Randy Chandler
McDonald's uses processed cheese in its cheeseburgers and other sandwiches. The exact composition of the cheese slices is a closely guarded trade secret. However, it is known that McDonald's cheese is made from a blend of 60% real cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring. The processed cheese has a uniform texture and melting properties, ensuring a gooey and smooth consistency when used in burgers. The cheese is supplied by companies like Great Lakes Cheese, which produces about 12 million pounds of processed cheese in a single factory in Ohio.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Processed cheese, specifically American cheese |
| Composition | 60% real cheese and 40% other ingredients |
| Other Ingredients | Water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring |
| Texture | Soft, oozy, and gooey |
| Taste | Nearly identical to Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese |
| Calories | 50 calories per slice |
| Fat Content | 3.5 g of fat per slice, with 2.5 g of saturated fat |
| Sodium Content | 230 mg of sodium per slice |
| Lactose Content | High levels of lactose, up to 15 g per 100 g |
| Supplier | Great Lakes Cheese, one of three suppliers providing at least 18 million pounds of cheese annually |
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What You'll Learn
- McDonald's cheese is a processed product, not real cheese
- It's a blend of 60% cheese and 40% other ingredients
- Ingredients include water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, flavouring, and colouring
- McDonald's cheese is not vegan-friendly
- The closest substitute is Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese from Walmart
McDonald's cheese is a processed product, not real cheese
McDonald's cheese is a processed product and not real cheese. While it does contain some real cheese, it undergoes extensive processing and is blended with other ingredients to achieve a specific meltability and consistency. This processing ensures that the cheese has a uniform texture and melting properties, resulting in the desired gooey and smooth consistency when used in burgers.
McDonald's cheese is made from a blend of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring. This blend is supplied by companies like Great Lakes Cheese, which produces about 12 million pounds of processed cheese alone for McDonald's each year. The processing of the cheese allows for easy mass production, storage, and consistent use across McDonald's outlets worldwide.
The processed cheese product used by McDonald's has a unique texture and melting properties that are different from those of real cheese. It is designed to melt easily and uniformly, creating the iconic oozy and soft consistency that has become a signature of McDonald's burgers. This meltability is achieved through the addition of emulsifiers and other additives, which are not typically found in natural cheese.
While McDonald's cheese does contain essential nutrients found in natural cheese, such as calcium and protein, the processing may diminish some of these nutritional benefits. Each slice of processed cheese adds 50 calories and 3.5 grams of fat, with 2.5 grams being saturated fat. It also contains high levels of whey and milk proteins, resulting in very high lactose levels that may be unsafe for lactose-intolerant individuals.
In summary, McDonald's cheese is a processed product that is designed to meet the specific needs of a large-scale fast-food chain. While it shares some similarities with real cheese, the extensive processing and addition of various ingredients make it distinct from natural cheese.
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It's a blend of 60% cheese and 40% other ingredients
McDonald's cheese slices are technically not real cheese. They are made from a blend of 60% real cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring. This blend is then processed to achieve a specific meltability and consistency. The resulting product is what is known as a "processed cheese product".
The exact composition of McDonald's cheese slices is a closely guarded trade secret. However, it is known that the slices are designed to have a uniform texture and melting properties, ensuring that they achieve a gooey and smooth consistency when used in burgers. This consistency is a key part of the McDonald's experience and has contributed to the iconic status of menu items like the Big Mac.
The primary reason for using processed cheese is practical. McDonald's, as one of the world's largest and most recognisable fast-food chains, requires cheese that can be easily mass-produced, stored, and used consistently across its outlets worldwide. Processed cheese offers these advantages, making it an efficient choice for large-scale operations.
McDonald's sources its cheese from various suppliers, including the Great Lakes Cheese Plant in Ohio, which produces about 12 million pounds of processed cheese alone. The plant is known for its strict quality control, ensuring that only the best cheese is sold to the fast-food chain. While McDonald's cheese slices do contain essential nutrients found in natural cheese, such as calcium and protein, the processing may diminish some of these benefits. Additionally, the high levels of whey and milk proteins in processed cheese products make them unsuitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
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Ingredients include water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, flavouring, and colouring
McDonald's cheese slices are technically not real cheese. They are processed cheese products made from a blend of 60% real cheese and 40% other ingredients. This processing ensures that the cheese slices have a uniform texture and melting properties, giving them their iconic soft and oozy consistency.
