Patrick Oconnell
Sargento Cheese is a popular brand of cheese in the United States, offering products like grated Parmesan and Romano cheese blends. However, there is a debate surrounding whether Sargento cheese is real cheese due to its use of additives and preservatives, as well as the fact that it is made from a blend of ingredients rather than solely milk. While some argue that it is not real cheese because of these factors, others defend it, stating that it meets the legal definition of cheese in the United States and that it is still made from milk and milk products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Some people find the taste disgusting, while others enjoy it |
| Ingredients | Milk, salt, cheese culture, enzymes, powdered cellulose, potassium sorbate |
| Additives and preservatives | Contains additives and preservatives not found in natural cheese |
| Processing | It is a brand of processed cheese owned by Sargento Foods Inc. |
| Nutritional value | Good source of calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, and riboflavin |
| Texture | Soft |
| Legal definition | Meets the legal definition of cheese in the United States |
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What You'll Learn
Sargento Parmesan Cheese ingredients
Sargento Parmesan Cheese is made from real, natural cheese. The ingredients in the shredded variety include milk, salt, cheese culture, and enzymes (aged 10 months or more). The product is described as full-bodied and nutty, with a sharp, piquant flavor.
Sargento Parmesan Cheese is available in shredded, grated, and sliced forms. The shredded variety is packaged in 5-oz portions, with 1-1/4 cups of shredded cheese per package. The grated variety comes in an 8-oz shaker bottle to maintain freshness and is a mix of Parmesan and Romano cheese.
The company emphasizes that their Parmesan cheese is made from blocks of real, natural cheese and adds a "'zing" to recipes. The cheese is intended to be used as a topping or stirred into dishes like risotto. It can enhance the flavor of Italian dishes, including pasta, salads, and pizza.
While some consumers on Reddit have expressed negative opinions about the taste of Sargento cheese products, the company promotes its Parmesan cheese as a high-quality, flavorful option for consumers seeking convenience and a rich finish to their meals.
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Sargento Cheese manufacturing process
Sargento Foods Inc. is an American food producer, best known for its cheese. The company was founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Wisconsin, by Leonard Gentine and Joseph Sartori. The company name is a combination of Sartori and Gentine, with an "o" added to make the company sound Italian, as it specialised in Italian-style cheeses.
Sargento was the first company to sell pre-packaged sliced cheese in 1953, pre-packaged shredded cheeses in 1958, and the first to develop zippered packaging for its cheeses in 2001. The company's success is attributed to its innovation, attention to detail, and focus on quality. For example, Leonard Gentine Sr. and his design partner, Bill Lindstedt, utilised a vacuum seal system for cheese in plastic, which allowed cheeses to last longer and made pre-packaged sliced natural cheese widely available.
Sargento has also expanded its product line beyond cheese with Sargento Balanced Breaks®, which combines the company's natural cheeses with nuts and dried fruit to create a nourishing and well-rounded snack.
In terms of the actual cheese-making process, Sargento has recently introduced its Natural American Cheese, which is made with just five ingredients: milk, salt, enzymes, rennet, and annatto (a natural food colouring). This new product is notable because it does not contain any emulsifiers or added ingredients, which are commonly used in the manufacturing of American cheese to enhance its meltability and soft texture.
The exact process of how Sargento developed this new cheese without the typical intense processing is proprietary. However, the company has revealed that it follows the traditional cheese-making process, where milk combines with cultures and enzymes, turning into curds, and then separating the whey before pressing the curd into a block to form cheese.
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Sargento Cheese nutritional value
Sargento Parmesan Cheese is made from real, natural cheese. The cheese is shredded from blocks, adding a rich finish to your meals. Sargento Parmesan is described as having a sharp, piquant, zesty flavour. It is a great topping for a wide variety of foods, including pasta, pizza, soups, salads, and veggies.
The nutritional value of Sargento Parmesan Cheese is as follows:
- Serving Size: 2 tsp (5g)
- Calories: The brand recommends 2000 calories per day for general nutrition.
- Fat: The cheese is made from pasteurized milk, which contains fat.
- Carbohydrates: Potato starch and powdered cellulose are added to the cheese to prevent caking.
- Protein: Milk is a source of protein.
