A blend of aged and unripened cheeses (often Cheddar, Swiss and Brick). Producers like Processed Cheese because it means they can use up some cheese before it is ripened, which saves them costs. The cheeses are ground, stabilized with emulsifiers, then pasteurized and packaged. Salt and preservatives are also added to preserve the shelf life, because while pasteurization will prevent further aging, it doesn't kill all bacteria.
To make Processed Cheese spread, more moisture and stabilizers are added.
In America, 75% of all cheese sold is Processed Cheese (as of 2004).
Cooking Tips
Even many Foodies will grudgingly admit that "real" cheese doesn't melt as nicely on top of hamburger patties on the barbeque as do Processed Cheese slices.
History
The process was invented by the Swiss in 1911. J.L. Kraft began selling it as slices in 1917 in America.
Literature & Lore
When I was 11, I remember tipping some processed cheese slices individually wrapped in plastic off the top of the fridge so that they fell in behind. Pretty dumb move, but give me credit for being smart enough not to say anything. Mum and Dad were good housekeepers, but I gotta admit that fridge didn't get moved too often. It was next moved when I was 16. She found the cheese slices. In five years, the cheese slices hadn't changed. And the Health Police tell us unpasteurized cheese isn't safe?
Other entries for Processed Cheese
Cheez Whiz, Processed Cheese, Vache Qui Rit Cheese
Other entries for Cheese
Affinage, American Cheeses, Casu Marzu, Cheese Rinds, Creamery, Double/Triple-Cream Cheese, Extra-Hard Cheeses, Firm Cheeses, Goat's Milk Cheeses, Mexican Cheeses, Pate (of a Cheese), Queso Fundido, Rennet, Semi-Firm Cheeses, Sheep's Milk Cheeses, Skim-Milk Cheeses, Smear-Ripened Cheeses, Soft Cheeses, Surface-Ripened Cheeses, Sweet Curd Cheeses, The Crumblies, Truckle, Washed-Curd Cheeses, Washed-Rind Cheeses, Yak Cheese, Yeel Cheese
Other entries for Dairy
Butterfat, Butter, Milk, Nondairy Topping
Related Recipes
Eazy Cheezy Fondue, Rack of Spam
| |
Also called:
 Cheese Food
Fromage fondu (French)
|