Philly Cheesesteaks: Cheese Whiz Or No Cheese Whiz?

The Philly cheesesteak is a cultural icon and a big draw for visitors to Philadelphia. It is a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced pan-fried beef and melted cheese. The original Philly cheesesteak, created in the 1930s, did not have any cheese on it. However, today, the cheese of choice is generally considered to be Cheese Whiz, a bright yellow, gooey cheese spread created by Kraft Foods in 1952. Cheese Whiz was first introduced to the British market as a substitute for melted cheddar cheese on Welsh rarebit. It was only introduced to the US a year later, and it was not until the 1950s that it began to be used on cheesesteaks. The use of Cheese Whiz on Philly cheesesteaks is a subject of debate, with some people considering it a key component of an authentic Philly cheesesteak, while others find it disgusting.

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The history of Cheese Whiz

Cheese Whiz, the gooey, yellowish-orange "cheese" product, was first invented by Kraft Foods in 1952. A Kraft food scientist named Edwin Traisman, along with a team of food scientists, developed the product. Interestingly, Cheese Whiz was initially created for the British market as a substitute for melted cheddar cheese on Welsh rarebit, a dish consisting of melted cheese sauce poured over toasted bread.

The product was introduced in Britain a year before its launch in the United States. Over time, Cheese Whiz gained popularity, especially in Philadelphia, where it became a common topping for the iconic Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. The gooey texture of Cheese Whiz made it a preferred choice for many over other types of cheese. However, some people have expressed dislike for Cheese Whiz, considering it gross or even a "crime against sandwiches."

While the recipe for Cheese Whiz has evolved over the years, it has consistently been served in glass jars, differentiating it from similar products sold in cans. In recent times, Kraft has altered the recipe due to changes in dairy sourcing and regulations, resulting in a reduction in cheese content. As a result, Kraft changed the way it lists ingredients, moving from listing components like cheese to listing parts like milk and cheese culture.

As of 2016, Kraft describes Cheese Whiz as a "cheese dip," and a company spokesman confirmed that the product does include cheese, despite it no longer being listed as an ingredient. The full list of ingredients in Cheese Whiz today includes whey, milk, canola oil, maltodextrin, milk protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, modified food starch, salt, lactic acid, whey protein concentrate, mustard flour, Worcestershire sauce, sodium alginate, sorbic acid as a preservative, colour, cheese culture, enzymes, and natural flavour.

How to make Cheese Whiz

The cheesesteak is a cultural icon in Philadelphia, and an authentic Philly cheesesteak is a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced pan-fried beef and melted cheese. The cheese of choice is generally Cheez Whiz, but mild or sharp Provolone and American cheese are common substitutions.

Ingredients:

• Evaporated milk
• Cream cheese
• Dry ingredients (flour, paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, etc.)
• Cheese (cheddar, American, or Velveeta)
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Butter

Steps:

• Heat evaporated milk in a deep pan until it simmers.
• Add cream cheese and whisk until combined.
• In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
• Add the dry mixture to the milk and cream cheese mixture, whisking constantly.
• Add the cheese of your choice and let it melt, whisking until fully combined.
• Do not let the mixture boil.
• Serve warm or allow it to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tips:

• You can use older milk for a more acidic taste, but be careful not to add too much citric acid as it can affect the melting properties.
• If your Cheese Whiz becomes too thick, add some milk to thin it out.
• If you prefer a smoother consistency, you can blend the final product.
• Cheese Whiz can be used as a dip for tortilla chips, vegetables, or even spread on a Philly cheesesteak!

The original Philly cheesesteak

The Philly cheesesteak is a cultural icon and a big draw for visitors to Philadelphia. The sandwich is famous for its thinly chopped steak, crusty baguette, and grilled onions. However, there is a heated debate about whether an authentic Philly cheesesteak includes bright yellow Cheez Whiz.

Cheez Whiz was first invented by a Kraft Food Scientist named Edwin Traisman in 1952. It was initially released in Great Britain as a mild type of cheese to substitute melted cheddar cheese on Welsh rarebit. It was only introduced to the United States in 1953, and it wasn't the original cheese used in cheesesteaks. In fact, the original Philly cheesesteak, created by Pat Olivieri at his shop, Pat's King of Steaks, around 1930, didn't have any cheese on it at all. It consisted of chopped meat cooked alongside hot dogs, placed on an Italian roll, and topped with thinly sliced grilled onions.

