Randy Chandler
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. They were invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and were first distributed nationally in the United States in the same year. The cheese-flavoured snack sold quickly, and the success of Cheetos led to the merger of The Frito Company and H.W. Lay & Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay. But are Hot Cheetos, a spicy variety of Cheetos, made out of cheese?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Ingredient | Cheese |
| Cheese Type | Cheddar |
| Other Ingredients | Enriched Corn Meal, Vegetable Oil, Whey, Maltodextrin, Monosodium Glutamate, Citric Acid, Artificial Color, Whey Protein Concentrate, Lactic Acid, Sugar, Salt, etc. |
| Flavors | Flamin' Hot, Crunchy, Puffs, Baked, Pepsi, Strawberry, Ketchup, Japanese Steak, Sweetos, etc. |
| First Invented | 1948 |
| Inventor | Charles Elmer Doolin |
| Current Owner | PepsiCo |
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What You'll Learn
Hot Cheetos are made with cheddar cheese
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The snack was invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and has since expanded to include 21 different types of Cheetos in North America alone. The original Crunchy Cheetos are still in production, but the product line has expanded to include other shapes and flavours, such as Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Cheetos Puffs, and Baked varieties.
Cheetos are made with a variety of ingredients, including enriched cornmeal, vegetable oil, and cheese seasoning. The cheese seasoning is a key ingredient, and it contains cheddar cheese, whey, lactic acid, citric acid, and other flavour enhancers. The cheese used in Cheetos is aged cheddar, which is mixed with oil and seasonings before being applied to the snack. According to Kimberly Scott, the director of communications at PepsiCo, Inc./Frito-Lay North America, it takes 11 million gallons of milk to make the 10 million pounds of cheddar cheese used in Cheetos seasoning.
The process of making Cheetos begins with mixing cornmeal and water to create a batter. This batter then moves through a machine called an extruder, and the uncooked Cheetos are called "colettes." The colettes are fried at temperatures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit and then coated with the cheese seasoning. The cheese flavouring for Hot Cheetos includes additional spices like cayenne and chili powder to add heat.
The use of cheddar cheese in Cheetos is significant, as it contributes to the distinct flavour and texture that consumers have come to associate with the snack. The cheese-aging process involves the breakdown of milk fats and proteins into smaller fatty and amino acid fragments. The fatty acids provide the cheesy flavour, while the amino acids create a savoury, brothy sensation. This combination of flavours and textures has made Cheetos a popular snack, with annual retail sales totalling approximately $4 billion worldwide.
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The cheese is mixed with oil and seasonings
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The cheese-flavored snack was invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and was distributed nationally in the United States. The snack was an instant hit, but Doolin lacked the production and distribution capacity to support its nationwide launch. This led him to partner with potato chip businessman Herman W. Lay for marketing and distribution. The success of Cheetos prompted Doolin and Lay to merge their two companies in 1961, forming Frito-Lay Inc.
The cheese used in Cheetos is mixed with oil and seasonings. The cheese itself is aged cheddar, which is combined with vegetable oil and other seasonings to create the cheese mixture that is then applied to the Cheetos. The cheese mixture contains ingredients such as whey, cheddar cheese, canola oil, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavors, salt, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid, and artificial colors.
The process of making Cheetos begins with the cornmeal, which is mixed with water to create a batter. This batter then moves through a machine called an extruder, which forms the uncooked Cheetos, technically known as "colettes." The colettes are then fried at temperatures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit. After frying, the colettes are coated with the cheese mixture.
The cheese mixture is a key component of Cheetos, providing the signature cheese flavor that the snack is known for. The combination of aged cheddar, oil, and seasonings creates a flavorful and addictive cheese experience that has contributed to the success and popularity of Cheetos as a snack food.
In addition to the classic cheese flavor, Cheetos have been released in a variety of flavors, including Flamin' Hot Cheetos, which contain added cayenne and chili powder for a spicy kick. Cheetos have also experimented with unique local flavors in different countries, such as Pepsi, strawberry, ketchup, and Japanese steak-flavored Cheetos in China.
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The cheese is aged
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The cheese-flavored snack was invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and was quickly sold nationwide in the US. The cheese used in Cheetos is aged cheddar, which is mixed with oil and other seasonings and then applied to the Cheetos. During the cheese-aging process, milk fats and proteins break down into smaller fatty and amino acid fragments. The fatty acids lend a cheesy flavor, while the amino acids provide a brothy, savory sensation.
Cheese is a key ingredient in Cheetos, and the cheese powder used in the snack offers a longer shelf life and a lighter weight. The cheese powder is made from cheddar cheese, which is aged and then mixed with oil and seasonings to create the signature Cheetos flavor. The cheese powder is then applied to the Cheetos, giving them their distinctive cheesy taste.
