Cheese is a manysplendored thing. It runs the gamut of taste and texture, with experienced cheesemongers capable of producing everything from sharp, pungent, creamy varieties, to mild, woody,hard versions. However, there is one type of cultured dairy product that seems to befuddle the average consumer more than any other: American cheese.
Secret aliases
American cheese is a tricky product. It goes by many names including processed cheese product, cheese food, and pasteurized process cheese. The pseudonyms are the result of an FDA regulation that prohibits the food from being labeled as cheese. Why you might ask? Well, it turns out that pasteurized cheese product is in fact more “product” than “cheese.”
Production differences
Legal cheese is made from heating milk, culturing it with enzymes and bacteria, separating out the curds and the whey and then salting and forming the curds into wheel or block. The “cheese product” version, however, takes cheese that has already been made and mixes it with emulsifiers, preservatives, more salt and more fat to create something that is cheese-like, though many steps removed from what you will find in your local artisanal cheese shop. As such, processed cheese has been the target of many food-related witch huntsover the past years, as consumer advocates attempt to find a culprit for the expanding American waistline.
Why bother?
Though it is heavily processed, American cheese has some value above its natural counterparts. Chief among them are the superb melting qualities that it exhibits. No other natural product is capable of producing the same kind of even, gooey grilled cheese sandwich as that of a nice slice of American. However, it was the ingenuity and marketing prowess of Norman Kraft that had the most significant impact on the popularity of processed cheese. His company was the first to bring the product into vogue in American households with his introduction of the processed cheese loaf in the 1920s.Shortly thereafter, Kraft introduced the Single, an individually-wrapped single-serving processed cheese slice. The results were almost instantaneous with Kraft Singles coming to dominate the American cheese market throughout the 1940s.
So while it may not technically be a true cheese, processed cheese food isn’t a complete phony. The combination of cheese and additives has resulted in a cheese product that is supremely tasty and convenient. As a result, for better or worse, pasteurized cheese food has left an undeniable mark on the history of American food culture.
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FAQs
The “cheese product” version, however, takes cheese that has already been made and mixes it with emulsifiers, preservatives, more salt and more fat to create something that is cheese-like, though many steps removed from what you will find in your local artisanal cheese shop.
Is there any American cheese that is real cheese? ›
According to the FDA, American cheese is not real cheese. The organization refers to American cheese as a “pasteurized process cheese,” which means that it only needs to have a minimum of 51% real cheese and can be combined with other ingredients including milk, skim milk, buttermilk, cream and whey proteins.
Which cheese is 100% real cheese? ›
Sargento® Creamery Sliced Cheddar is always sliced from 100% real, natural cheese. The 6-ounce package of Sargento® Creamery Sliced Cheddar contains 10 slices of cheese.
Is boar's head American cheese real cheese? ›
Boar's Head American Cheese is a pasteurized process cheese that is made with 100% cheddar cheese for smooth textured cheese with amazing melting qualities. Boar's Head American Cheese is great for hot and cold applications alike.
Is Borden cheese real cheese? ›
Ingredients. American Cheese (Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Water, Cream, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Color Added, Sunflower Lecithin (For Separation).
Are Kraft singles real cheese? ›
So what is really in a Kraft single? To cut to the chase, no it is not considered “cheese”. The FDA calls it “pasteurized processed American cheese food. The reason is because each Kraft American single contains less than 51% pressed curds of milk, meaning it does not meet the FDA standards defining “cheese”.
Is Velveeta a real cheese? ›
According to the FDA, Velveeta is technically not real cheese, but rather, a "processed cheese product," although the regulations state that it must contain at least 51 percent cheese, as well as prescribing the minimum moisture content, fat content and the temperature (at least 70 F) at which is must be spreadable.
Is tillamook cheese real cheese? ›
Our Tillamook Cheddar Cheese recipe contains four natural ingredients: cultured milk, enzymes (rennet), salt, and annatto. Annatto is a natural coloring extracted from the seeds of annatto trees grown in the tropics; it is responsible for that beautiful Tillamook Cheddar yellow color!
Is sargento real cheese in the USA? ›
100% REAL, NATURAL CHEESE BELONGS ON YOUR SANDWICH
Our slices are always 100% real, natural cheese, for meals you can feel good about making for your family. Our smooth and melty varieties will send your children's taste buds soaring.
Which cheeses contain pig fat? ›
This is "queijo de porco" (pork cheese) from Brazil, which was inspired by similar delicacies from Germany, however adapted to our tropical tastes. It is made from pork fat added with pieces of meat that would have been discarded: mask, ears, offal, tail, brains etc.
If you're looking for the leanest option, your best bet is fresh cheese. Such unripened cheeses include goat cheese, feta, ricotta and cottage cheese.
Why do they call it government cheese? ›
The reason the dairy product was converted to cheese was because it has a longer shelf life than other dairy products as the government searched for solutions to the problem it had created. This led to Ronald Reagan enacting public distribution of the government cheese in 1981.
What brand is 100% real cheese? ›
Sargento® Slices are always 100% real, natural cheese. Pasteurized Process Cheese Food is only required to contain 51% real, natural cheese.
What cheese does McDonald's use? ›
The cheese slice used in our menu items like our Big Mac®, Cheeseburger and Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese contains approximately 60% real cheese (51% Cheddar and 9% Other Cheeses).
Is Sargento owned by Kraft? ›
Historically innovative (it was the first to package shredded cheese), Sargento was founded in 1953 and is owned and operated by the Gentine family; it sells its products worldwide.
Is Land O' Lakes American cheese real cheese? ›
But here's the thing. Saying "American cheese is not cheese" is like saying "meatloaf is not meat." Just as meatloaf is a product that is made by blending real meat with texture- and flavor-altering ingredients, so American cheese is a product made by blending real cheese with texture- and flavor-altering ingredients.
Is provolone cheese real cheese? ›
Provolone is a semi-hard cheese with taste varying greatly from provolone piccante (sharp, piquant), aged for a minimum of four months and with a very sharp taste, to provolone dolce (sweet) with a very mild taste.
Is muenster cheese real cheese? ›
Muenster cheese is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese originating in the U.S. and inspired by the washed-rind Munster cheese from France's Alsace region. Muenster has a pale color, smooth texture and a mild buttery flavor that gets stronger and tangier with age.
Is pepper jack cheese real cheese? ›
Pepper Jack cheese is a delicious variant of the classic Monterey Jack cheese. It's a semi-soft, cow's milk cheese that has an open texture and a spicy taste. This spicy kick comes from the addition of jalapeño peppers, which are studded throughout the cheese.
Cheese is a manysplendored thing. It runs the gamut of taste and texture, with experienced cheesemongers capable of producing everything from sharp, pungent, creamy varieties, to mild, woody,hard versions. However, there is one type of cultured dairy product that seems to befuddle the average consumer more than any other: American cheese.
