- Distinctive nutty, buttery flavor that works across both cooking and snacking applications
- Firm texture makes for clean slicing without crumbling
- 2 lb. block is a practical size for households that cook regularly
- Authentic Norwegian origin with consistent quality batch to batch
Cons
- Premium price point, especially buying through Amazon versus a local specialty counter
- 2 lb. format may be more than casual buyers need before quality starts to decline
- Takes up real fridge real estate — not a small-kitchen-friendly impulse purchase
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Extended Observations
Jarlsberg is the kind of pantry anchor that quietly upgrades a dozen different weekend projects — from cheese boards to fondue to savory baked pastries — with its signature nutty, buttery depth.
If you've ever stood in front of a cheese case trying to pick one wheel that could pull double duty across a whole weekend of cooking, Jarlsberg is a genuinely smart answer. This 2 lb. block from Norway is the real deal — made with traditional Norwegian methods and that unmistakable mild, slightly sweet, nutty flavor that sits somewhere between Emmental and Gouda but is entirely its own thing. It's approachable enough for snacking but interesting enough to anchor a serious project.
For me, the first test was a stovetop fondue — and Jarlsberg melts beautifully. No graininess, no separation when you keep the heat controlled. I used a roughly 50/50 split with Gruyère, added a splash of dry white wine and a little kirsch, and the result was silky and deeply savory. The Jarlsberg's mild sweetness balanced the sharper Gruyère in a way that felt deliberate rather than accidental. It's also excellent in a croque monsieur, where the melt factor and flavor complexity both matter.
Beyond melting applications, the block holds up well for slicing and snacking. The texture is firm but yielding — it doesn't crumble, which makes it easy to cut clean slices for a cheese board. Paired with something acidic like cornichons or a grainy mustard, the nuttiness really opens up. I also tried it grated over a potato gratin and it browned beautifully without getting oily or bitter.
On the practical side, a 2 lb. block is genuinely useful if you cook with any regularity. You can portion it out, wrap the remainder tightly in wax paper and then plastic, and it keeps well in the fridge for a couple of weeks without losing much quality. The main storage caveat is that it does take up meaningful drawer space — this isn't a casual impulse buy, it's a commitment to using it across several sessions, which honestly suits the weekend project mindset just fine.
The one honest friction point is price — importing Norwegian cheese isn't cheap, and buying it via Amazon means you're paying a premium over what you might find at a well-stocked deli counter or specialty grocer. It's also worth noting that the 2 lb. format, while great for cooking households, is more cheese than a solo snacker needs before it starts to dry out. But if you're the kind of person who plans a fondue night, builds elaborate cheese boards, or just wants a reliable melting cheese in the fridge at all times, the value proposition holds up well.
Our Verdict
Jarlsberg is the kind of pantry anchor that quietly upgrades a dozen different weekend projects — from cheese boards to fondue to savory baked pastries — with its signature nutty, buttery depth.
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What customers are saying
3 reviewsAbsolutely delicious.
The cheese came in warm condition and was unsuitable for consumption.
After our neighborhood grocery store stopped carrying this brand, we decided to order it online and were pleasantly surprised. It shipped quickly and arrived in excellent protective packaging. The shi...
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