The process of making Cheetos begins with cornmeal, which is mixed with water to create a batter. This batter is then fried to create the crunchy texture of Cheetos. The aged cheddar cheese is mixed with oil and seasonings and then applied to the fried cornmeal to create the signature Cheetos flavor. This process is the same for Cheetos Puffs, except that this version is baked instead of fried.
The cheese used in Cheetos is sourced from various places, including Wisconsin, where the company uses the same cheddar cheese that the army put in its dehydrated products during World War II. According to Kimberly Scott, the director of communications at PepsiCo, Inc./Frito-Lay North America, it takes 11 million gallons of milk to make the 10 million pounds of cheddar cheese used in Cheetos seasoning annually. This averages out to 2,200 gallons of milk per cow.
In addition to the aged cheddar cheese, the Cheetos seasoning also contains other ingredients such as whey, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). These ingredients work together to enhance the flavor, texture, and color of the Cheetos. The combination of these ingredients with the aged cheddar cheese creates the unique and addictive taste that Cheetos are known for.
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The cheese is powdered
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The cheese-flavored snack was invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and was distributed nationally in the United States. The snack was an instant success, which led Doolin to partner with potato chip businessman Herman W. Lay for marketing and distribution.
The cheese used in Cheetos is in the form of a powder. The cheese powder is made from aged cheddar cheese, which is mixed with oil and other seasonings and then applied to the Cheetos. The cheese-aging process involves the breakdown of milk fats and proteins into smaller fatty- and amino-acid fragments. The fatty acids contribute to the cheesy flavor, while the amino acids provide a savory, brothy sensation. This slurry of cheese, milk solids, and salt is then dried into a powder.
The cheese powder is applied to the Cheetos by first frying enriched cornmeal and then rolling it in the cheese powder. This process results in the signature crunchy texture and cheesy flavor of Cheetos. The cheese powder contains various ingredients, including whey, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG.
The cheese powder used in Cheetos has an interesting history. In 1948, Frito-Lay (then known as the Frito Company) introduced its first cheesy snack cracker, which contained Wisconsin cheddar cheese. This variety of cheese was also used by the military in its dehydrated products during World War II. The use of cheese powder in Cheetos contributed to their success, offering a longer shelf life and a lighter weight compared to other snacks.
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The cheese is mixed with milk solids and salt
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The cheese-flavored snack was invented in 1948 by Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin and was distributed nationally in the United States. The snack was an instant hit, but Doolin lacked the production and distribution capacity to support its nationwide launch. This led him to partner with potato chip businessman Herman W. Lay for marketing and distribution. The success of Cheetos prompted Doolin and Lay to merge their two companies in 1961, forming Frito-Lay Inc.
The cheese used in Cheetos is a mix of milk solids and salt. During the cheese-aging process, milk fats and proteins break down into smaller fatty- and amino-acid fragments. The fatty acids lend a cheesy flavor, while the amino acids provide a brothy, savory sensation. This slurry of cheese, milk solids, and salt is dried into a powder that is then added to the Cheetos. The cheese is mixed with oil and other seasonings and then applied to the Cheetos.
The cheese powder used in Cheetos contains whey, yellow 6, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG, among other ingredients. The cheese powder is what gives Cheetos their signature orange color and cheesy flavor. It is also worth noting that Cheetos are made with enriched cornmeal, which is fried and then rolled in the cheese powder.
The specific type of cheese used in Cheetos is cheddar cheese, specifically Wisconsin cheddar. According to Kimberly Scott, the director of communications at PepsiCo, Inc./Frito-Lay North America, it takes 11 million gallons of milk to make the 10 million pounds of cheddar cheese used in Cheetos seasoning. This averages out to 2,200 gallons of milk per cow.
In addition to the original Crunchy Cheetos, Cheetos Puffs and Baked varieties are sold in alternate shapes and flavors, including a spicy version known as Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The Flamin' Hot variety was introduced in test markets in the summer of 1990 and has become a popular snack option for those who enjoy spicy, cheese-flavored snacks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hot Cheetos are made out of cheese. The cheese used is aged cheddar, which is mixed with oil and other seasonings and then applied to the Cheetos.
Other ingredients in Hot Cheetos include cayenne and chili powder, which give the snack its signature heat. Other ingredients in Cheetos more generally include enriched cornmeal, whey, yellow 6, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG.
To make Hot Cheetos, cornmeal is mixed with water, creating a batter. This batter moves through a machine called an extruder. The resulting colette (the technical term for an uncooked Cheeto) is then fried at over 300 degrees. The cheese, oil, and seasonings are then applied to the fried colette.
