Randy Chandler
The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products made by Fromageries Bel since 1921. The cheese is made by blending specially selected cheeses and milk products, heating them to a temperature higher than 100 °C, and pouring the mixture into triangular wedges, which are then packaged and cooled. The Laughing Cow comes in a variety of flavours and formats, including Original, Light, Garlic & Fine Herbs, Jalapeño, Smoked Cheese, Lactose-Free, and Cream Cheese. The product is known for its creamy texture and versatility, and has gained popularity worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | A blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, and comté |
| Texture | Soft and creamy |
| Temperature | Kept refrigerated between 0 °C and 4 °C |
| Calories | One wedge is 30-50 calories |
| Fat | 1.5-4.0 g per wedge |
| Saturated Fat | 1.0-2.5 g per wedge |
| Carbohydrates | 1.0 g per wedge |
| Sugar | 0-1 g per wedge |
| Protein | 2 g per wedge |
| Sodium | 180 mg per wedge |
| Formats | Triangles, squares, or rectangles |
| Varieties | Original, Light, Ultra-Light, Garlic, Hazelnut, Pizza, Jalapeño, Onion, Gruyère, Ham, Mushroom, Chèvre, Bleu, Smoked Cheese Flavour, and Lactose-Free |
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What You'll Learn
The cheese blend
The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products made by Fromageries Bel since 1921. The cheese is made from a blend of specially selected cheeses, milk, and cream. The specific types of cheese used in the blend include cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, comté, and swiss cheese. The cheese is pasteurized to stop the ripening process, which also makes it versatile and gives it a longer shelf life.
To make the cheese, the selected cheeses and milk products are heated to a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F). This high temperature causes the cheese and milk to melt and combine, resulting in the characteristic creamy texture and fresh taste of The Laughing Cow cheese. The mixture is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled.
The Laughing Cow cheese is available in a variety of flavours, including original, light, ultra-light, garlic and fine herbs, jalapeño, smoked cheese flavour, lactose-free, and flavoured versions such as ham, gruyère, hazelnut, pizza, and onion. The cheese is individually wrapped in serving-sized foiled wedges and packaged in a round, flat box. Each wedge is designed to be spreadable and is a quick and easy snack option.
The Laughing Cow cheese is suitable for vegetarian diets as it does not contain any animal products other than milk or milk derivatives. It is also gluten-free and enriched with Vitamins A and D. To maintain its freshness and quality, The Laughing Cow cheese should be stored in the refrigerator between 0 °C and 4 °C.
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Heating and melting
The Laughing Cow cheese is made by heating and melting a blend of specially selected cheeses and milk products. The mixture is heated to a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F), causing the cheeses to melt and combine. This process gives the cheese its characteristic creamy texture and fresh taste.
The specific cheeses used in the blend are kept secret, but it is known that they include a variety of fresh and aged cheeses, such as cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, and comté. Skimmed milk is also added to the mixture, contributing to the creamy consistency.
The heating and melting process is a critical step in the production of Laughing Cow cheese. By raising the temperature above the boiling point of water, the cheeses and milk products undergo a transformation. The high heat ensures that the cheeses melt thoroughly and blend together smoothly. This step also helps to pasteurize the mixture, halting the ripening process and extending the product's shelf life.
After heating and melting, the mixture is quickly poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled. This step gives the cheese its distinctive shape and allows it to solidify into a spreadable consistency. The rapid cooling process is carefully controlled to ensure that the cheese retains its soft, creamy texture without compromising food safety.
The heating and melting process is a key factor in achieving the unique taste and texture of Laughing Cow cheese. It allows for the blending of diverse cheeses and milk ingredients, resulting in a smooth, spreadable product with a long shelf life. This process is consistent across the various flavors and formats of Laughing Cow cheese, contributing to its widespread popularity as a convenient and versatile snack.
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Pouring and packaging
Once the blend of specially selected cheeses and milk products has been heated to a temperature above 100 °C (212 °F) and melted, it is poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled. The cheese is packaged in individual serving-sized foil wedges, with eight wedges in each round, flat box. The boxes feature the brand's iconic red and white cow, with the blue and white stripes that have been present since 1955. The foil packaging has a red tab for easy opening.
The Laughing Cow cheese is available in a variety of formats, including triangles, squares, or rectangles, with different flavours available worldwide. In Canada, the triangles come in six varieties: Original, Light, Garlic & Fine Herbs, Jalapeño, Smoked Cheese Flavour, and Lactose-Free. The Lactose-Free variety is imported from Slovakia, while the Cheese Dippers are imported from France. The Cheese Dippers are available in individual portions or packs of four and contain whole wheat sticks.
