Kamil Perry
Cheddar and American cheese are often confused with each other, but they are not the same. Cheddar is a hard, sharp-tasting English cheese made from 100% cow's milk. It gets its flavour from aging, which also gives it a unique texture. On the other hand, American cheese is a smooth, creamy, processed cheese product with a mild flavour. It is made from a blend of Colby and Cheddar or similar cheeses, along with sodium citrate, which acts as an emulsifier and allows for easy melting. While American cheese is less expensive and has a longer shelf life, Cheddar cheese is considered more flavourful and natural.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Cheddar is a hard, sharp-tasting English cheese
In contrast, American cheese is a processed cheese product, made from a blend of mild cheddar and Colby, or similar cheeses, along with sodium citrate, which acts as an emulsifier and allows the cheese to melt easily. American cheese is typically smooth and creamy, with a mild flavour, and is less expensive than cheddar. It was invented in the 1910s by James L. Kraft, the founder of Kraft Foods Inc., who obtained a patent for his manufacturing process in 1916.
The key differences between cheddar and American cheese lie in their production methods, textures, flavours, and prices. Cheddar is a natural, sharp-tasting cheese with a hard texture, achieved through the ageing process. It is more expensive and has a stronger flavour due to the use of buttermilk culture and the "cheddaring" process. On the other hand, American cheese is a processed cheese product with a smooth, creamy texture and a mild flavour. It is less expensive and melts easily due to the addition of sodium citrate.
While American cheese may have cheddar as one of its ingredients, the processing and blending with other cheeses alter its texture and flavour, resulting in a product that is distinct from traditional cheddar. The processing and addition of emulsifiers in American cheese destroy the natural texture of the cheddar, and the use of young cheese results in a milder flavour that differs from the sharp taste of aged cheddar.
In summary, while American cheese may contain cheddar, it is not the same as cheddar cheese. Cheddar is a hard, sharp-tasting English cheese, while American cheese is a processed blend that has a milder flavour and a smoother, creamier texture. The differences in production methods, ingredients, and ageing processes result in distinct cheeses with unique characteristics.
Cheddar Cheese: A Surprising Source of Vitamin C?
You may want to see also
American cheese is smooth, creamy processed cheese
American cheese is a smooth, creamy, processed cheese with a mild flavour. It is made from a blend of mild cheddar and Colby cheeses, or similar cheeses, in conjunction with sodium citrate, which acts as an emulsifier and permits the cheese to be pasteurized without its components separating. This process, involving the addition of other ingredients, means that American cheese is not technically considered a cheese in its own right, but a "cheese product". It is also referred to as a "pasteurized cheese product" and must be labelled as "processed cheese".
The smooth and creamy texture of American cheese is a result of the emulsification and pasteurization processes. It is usually bland in taste, but additional cheeses can be added to make it more flavourful. It is available in various colours, including yellow, white and orange, and melts easily. It has a very long shelf life of 12-15 years.
Cheddar cheese, on the other hand, is a hard, sharp-tasting, English cheese with a more robust flavour. It is made from 100% cow's milk and gets its flavour from aging, using a buttermilk culture. The cheddaring process, where cheese curds are separated from whey and stacked into blocks for aging, gives it its unique texture.
The key differences between American cheese and Cheddar cheese are therefore in their ingredients, texture, flavour, and manufacturing processes. While American cheese is a processed blend of mild cheeses with a smooth and creamy texture, Cheddar is a natural, sharp-tasting cheese with a harder texture and a more robust flavour.
It is worth noting that the term "American cheese" can also refer to the traditional cheddars made and sold in the US. English immigrants brought their cheesemaking techniques with them when they arrived in North America, and by 1790, American-made cheddars were being exported back to England.
Cheddar Cheese and Sharp: What's the Difference?
You may want to see also
Cheddar is made from 100% cow's milk
Cheddar cheese is made from 100% cow's milk. It is a hard, sharp-tasting English cheese with a unique texture that is achieved through the "cheddaring" process. Cheddar cheese gets its flavour from aging cheese that originally used a buttermilk culture. The longer the cheese is aged, the sharper the flavour. The colour of cheddar can vary, with yellow, white, and aged varieties available.
On the other hand, American cheese is a blend of Colby and Cheddar, or other similar cheeses, along with sodium citrate, which acts as an emulsifier and allows the cheese to melt easily. It has a smooth and creamy texture and a mild, salty flavour. American cheese is artificially processed rather than aged naturally, which makes it less expensive than cheddar. Due to its processing, American cheese is not considered a cheese in the same way that cheddar is. It is often labelled as a "pasteurized cheese product" or "processed cheese".