The other ingredients in McDonald's processed cheese include water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, flavouring, and colouring. These additives help the cheese maintain its distinctive texture and melting characteristics.
Whey powder and milk proteins are added to enhance the cheese's texture and meltability. Milk proteins, in particular, contribute to the cheese's gooey and smooth consistency. Additionally, the high levels of whey and milk proteins in processed cheese products make them very high in lactose, with lactose levels reaching up to 15 grams per 100 grams. This information is crucial for individuals with lactose intolerance, as consuming lactose in such high quantities can trigger adverse reactions.
Salt is added to enhance the flavour and act as a preservative, while butter contributes to the creamy texture and flavour of the cheese. Emulsifying salts, also known as emulsifiers, are added to ensure the proper mixing of the ingredients and to stabilize the cheese's texture. Flavouring and colouring are also included to enhance the taste and iconic bright yellow appearance of the cheese.
While the exact composition of McDonald's cheese slices is a closely guarded trade secret, it is known that their cheese is produced by suppliers like Great Lakes Cheese in the USA, who provide McDonald's with millions of pounds of cheese each year.
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McDonald's cheese is not vegan-friendly
McDonald's uses processed cheese in its burgers, which is made from a blend of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring. This processing gives the cheese a specific meltability and consistency, ensuring it achieves the desired gooey and smooth texture when melted on burgers.
While McDonald's cheese slices do contain essential nutrients found in natural cheese, such as calcium and protein, the processing may reduce these benefits. Each slice of processed cheese adds 50 calories, 3.5 grams of fat (including 2.5 grams of saturated fat), 15 milligrams of cholesterol, and 230 milligrams of sodium to a burger. The high levels of whey and milk proteins also make it very high in lactose, with levels that may be unsafe for those who are lactose intolerant.
The inclusion of dairy products, specifically milk protein, butter, and cheese, means that McDonald's cheese is not vegan-friendly. It is, however, suitable for vegetarians. This has been a source of confusion in the past, with rumours circulating that McDonald's cheese was vegan because it is not considered "real cheese". However, the presence of dairy products means it is not suitable for those following a strict vegan diet.
McDonald's cheese is produced by various suppliers, including the Great Lakes Cheese Plant, which manufactures about 12 million pounds of processed cheese each year specifically for McDonald's. The exact composition of the cheese slices is a closely guarded trade secret, and the formula may vary slightly from country to country to adhere to different food standards.
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The closest substitute is Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese from Walmart
McDonald's cheese slices are technically not real cheese. While they are made with real cheese, they also contain other ingredients like emulsifiers, preservatives, and additives. These additional ingredients give the cheese its signature meltability and consistency. The exact composition of McDonald's cheese slices is a closely guarded trade secret. However, it is known that they are supplied by a large-scale producer called Great Lakes Cheese in the USA.
If you're looking to recreate the McDonald's cheese experience at home, the closest substitute is Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese from Walmart. This product is designed to mimic the taste and texture of McDonald's cheese, with a similar blend of real cheese and other ingredients. It is a good option for those who enjoy the soft, oozy goodness of McDonald's cheese and want to add that familiar touch to their homemade burgers or sandwiches.
Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese is available at Walmart in a 5-pound package containing 120 slices. The product is crafted specifically to meet the expectations of those seeking the McDonald's cheese experience. Each slice is crafted with care, undergoing a precise production process to achieve the desired meltability and consistency. This attention to detail ensures that your homemade burgers and sandwiches can rival those from McDonald's.
The cheese slices from McDonald's do contain essential nutrients found in natural cheese, such as calcium and protein. However, the processing they undergo may reduce some of these nutritional benefits. Similarly, Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese is also a processed cheese product, and while it may offer some nutritional value, it is important to remember that it is not a substitute for natural, unprocessed cheese.
When it comes to taste and texture, Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese delivers an experience strikingly reminiscent of McDonald's cheese. The blend of real cheese and additional ingredients creates a soft, smooth, and gooey texture that has become synonymous with the fast-food giant's offerings. Whether you're crafting burgers or breakfast sandwiches, this cheese will provide that familiar, comforting taste that has made McDonald's a household name.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, McDonald's uses processed cheese. Their blend is made up of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring.
The closest cheese to McDonald's cheese blend is Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese. While the blends are different, they taste nearly identical.
According to Mike Haracz, McDonald's former corporate chef, Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese from Walmart is the best substitute for McDonald's cheese.
