Randy Chandler
Chipotle is known for its commitment to serving food with integrity, using responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients. The fast-casual Mexican-inspired chain incorporates cheese into several of its menu items, including burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and nachos. The type of cheese Chipotle uses has sparked curiosity among cheese lovers, with many wondering if it's real or fake. So, what's the verdict? Does Chipotle use fake cheese, or is it the real deal?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheese types used | 2 |
| Names of cheese types used | Monterey Jack, White Cheddar |
| Texture of cheese | Shredded |
| Taste of cheese | Mild, Creamy, Tangy, Sharp |
| Colour of cheese | White |
| Source of cheese | Pasture-reared cows |
| Cheese production scale | Small to midsize dairy farms |
| Cheese production standards | No artificial hormones, Antibiotics only for treating sick cows, Constant access to pastures, fresh water, and clean shelter |
| Additional information | Queso contains both Monterey Jack and White Cheddar |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chipotle uses real cheese
Monterey Jack is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk, known for its mild, creamy, and buttery flavour. Its versatility makes it an ideal choice for Chipotle's Mexican-inspired cuisine, complementing both savoury and spicy components without overpowering them. The cheese melts easily, adding a gooey texture to dishes like quesadillas and queso dip.
White Cheddar, on the other hand, brings a sharper and tangier taste to the blend. It is aged to give the queso a bolder flavour that can stand up to other bold ingredients on the menu. White Cheddar is simply cheddar without the addition of annatto, which is used to give cheddar its classic orange hue.
The combination of these two cheeses adds depth and complexity to Chipotle's dishes, creating a symphony of flavours that perfectly complements the spices and ingredients in their menu items.
Chipotle's cheese blend is sourced from small to mid-size dairy farms, with each farm adhering to the company's ""Food with Integrity" standards. These standards include restrictions on the use of artificial hormones and antibiotics, as well as requirements for pasture-reared cows and constant access to fresh water and clean shelter.
Mascarpone Magic: Stuffed Shells with a Twist
You may want to see also
Monterey Jack is a key component
Chipotle uses a shredded cheese blend in their menu items, and Monterey Jack cheese is a key component of this blend. This cheese variety enhances the flavour and texture of Chipotle's dishes. It has a mild, creamy, and buttery taste, complementing the other ingredients without overwhelming the palate. Its semi-soft texture and high moisture and fat content make it perfect for melting, adding a gooey and stretchy consistency to the food. This versatility makes it an ideal choice for various Chipotle menu items, as it can complement both savoury and spicy components of Mexican-inspired cuisine without overpowering them.
Monterey Jack cheese is made from cow's milk and is semi-hard. It was first produced in California by Spanish missionaries or Mexican Franciscan friars and has since become an American favourite. Chipotle sources its Monterey Jack cheese from small to mid-size dairy farms, such as Meister Cheese in Wisconsin and Petaluma Creamery in California. These farms adhere to Chipotle's ""Food with Integrity" standards, which include restrictions on the use of artificial hormones and antibiotics.
The mild and creamy profile of Monterey Jack cheese creates a harmonious blend of flavours in Chipotle's dishes. It adds a delightful creaminess to every bite, tying together the bold and zesty flavours of Mexican cuisine. For example, it pairs well with the smoky chipotle sauce, tender grilled chicken, or fresh vegetables offered by Chipotle. Customers can choose to add extra Monterey Jack cheese to their orders, although there have been reports of additional charges for in-person requests.
In addition to its taste and melting abilities, Monterey Jack cheese contributes essential nutrients to Chipotle's dishes. It is a source of calcium and protein, enhancing the nutritional value of the meal. The use of Monterey Jack cheese aligns with Chipotle's commitment to serving food with integrity and responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients.
The Best Meats for a Cheesy, Delicious Cheesesteak
You may want to see also
White Cheddar is the second cheese
Chipotle uses a shredded cheese blend in its menu items. This blend typically consists of two types of cheese: Monterey Jack and White Cheddar. White Cheddar is the second cheese in the blend, working in harmony with Monterey Jack to create a delicious and memorable dining experience.
Monterey Jack cheese is renowned for its mild, creamy, and buttery taste. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts well when exposed to heat. Its versatility makes it an ideal choice for a variety of Chipotle menu items, as it can complement both the savoury and spicy components of Mexican-inspired cuisine without overpowering them.