- Sodium: Salt is added to the cheese, which contains sodium.
- Calcium: Cheese is a source of calcium.
Sargento Parmesan Cheese is a convenient and tasty way to add flavour and nutrition to your meals. However, it is always important to consume cheese and other dairy products in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
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Sargento Cheese compared to other brands
Sargento Cheese has been in the business of making cheese products since 1953. In that year, Sargento launched the first pre-packaged sliced and shredded cheeses. Sargento is now one of the big names in cheese, alongside Kraft and Borden.
Sargento cheese has a distinctive taste that some people dislike. Some cheese brands tend to taste similar, but Sargento has a different kind of taste. Its texture is also described as "rubbery" and "nasty". However, the brand is praised for its snack bites and sticks, which are convenient for long days out or road trips.
In terms of variety, Sargento has been outdone by Borden, which offers 18 different flavours of cheese. Like Sargento, Borden produces cheese in slices, chunks, shreds, and snack sizes. However, Borden also offers Italian, Mexican, and flavoured cheddar cheese blends.
Kraft is another large cheese brand that offers a wide selection of cheeses in slices, chunks, blocks, shreds, and snacks. Kraft Singles, however, cannot be classified as actual cheese.
Overall, while Sargento is a well-known brand that offers convenient and easy-to-eat cheese products, some people may prefer other brands such as Borden or Kraft for their wider variety of flavours and textures.
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Sargento Cheese taste
There are mixed opinions on the taste of Sargento cheese. Some people find the taste disgusting, claiming that it makes them gag and that it is their least favorite brand. Others seem to enjoy the flavor, describing it as zesty and a family favorite for use on spaghetti, garlic bread, pizza, soups, and veggies.
Sargento cheese is a popular brand of cheese found in grocery stores across the United States. It is a type of processed cheese owned by Sargento Foods Inc. and is made from a blend of ingredients, including milk and milk products, as well as additives and preservatives. The legal definition of cheese varies from country to country, and in the United States, it is defined as "the food product resulting from the coagulation of the milk protein casein." This definition includes both natural cheeses, made from milk, and processed cheeses, which are made from a blend of milk, cream, whey, and milk protein concentrate. Sargento cheese meets this legal definition.
The mixed opinions on the taste of Sargento cheese may be due to the fact that it is a processed cheese with additives and preservatives, which some people argue makes it less like natural cheese and more like processed meat. However, others argue that Sargento cheese is still real cheese, even if it is not made in the same way as traditional cheddar or mozzarella.
Sargento offers a variety of cheese products, including grated Parmesan cheese, which is said to take months to create and adds a zesty flavor to dishes. They also offer Natural Cheese Slices, Snack Sticks, String Cheese, and Balanced Breaks snack kits. Sargento's Parmesan and Romano Grated Cheese duo is described as a sharp Italian cheese blend that delivers a complex layer of flavor to soups, salads, and Italian dishes.
While some people may enjoy the taste of Sargento cheese, it is essential to recognize that it is a processed cheese with additives and preservatives, which may not be to everyone's taste. Ultimately, it is up to individual preference whether one enjoys the taste of Sargento cheese or not.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no definitive answer to this question. Some people argue that Sargento is not real cheese because it contains additives and preservatives not found in natural cheese, and is made from a blend of ingredients rather than milk alone. Others argue that Sargento is real cheese because it is made from milk and milk products, and meets the legal definition of cheese in the United States.
In the United States, cheese is defined as "the food product resulting from the coagulation of the milk protein casein." This definition includes both natural cheeses, which are made from milk, and processed cheeses, which are made from a blend of milk, cream, whey, and milk protein concentrate.
Some people argue that Sargento is not real cheese because it contains additives and preservatives not found in natural cheese. They also argue that it is made from a blend of ingredients rather than milk alone, and that processed cheeses are more like processed meats than natural cheeses.
Some people argue that Sargento is real cheese because it is made from milk and milk products, and meets the legal definition of cheese. They may also argue that while Sargento is processed, it is still a convenient and affordable way to get calcium and protein, along with other nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin D, and riboflavin.
Sargento offers grated Parmesan cheese, as well as Natural Parmesan & Romano Grated Cheese, which can be used in dishes like spaghetti, garlic bread, pizza, soups, and vegetables.
