Frederic Melton
Sliced cheese is a convenient and versatile food item that can be used in sandwiches, burgers, or simply enjoyed as a snack. While some people prefer slicing their own cheese at home, store-bought sliced cheese offers convenience and variety. The quality and taste of sliced cheese can vary significantly across different brands and types. Some popular options include Kraft, Sargento, Tillamook, and Boar's Head. While cheese is often associated with high fat and salt content, it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | 45 per slice |
| Micronutrients | Not a significant difference between types of cheese |
| Processing | American cheese is more processed than other types |
| Organic options | Trader Joe's, Horizon, Organic Valley, Land O' Lakes |
| Taste | Trader Joe's, Land O' Lakes, Boar's Head, Sargento |
| Texture | Land O' Lakes, Boar's Head |
| Health violations | Boar's Head |
| Low fat | Mozzarella, Parmesan |
| Calcium | PICS white American cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Healthiest sliced cheese
Sliced cheese can be a tasty addition to sandwiches, burgers, and grilled cheese. However, it is important to remember that cheese is mostly made up of fat and salt, and excessive consumption can be unhealthy.
When looking for the healthiest sliced cheese, it is recommended to choose options that are low in fat and sodium. Fresh mozzarella is a healthy option as it is rich in protein and calcium and lower in sodium compared to other cheeses. Cottage cheese is another good choice as it has a high protein content of approximately 13 grams per 100-calorie serving. Other options include ricotta, gouda, feta, and goat cheese, which have slightly lower protein content.
If you are looking for organic cheese, Trader Joe's is a good option. It has a mild flavor and a creamy texture, especially when sandwiched between two slices of bread for grilled cheese. Land O' Lakes is also recommended for its "real cheese" texture and flavor, which is a nice balance of saltiness and tanginess. Boar's Head American cheese has a texture and appearance similar to semi-hard cheeses like cheddar and has a mild, smooth flavor.
To make your cheese slices healthier, you can also ask for thinner slices at the deli counter, which can reduce the calorie count per slice. Additionally, look for cheese with minimal ingredients, ideally only dairy or perhaps brine/salt in some cases. Avoid cheeses with unhealthy additives or endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with endocrine systems and lead to health issues.
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Organic sliced cheese
Sliced cheese is a convenient and tasty addition to sandwiches, burgers, and grilled cheese. While cheese is mostly fat and salt, it is not unhealthy unless consumed in large quantities. If you are looking for low-fat cheese options, mozzarella and parmesan are good alternatives.
Rumiano Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese is a good option for those seeking thick slices of organic cheese with a bold flavor. The cheese is crafted from organic, pasture-raised milk sourced from the Redwood Coast of California and is aged for nine months. It contains only four ingredients: Organic Pasteurized Milk, Non-GMO Verified Enzymes, Sea Salt, and Cheese Cultures. Rumiano adheres to rigorous standards and maintains USDA Organic, American Humane Society, and NON-GMO Verified Certifications.
Horizon Organic and Organic Valley are two other popular brands of organic sliced cheese. Horizon Organic American Cheese Slices are individually wrapped and great for grilled cheese, burgers, and sandwiches. Their cows are pasture-raised and eat an organic, non-GMO diet, and are not treated with antibiotics or added growth hormones. Organic Valley offers seven different varieties of organic sandwich-ready cheese slices, including American, Provolone, Baby Swiss, Sharp Cheddar, Spicy Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, and Muenster. Their cheese is crafted with pasture-raised organic dairy from small organic family farms.
When purchasing organic sliced cheese, it is important to read the labels and look for certifications such as USDA Organic to ensure the product meets the desired standards. Organic sliced cheese can usually be found at the deli counter or in the refrigerated section of grocery stores.
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Sliced cheese for sandwiches
Sliced cheese is a convenient option for sandwiches, offering a range of flavours and textures to elevate the classic sandwich. While personal preference plays a significant role in choosing the best cheese for sandwiches, some key considerations include freshness, type of cheese, and health factors.
Freshness is paramount when it comes to sliced cheese for sandwiches. While pre-sliced cheese is readily available and convenient, cheese sliced from a fresh block just before assembling the sandwich is recommended for optimal flavour and texture. This ensures the cheese is at its tastiest and has the perfect consistency.
The type of cheese is another important factor. Popular options for sandwiches include mild and creamy American cheese, which melts beautifully, and Kraft Singles, which offer convenience and a classic taste. For those seeking a healthier option, mozzarella and Parmesan are good choices as they are naturally lower in fat. Other sliced cheeses, such as Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and Marble Jack, offer a blend of flavours and can add a zesty kick to sandwiches.