On the other hand, White Cheddar brings a sharper, tangier, and more pronounced taste to the blend. It adds a new dimension to the dishes, pairing well with bolder flavours and creating a satisfying contrast. White Cheddar is simply what most Americans know as cheddar, but without the addition of annatto for the classic orange hue. Chipotle uses an aged version of White Cheddar, which gives its queso an overall sharper taste.
The combination of these two cheeses adds depth and complexity to Chipotle's dishes, ensuring a flavourful and satisfying experience. Whether you're enjoying a burrito, a taco, or a bowl, the dynamic duo of Monterey Jack and White Cheddar elevates the cheesy experience to new heights.
Tasty Cheese Sauce Secrets of Taco Bell
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Queso Blanco is made with both
Chipotle uses a shredded cheese blend in their menu items, featuring two types of cheese: Monterey Jack and White Cheddar. The Monterey Jack cheese is semi-hard, made from cow's milk, and renowned for its mild, creamy, and buttery taste. It has a semi-soft texture, making it perfect for melting and giving that coveted cheesy stretch. Its versatility and subtle flavour make it an ideal complement to the savoury, spicy, and bold components of Mexican-inspired cuisine without overwhelming them.
White Cheddar, on the other hand, is a sharper and tangier variety of cheese. It adds a new dimension to Chipotle's dishes, pairing well with bolder flavours and creating a satisfying contrast. In the United States, White Cheddar refers to Cheddar cheese made without annatto, a colouring agent that gives the cheese its classic orange hue. Chipotle uses an aged version of White Cheddar, which contributes to the overall sharper taste of their queso.
The combination of these two cheeses, Monterey Jack and White Cheddar, is used in Chipotle's queso blanco. Introduced in 2017, the original recipe for queso blanco used only aged White Cheddar and no processed ingredients. However, this initial version received negative feedback from customers due to its grainy texture. As a result, Chipotle reformulated the recipe, and the current version now includes both Monterey Jack and White Cheddar cheeses. The new blend creates a creamier sauce with a slightly spicy flavour, thanks to the addition of peppers and spices.
While the shredded Monterey Jack cheese is offered to customers at no extra charge, the queso blanco, or cheese sauce, comes at an additional cost. Chipotle's commitment to using only real, responsibly sourced, and high-quality ingredients has led them to forgo industrial additives in their queso, opting instead for simple, recognisable ingredients like aged cheddar cheese, milk, and peppers.
Cheese Making: Skim or Whole Milk?
You may want to see also
Cheese is included in the meal price
Chipotle uses a blend of two types of cheese: Monterey Jack and White Cheddar. This blend is included in the price of your meal up to a certain point. The creamy, mild flavour of Monterey Jack pairs well with the bolder ingredients in Chipotle's dishes, such as salsa or seasoned proteins. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts easily, making it perfect for dishes like quesadillas. White Cheddar, on the other hand, offers a sharper, tangier taste that can stand up to the other strong flavours in Chipotle's menu items. It is the same cheese that most Americans know as cheddar, but without the addition of annatto, which gives cheddar its classic orange hue.
While the shredded cheese blend is included in the price of your meal, Chipotle's queso blanco is an extra surcharge. When queso was first introduced in 2017, it was made with aged cheddar and no processed ingredients. However, customers were not happy with the texture, describing it as grainy and off-putting. After several recipe changes, the current version of queso is made with Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and a variety of peppers and spices. This new version has a much creamier texture and has remained on the menu since its debut.
Chipotle is known for its commitment to serving food with integrity, and this extends to its cheese offerings. The company prioritises responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients, and its cheese is no exception. The Monterey Jack cheese is made in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese and in California by Petaluma Creamery, while the company does not specify where its white cheddar is created. Both cheeses come from pasture-reared cows raised without bovine growth hormones, and the farms adhere to Chipotle's "Food with Integrity" standards, which include restrictions on the use of artificial hormones and antibiotics.
While the shredded cheese blend is included in the meal price, it's important to note that Chipotle has not made any official statements regarding extra shredded cheese. However, employees have indicated that they are limited to providing certain amounts of food per guest. According to a Reddit user, asking for additional cheese multiple times may result in an extra charge. Therefore, while a helping of shredded cheese is typically included, excessive requests may incur an additional fee.
Mesophilic Culture: The Secret to Perfect Feta Cheese
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Chipotle uses real cheese.
Chipotle uses two types of cheese: Monterey Jack and White Cheddar.
The shredded Monterey Jack cheese is offered to customers free of charge. It is used in burritos, tacos, bowls, and quesadillas. It is also used to make the queso dip.
The White Cheddar cheese is used to make the queso dip.
