It depends on what you're doing with it. I won't lie to you, fresh shredded melts more evenly and would be a bit better in this dish if you have the time and desire. You can substitue 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup parmesean, and 1/4 cup romano for the italian blend if you go that route. You can see in the photos that the cheese doesn't melt perfectly and you still have some shredded pieces in the dish. To me it's a worthwhile compromise to get dinner on the table before anyone gets hangry, but using freshly shredded is going to be an upgrade.