The classic round boxes contain eight individually wrapped spreadable cheese wedges, while the double-pack boxes contain 16 wedges. The cheese should be kept refrigerated between 0 °C and 4 °C and consumed before the expiration date printed on the outer packaging.
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![Laughing Cow, Light Garlic & Herb, Cheese Spread, 6oz Round (Pack of 4) by Laughing Cow [Foods]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71g7GsYxTRL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Flavours and varieties
The Laughing Cow cheese is available in a variety of flavours and varieties. The original flavour is the most well-known, and it is described as having a creamy texture and a fresh taste. It is also available in a light version with 7% fat and an ultra-light version with 3% fat. The Laughing Cow cheese is also available in flavoured versions such as ham, gruyère, garlic, paprika, mushroom, chèvre, bleu, hazelnut, pizza, jalapeño, onion, and garlic and fine herbs. In Canada, the cheese comes in triangle formats and offers six varieties: Original, Light, Garlic & Fine Herbs, Jalapeño, Smoked Cheese Flavour, and Lactose-Free. The Lactose-Free variety is imported from Slovakia.
In addition to the triangle formats, The Laughing Cow cheese is also available in other shapes and varieties. In some markets, it is sold in squares or rectangles. There is also a product called The Laughing Cow Dip & Crunch (or Pik & Croq in mainland Europe), previously named Cheez Dippers, which are snacks consisting of breadsticks and cheese spread. These come in four varieties: original, light, hazelnut, and pizza. Another variety is Ma P'tite Vache Qui Rit, pods of cheese spread designed to be eaten with a spoon, especially for younger children.
The Laughing Cow also offers slicing blocks with a harder consistency similar to butter. There are also processed cheese slices called Toastinette, similar to Kraft Singles. Bite-sized cheese cubes are available in various flavours and are designed to be served as aperitifs at cocktail parties. These are known as Cheez & Fun in Europe, Snack Bites in the UK, Apéricube in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, PartyCubes in Canada, Mini Cubes in Australia and New Zealand, and Belcube in Japan and South Korea.
The Laughing Cow cheese is made from a blend of specially selected cheeses and milk products. The cheeses are melted and combined to create the signature creamy texture. The specific types of cheese used vary but may include cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, and comté. The cheese is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled. The wedges are individually wrapped and come in round boxes. The cheese is versatile and can be enjoyed on its own or as a spread on crackers, toast, sandwiches, or bagels.
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Storage and serving
To store The Laughing Cow cheese, it should be kept refrigerated between 0 °C and 4 °C to remain as fresh as possible. The cheese will stay good as long as it is kept refrigerated properly and consumed before the expiration date printed on the outer packaging. After opening the individual packaging, it is recommended to eat the cheese right away as exposure to air will dry it out. The cheese should not be frozen as it will affect the quality.
The Laughing Cow cheese is versatile and can be enjoyed in multiple ways. The cheese wedges can be enjoyed on their own as a quick snack or spread on a variety of foods, such as crackers, bagels, toast, sandwiches, or roasted eggplant. For a simple yet enjoyable snack, you can spread the cheese on cinnamon raisin toast and top it with strawberries. The cheese can also be used as a dip for apple wedges or bell pepper slices, and cucumber slices. In addition to the classic cheese wedges, The Laughing Cow offers Cheese Dippers, which are whole wheat sticks that can be paired with the cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Laughing Cow cheese is made by melting and blending specially selected cheeses and milk products at a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F). This mixture is then poured into triangular wedges, packaged, and cooled.
Laughing Cow cheese is made from a blend of cheeses, including cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental, and comté. The cheese also contains cream, milk, and other milk products.
The nutritional content of Laughing Cow cheese varies depending on the specific product. For example, one wedge of the original flavor contains 50 calories, 4.0 g of fat, and 1.0 g of carbohydrates, while one wedge of the light flavor contains 30 calories, 1.5 g of fat, and 1 g of carbohydrates.
Laughing Cow offers a variety of cheese products, including the classic cheese wedges, cheese dippers or dip & crunch, slicing blocks, cheese spreads, and toastinettes. They also offer bite-sized cheese cubes in various flavors, such as hazelnut and pizza.
Laughing Cow cheese is available in many countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Japan. You can find specific stores near you by visiting the Laughing Cow website and using the Product Locator Page.