The original American cheese was, in fact, Cheddar, brought over by English immigrants when they came to North America. However, the American-made cheddars were considered inferior by the English due to differences in the milk, cattle breeds, and terroir. As more immigrants from other countries arrived, they brought their own cheesemaking techniques and soon, America's cheesemaking industry rivalled that of Europe.
Today, American cheese is a popular choice for grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers due to its low melting point and mild flavour. Cheddar cheese, with its stronger flavour and harder texture, is also used in these dishes, depending on personal preference. While the two types of cheese share some similarities, they are distinct from each other in terms of ingredients, flavour, texture, and production methods.
Cheddar Cheese: Ultra-Processed or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
American cheese is made from a blend of Colby and Cheddar
American cheese and Cheddar cheese are two different types of cheese with distinct characteristics. While Cheddar is a hard, sharp-tasting English cheese, American cheese is smooth, creamy, and processed cheese with a milder flavour. The key difference lies in their production methods and ingredients.
American cheese is a blend of Colby and Cheddar, resulting from the combination of various cheeses, including washed curd or granular cheeses. The inclusion of Cheddar in American cheese is essential, and the cheeses are blended together to create a uniform final product. The blend of Colby and Cheddar in American cheese gives it a more apparent taste and a slightly harder consistency compared to its single counterparts, such as the “Singles” or “Kraft Singles” products.
Colby cheese, also known as Colby Swiss Cheddar, is a semi-hard American cheese made from cow's milk. It was developed in 1874 or 1885 in Colby, Wisconsin, by Joseph Steinwand and his family. They created Colby by eliminating the cheddaring process used in making Cheddar cheese and instead partially draining the whey after cooking the curd and adding cold water to reduce the mixture's temperature. This results in a moister, softer, and milder cheese with a creamy texture and a more open texture with irregular holes.
The combination of Colby and Cheddar in American cheese creates a unique blend that differs from traditional Cheddar. While American cheese includes Cheddar as a key ingredient, it is not the same as Cheddar cheese. The addition of Colby and other cheeses gives American cheese its distinct flavour, texture, and melting properties.
It is worth noting that due to its processing and low cheese content, American cheese is not technically considered "cheese" and must be labelled as a "pasteurized cheese product" or “processed cheese product". On the other hand, Cheddar cheese, made from 100% cow's milk, is classified as “real cheese” or “natural cheese”.
Cheddar vs American Cheese: Which is Healthier?
You may want to see also
American cheese was invented in the 1910s by James L. Kraft
Cheddar cheese is a hard, sharp-tasting cheese made from 100% cow's milk. It is naturally aged, which gives it a more robust flavour. It comes in yellow, white, and aged varieties.
American cheese, on the other hand, is a processed cheese product made from a blend of mild cheddar and Colby cheeses, or similar varieties. It was invented in the 1910s by Canadian-American entrepreneur and cheese salesman James L. Kraft, the founder of Kraft Foods Inc. Kraft obtained a patent for his manufacturing process in 1916 and began marketing it in the late 1910s. The term "American cheese" quickly became associated with this processed variety, rather than the traditional cheddars also produced and sold in the US.
Kraft's innovation built upon earlier developments in cheese processing. Some sources suggest that the process for making American cheese was first invented in Switzerland in 1911. However, it was Kraft who introduced this new type of cheese to the US market, perfecting and patenting the technique.
American cheese has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild flavour. It is known for its meltability, making it a popular choice for grilled cheese sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and Philly cheesesteaks. It is also commonly used in breakfast dishes such as omelettes, scrambled eggs, and breakfast sandwiches.
While American cheese is not considered "real cheese" because it does not meet the minimum requirement of being at least 51% real cheese, it has become a staple in American cuisine due to its versatility, long shelf life, and affordability.
Cheddar Cheese and IBS: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, they are not the same. Cheddar is a hard English cheese with a strong flavour, while American cheese is smooth and creamy processed cheese product with a mild flavour. Cheddar is made from 100% cow's milk, while American cheese is made from a blend of Colby and Cheddar, or similar cheeses, along with sodium citrate, which acts as an emulsifier.
American cheese is made by blending different cheeses with texture and flavour-altering ingredients, which results in a milder taste. It also doesn't have a strong smell and has a very long shelf life of 12-15 years.
Yes, American cheese is artificially processed rather than aged naturally, which is why it is less expensive than Cheddar. It is also why it does not legally qualify as cheese and must be labelled as a pasteurized cheese product or processed cheese.
