When it comes to cheese, knowing how much an ounce is can be helpful for recipes, dieting, and more. So how many pieces or slices make up 1 ounce of cheese? The answer depends on the type of cheese.
Quick Answer
As a quick answer, here is how many pieces or slices equal 1 ounce for some common types of cheese:
- Cheddar – 1 ounce is typically about 1-inch cube or 2 slices
- Swiss – 1 ounce is typically about 1-inch cube or 2 slices
- Mozzarella – 1 ounce is about 1 string cheese stick or 2 slices
- American – 1 ounce is about 2 slices
- Monterey Jack – 1 ounce is about 1-inch cube or 2 slices
- Colby – 1 ounce is about 1-inch cube or 2 slices
- Provolone – 1 ounce is about 1-inch cube or 2 slices
- Brie – 1 ounce is about 1-inch cube
- Blue Cheese – 1 ounce is about 1-inch cube
- Feta – 1 ounce is about 2 tablespoons of crumbles
So in summary, for most hard and semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, and Monterey jack, 1 ounce is about a 1-inch cube or two 1-ounce slices. For softer cheeses like brie and blue cheese, 1 ounce is about a 1-inch cube. And for crumbly cheeses like feta, 1 ounce is about 2 tablespoons.
Cheddar Cheese
For cheddar cheese, which is a very popular semi-hard cheese, 1 ounce is typically equivalent to:
- A 1-inch cube of cheddar
- 2 slices of cheddar that are about 1 ounce each
- About 1.5 ounces by weight on a food scale
So if you cut a nice even 1-inch cube of cheddar cheese straight from the block, it will weigh right around 1 ounce. Or if you slice a block of cheddar into sandwich-style slices, two of those slices together will be about 1 ounce.
Cheddar cheese is generally around 1/4 pound per slice when purchased pre-sliced from the grocery store. So four 1/4 pound slices would make up 1 ounce total (since there are 4 ounces in 1/4 pound).
For recipes or food tracking purposes, you can use the 1-inch cube or two slice guideline for cheddar cheese as an easy way to eyeball about 1 ounce.
Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese portions are very similar to cheddar cheese when it comes to 1 ounce equivalents.
For Swiss cheese, 1 ounce equals:
- A 1-inch cube of Swiss cheese
- 2 slices of Swiss cheese
Since Swiss cheese has a semi-hard texture and density similar to cheddar, a 1-inch cube weighs around 1 ounce just like with cheddar. The same goes for slicing Swiss cheese into sandwich-style slices and having two slices be equivalent to 1 ounce.
So for recipes, sandwiches, cheese trays and other uses, you can follow the handy 1-inch cube or two slice rule for measuring out approximately 1 ounce of Swiss cheese.
Mozzarella Cheese
For fresh mozzarella cheese, which has a very soft and pliable texture, 1 ounce equals:
- 1 mozzarella cheese stick
- 2 slices of fresh mozzarella
Those handy individually wrapped mozzarella cheese sticks that are often called string cheese each weigh right around 1 ounce. So one string cheese is equal to 1 ounce of mozzarella.
If you have a block of mozzarella, you can cut it into approximately 1 ounce slices. Two of these 1 ounce slices together would be equal to 1 ounce.
For pizza, lasagna, caprese salad and anywhere else you may use mozzarella, you can use the string cheese stick or two slices measurement as a shortcut for 1 ounce.
American Cheese
American cheese from the grocery store is commonly presliced into individual sandwich slices. In this form:
- 2 slices of American cheese equals 1 ounce
The packaged sliced American cheese from major brands is usually sliced fairly consistently at about 0.5 ounces per slice. So two of these pre-sliced slices together gives you an easy 1 ounce portion.
Monterey Jack Cheese
Monterey Jack is another popular semi-hard cheese similar to cheddar and Swiss. For Monterey Jack cheese, 1 ounce is approximately:
- A 1-inch cube
- 2 slices
As with cheddar and Swiss, the 1-inch cube or two slice guideline gives you a good approximation of 1 ounce when measuring Monterey Jack cheese.
Colby Cheese
For Colby cheese, which is mildly similar to cheddar and Monterey Jack, 1 ounce is typically:
- A 1-inch cube
- 2 slices
Colby has a very similar density and texture to cheddar, so the same 1-inch cube or 2 slice guideline holds up well for measuring out 1 ounce.
Provolone Cheese
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese that comes in smooth and aged varieties. For both types of provolone, 1 ounce is around:
- A 1-inch cube
- 2 slices
The 1-inch cube or 2 slices measure works well for getting 1 ounce of provolone cheese either sliced from a block or cut from a larger wheel.
Brie Cheese
Brie is a soft cow’s milk cheese with edible rind. Because of its rich and silky texture, 1 ounce of brie cheese is best measured as:
- A 1-inch cube
When cutting brie cheese from a wheel for recipes or cheese plates, a neat 1-inch cube will get you close to 1 ounce without needing a scale.
Blue Cheese
For crumbly and pungent blue cheese, 1 ounce is typically:
- A 1-inch cube
Blue cheese crumbles can be difficult to measure by sight. So cutting a 1-inch cube from a block of blue cheese is a simpler way to estimate 1 ounce.
