This Very Large, Very Affordable Block of Feta Is the Reason I Go to Whole Foods

I am not a person who is solely devoted to one grocery store. I think stocking your fridge and pantry is a true art form, which means that in order to do it properly, you'll need to seek out a variety of different grocery stores for all the best stuff. For example, I get my pantry staples and sparkling water from Costco. I buy my random snacks, spreads, and nuts from Trader Joe's. I source most of my fresh produce from my local Kroger. And I always get my feta from Whole Foods.

What's the big deal about the 16-Ounce Block Cheese Packed In Brine Feta Cheese from Whole Foods, you ask? It is the best feta cheese on the market. I will not be taking any further questions at this time. First things first (and most importantly), this feta is delicious. I have purchased many feta cheeses that were so unpleasantly tangy, I was convinced they were rancid, even though their expiration date was months into the future. However, the Whole Foods feta is delightfully acidic yet still has a clean, palatable flavor with no lingering, unpleasant aftertaste.

As far as texture, this block of feta is an absolute dream. I think that buying pre-crumbled feta is criminal because it's more expensive and it develops a weird film over the crumbles that yields a subtle, chalky texture. It takes about four seconds to crumble a block of feta with your hands, so I don't understand why anyone would buy pre-crumbled, but I digress. This Whole Foods block of feta is packed in a ton of brine, which means that the cheese is not going to dry out. When you break it apart with your hands, it's almost slightly creamy because of all the moisture that surrounds it. Seriously, put a handful of pre-crumbled feta next to a handful of this Whole Foods feta after it's crumbled and you will both see and taste a difference, I promise.

Now, let's talk about price. I know what you're thinking. A good deal? At Whole Foods? Yes, it's true. Like I said, pre-crumbled feta is a scam and you will always pay more per pound. But even compared to blocks of feta at other local supermarkets, the best deal is still the Whole Foods block, which is $7.50 (though prices may fluctuate nationally) for 16 ounces. For the sake of comparison, an 8-ounce block of feta at my local Kroger store is $6.99. That's half the feta for only 50 less cents. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

So, you're probably wondering, can I actually go through 16 ounces of feta before it goes bad? The answer is wholeheartedly, yes. Of course, if you're buying feta for a specific recipe and only need it for a few crumbles, then this might be too much feta for your situation. However, if you're like me and you're cooking in a Feta Friendly household, you will not feel overwhelmed by this amount of feta. Personally, I want to make sure that I'm always stocked with this decadent, salty ingredient for toast, salads, pasta, and grain bowls — and this amount of feta is perfect for my purposes.

Honestly, if you're cooking for four or more feta-loving people on a regular basis, I'd say you could go ahead and buy two blocks. Plus, because the feta is packed in its brine (keep the brine after you open it), it stays fresh for a long time. (As in, I've had blocks last me longer than a month.) So, you don't have to feel like you're playing beat-the-clock. I understand that grocery store allegiance can be very personal for some people. If you're happy with your current selection of stores, that's completely understandable. However, if you are a proud consumer of feta cheese and Whole Foods isn't currently in your rotation, I would implore you to add it to your routine grocery stops. Your wallet and all of your feta-forward meals will thank you.

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