Provolone was the first cheese to be added to the cheesesteak in the 1940s, and it remained the cheese of choice until Cheez Whiz was introduced in the 1950s. People began to prefer the gooey texture of the Whiz, and it soon became a key component of the sandwich. Frank Olivieri, the nephew of Pat Olivieri, revealed in a 1985 interview that the reason his uncle chose Cheez Whiz was that it was easy to apply, allowing for faster production and more sandwiches sold.

Today, Cheez Whiz is considered the classic choice for a Philly cheesesteak, and it is often said that it's not authentic without it. However, not everyone is a fan of the bright yellow cheese sauce, and some consider it a tourist trap. Other common cheeses used on Philly cheesesteaks include provolone and American cheese, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

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The great cheese debate

The Philly cheesesteak is a cultural icon in Philadelphia, and a big draw for visitors. The sandwich is famous for its thinly chopped steak, crusty baguette, and grilled onions. However, there is a heated debate about whether an authentic Philly cheesesteak includes bright yellow Cheez Whiz.

Cheez Whiz was first invented in 1952 by a Kraft Food Scientist named Edwin Traisman, along with a team of food scientists. It was initially released in Great Britain as a mild type of cheese for British dishes, such as Welsh Rarebit. It was only in 1953 that Cheez Whiz was brought to the United States. By this time, Provolone was already the cheese of choice for cheesesteaks. However, when Cheez Whiz was introduced, people began using it on their sandwiches because they preferred its gooey texture.

Some people argue that an authentic Philly cheesesteak must include Cheez Whiz. This is supported by the fact that many locations across Philadelphia include the artificial cheese sauce in their rendition of the sandwich. Additionally, some claim that it is not an authentic cheesesteak if it doesn't have Cheez Whiz on it. For example, Pat's, a legendary South Philly site, serves cheesesteaks with Cheez Whiz, and has been visited by the Obamas and the Clintons. The owner of Tony Luke's, a popular cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia, also confesses his love for Cheez Whiz.

On the other hand, some people find the idea of Cheez Whiz disgusting and believe that it is only used in tourist traps. For instance, the co-owner of Leo's Steak Shop in Folcroft refuses to serve Cheez Whiz, and customers never complain. Additionally, the owner of Geno's, another legendary South Philly site, downplays Cheez Whiz, saying that he has never eaten it himself and always recommends provolone instead.

While the debate over the inclusion of Cheez Whiz in an authentic Philly cheesesteak continues, it is important to note that cheesesteaks did not always include cheese. In fact, the original Philly cheesesteak, made by Pat Olivieri at his shop, Pat's King of Steaks, around 1930, did not have any cheese on it. It was only later that cheese was introduced to the sandwich, with Provolone being the first cheese of choice.

In conclusion, while Cheez Whiz is a popular and iconic option for Philly cheesesteaks, its inclusion in an "authentic" sandwich is still debated. Ultimately, it may come down to personal preference, as different shops and individuals may have their own opinions on the best type of cheese to use.

Ordering a Philly cheesesteak

The Philly cheesesteak is a cultural icon in Philadelphia, and a big draw for visitors. It is a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced pan-fried beef and melted cheese. The basic toppings are caramelized onions and/or hot peppers.

The first Philly cheesesteak was made by Pat Olivieri at his shop, Pat's King of Steaks, around 1930. The legend goes that one day, Pat Olivieri was tired of his typical lunch, so he purchased some chopped meat and cooked the cut beef alongside the hot dogs at his stand. He then put the meat on an Italian roll, added some thinly sliced grilled onions, and the iconic sandwich was born.

Ordering

Ordering a cheesesteak is a simple yet specific process. First, you choose your cheese. The options are usually "Whiz", or "provolone", or "American". Next, you specify whether you want onions or not. For yes, the request is "wit". For no, it’s "widout". So, for Cheez Whiz with onions, you would ask for a “Whiz wit”. You can then specify any other toppings or condiments you desire.

Cheese

There is much debate about whether an authentic Philly cheesesteak should include Cheez Whiz. Many people are familiar with the iconic image of a Philly cheesesteak smothered in gooey Cheez Whiz. However, the original cheesesteak didn't even have cheese on it at all. When cheese was finally introduced, provolone was the first cheese to be featured on the cheesesteak in the 1940s. When Cheez Whiz was introduced in the 1950s, people began using it on their cheesesteaks because it was easy to apply and had a gooey texture.

Today, there are many different opinions on whether a Philly cheesesteak should include Cheez Whiz. Some people claim that it is not an authentic cheesesteak if it doesn't have Cheez Whiz, while others find it disgusting. Some shops refuse to carry Cheez Whiz, while others, like Pat's, have hundreds of cans of the stuff. If you want to order an authentic Philly cheesesteak, you could try asking a local where they recommend.

Frequently asked questions