Feta Cheese
For soft, crumbly feta cheese, 1 ounce equals about:
- 2 tablespoons of feta crumbles
Trying to cut neat slices or cubes of feta can be tricky. So a better way is to crumble feta cheese into tablespoons to measure out 1 ounce.
Measuring Cheese Precisely
While the guidelines above allow you to estimate 1 ounce portions for recipes and eating, you may sometimes need more precise measurements.
To measure cheese weights with complete accuracy, you can use a kitchen scale or food scale. Weighing the cheese will account for any natural inconsistencies in slice sizes or densities.
Here are some of the common 1 ounce measurements by weight for various cheese types:
| Cheese Type | 1 Ounce Measurement |
|---|---|
| Cheddar | 1.5 ounces by weight |
| Swiss | 1.5 ounces by weight |
| Mozzarella | 1.4 ounces by weight |
| American | 1.6 ounces by weight |
| Monterey Jack | 1.5 ounces by weight |
| Colby | 1.5 ounces by weight |
| Provolone | 1.5 ounces by weight |
| Brie | 1.2 ounces by weight |
| Blue Cheese | 1.3 ounces by weight |
| Feta | 1.4 ounces by weight |
So for the very highest accuracy, you can weigh cheese portions on a digital kitchen scale. But for most cooking and eating needs, the visual cube or slice guidelines will get you close enough.
Cheese Serving Sizes
Knowing ounce measurements for cheese can also be helpful for understanding serving sizes.
Here are some typical serving sizes by weight for different cheese types:
- Hard cheeses (cheddar, Swiss, parmesan): 1.5 ounces per serving
- Semi-soft cheeses (Colby, Monterey jack, provolone): 1.5 ounces per serving
- Soft cheeses (mozzarella, brie): 1-2 ounces per serving
- Crumbly cheeses (feta, blue): 1-2 ounces per serving
- Shredded cheese: 1/4 cup is about 1 ounce
For cheese that is measured in cups instead of weight, a common serving size is:
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
When adding cheese to meals, salads, sandwiches and snacks, 1-2 ounces or 1/4 to 1/2 cup is generally a standard serving amount.
Cheese Calories and Nutrition
Cheese is high in calcium, protein, vitamins A, B12, riboflavin, and phosphorus. However, it is also high in saturated fat and sodium, so portion sizes matter.
Here are the approximate calories for 1 ounce of different popular cheese types:
| Cheese | Calories (per 1 ounce) |
|---|---|
| Cheddar | 113 |
| Swiss | 111 |
| Mozzarella | 85 |
| American | 104 |
| Monterey Jack | 101 |
| Colby | 110 |
| Provolone | 98 |
| Brie | 95 |
| Blue Cheese | 99 |
| Feta | 75 |
So most cheese varieties are 80 to 110 calories per ounce. Knowing the ounce serving sizes and calories can help with weight management when building meals and snacks.
Tips for Measuring Cheese
Here are some useful tips for successfully measuring out ounces of cheese:
- Use a food scale for the most accuracy
- Refer to the 1-inch cube or slices guidelines
- Measure cheese before melting for easier portioning
- Cut hard cheeses when cold for cleaner cuts
- Let cheese come to room temperature before slicing for less crumbling
With semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Colby, the 1-inch cube shortcut works very well for getting close to 1 ounce.
For soft cheeses like brie and mozzarella, slicing is a bit trickier. Using a food scale makes portioning easier.
And for crumbly cheeses like feta and blue cheese, crumbling and measuring in tablespoons is preferable to slicing.
FAQs
Why does the weight vary between cheese types for 1 ounce?
The reason that 1 ounce by weight is slightly different between cheese varieties is due to their moisture content and density. For example, low-moisture hard cheeses like parmesan weigh a bit more than 1 ounce for a 1-inch cube. And soft high-moisture cheeses like mozzarella weigh a bit less than 1 ounce for the same cube size. The cube or slice estimates get you very close to 1 ounce, though the precise weights vary.
What are some common uses for 1 ounce of cheese?
Here are some ideas for using up 1 ounce of cheese:
- Sprinkle 1 ounce of parmesan or Romano on top of pasta dishes
- Use 1 ounce of shredded cheese as a pizza topping for one slice
- Add a 1-inch cube of cheddar or Swiss to a sandwich
- Mix 1 ounce crumbled feta into a salad
- Top a baked potato with 1-2 ounces of shredded cheese
An ounce of cheese goes a long way to adding flavor without going overboard on calories!
How can I tell if pre-sliced cheese is about 1 ounce per slice?
Check the nutrition label on the packaging. If the slices are around 1 ounce each, the nutritional info will be for one slice. If the nutrition label has info for 2 slices, then each slice is likely 0.5 ounces. So you’d need two slices to equal 1 ounce.
Conclusion
Estimating cheese portion sizes in ounces can be tricky when you don’t have a food scale on hand. But using the handy guidelines for 1-inch cubes or slice counts works very well for most common cheese varieties.
Whether you’re cutting up a bulk cheese block or taking slices off a pre-cut block, you can use the visual cube and slice estimates to get close to 1 ounce cheese portions.
Understanding ounce measurements for cheese helps with preparing recipes, assembling sandwiches, adding cheese to salads and pasta dishes, assembling cheese trays, and with general weight management.
So next time your recipe calls for 1 ounce of cheddar or you want to limit your cheese snacks to 1 ounce, use the information in this article to eyeball the right cheese portion size!