When crafting the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, the cheese should be placed between the bread slices, with the buttered sides facing outwards. Grilling the sandwich until the bread turns golden brown and the cheese melts creates a delightful, indulgent treat.
In conclusion, sliced cheese is an excellent choice for sandwiches, offering convenience, flavour, and versatility. Whether it's a classic grilled cheese or a more adventurous combination, sliced cheese is a key ingredient for a satisfying sandwich experience.
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Sliced cheese for burgers
Sliced cheese is a great addition to burgers, and there are several varieties to choose from. When selecting sliced cheese for burgers, it is important to consider the flavour, texture, and melting capabilities.
Cheddar cheese is a popular choice for burgers, with its signature bold flavour and orange colour complementing the rich taste of the burger. When purchasing sliced cheddar, it is advisable to opt for younger cheddars with higher moisture content, such as Cabot or Tillamook, as they melt more easily and evenly. However, if you prefer a sharper flavour, mature cheddar aged for a year or more might be a better option, despite taking longer to melt. For a unique flavour profile, Trader Joe's New Zealand Organic Cheddar Cheese offers a lingering saltiness that won't overpower your burger. If you're looking for a spicier option, Organic Valley's Spicy Cheddar Cheese adds a nice kick to any burger variety.
Mozzarella cheese is another excellent choice for burgers due to its smooth and elastic texture, resulting in exceptional melting abilities. It creates a silky texture on the burger without becoming runny, adding a mild, slightly sweet contrast to the savoury meat.
If you're looking for a classic American cheese slice, it is recommended to get them freshly sliced from the deli. Boar's Head, Land O Lakes, and Cooper Sharp are popular brands that offer a gooey, melty texture and a great cheese taste. However, it's important to note that American cheese slices tend to be more processed than other varieties.
For those who enjoy a nuttier flavour, Gruyère cheese can be a good alternative to the milder Swiss cheese, also known as Emmental. While Swiss cheese is commonly used in burgers, Gruyère provides a more complex flavour that stands up better to the meat's savoury notes.
Ultimately, the best sliced cheese for burgers depends on your personal preference for flavour, texture, and meltability. Whether you choose cheddar, mozzarella, American, or Gruyère, sliced cheese can elevate your burger-cooking experience and create a delicious, gooey treat.
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Taste and texture of sliced cheese
Sliced cheese can vary in taste and texture depending on the type of cheese, how it is sliced, and how it is stored.
Taste
The taste of cheese can vary depending on the type of cheese, the milk used, and the processing conditions. For example, buffalo milk tends to produce fattier and richer cheeses, resulting in softer textures and stronger flavours. Goat's milk cheeses also tend to have a distinctively "goaty" taste, although this can be reduced by washing the cheese in brine, resulting in a sweeter flavour.
Cheese that is sliced thinly can also taste better due to a higher surface area being exposed to oxygen, enhancing the flavour. Additionally, the portion of the cheese being tasted can also affect the taste, with aged cheeses tasting earthier and nuttier near the rind and sweeter and milder towards the centre.
Texture
The texture of sliced cheese is determined by its chemical composition, specifically its protein, fat, moisture, and sodium chloride contents. The storage temperature also plays a significant role, with higher temperatures resulting in reduced firmness, chewiness, and resilience.
Different types of cheese have distinct textures. For example, Brie and young goat cheeses are known for their soft and creamy textures, while aged Gouda is considered semi-hard to hard. Cheddar cheese becomes drier and more crumbly as it ages, and Parmesan is known for its crystalline structure.
When slicing cheese, the goal is to capture the different textures in each bite. For softer cheeses, it is recommended to cut diagonally from the exterior to the centre to capture the textural contrast. For firmer cheeses with a more uniform texture, slicing straight across is suitable.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, but it is also high in fat and salt. If you have high cholesterol or blood pressure, use high-fat cheeses sparingly. Cheese slices have a low glycemic index (GI) and slow down glucose metabolism, making them a healthy snack option for those with prediabetes or diabetes.
If you're looking for low-fat cheese options, consider mozzarella, Parmesan, or feta. Swiss cheese is also recommended for those monitoring their salt intake as it is lower in sodium than most other cheeses.
When buying sliced cheese, look for low levels of fat and sodium. However, this shouldn't come at the expense of ingredient quality. If a cheese is labelled as low-fat, check the ingredients list to ensure it isn't filled with additives like corn syrup solids and gelatin, which are used to mimic the texture and meltability of fattier cheeses.
Cheese can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet, but it is recommended to keep portions small. In the UK, the standard portion size is 30g, which is about two-and-a-half dominoes. Your daily diet should feature three of these 30g portions of dairy products, so cheese alone won't suffice.
