Frederic Melton
Choosing the right cheese for your burger can make or break your burger experience. The cheese should complement the meat, adding a creamy, savoury element that provides a rich, indulgent mouthfeel. The type of cheese you choose depends on the style of burger and corresponding toppings. For example, a double bacon cheeseburger with classic American cheese or a smoked Texas burger with sharp aged cheddar and saucy onions. If you're looking for a more delicate flavour, Swiss cheese pairs well with chicken, whereas veggie burgers benefit from spicy cheeses or cheddar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Cheddar, American, Monterey Jack, Raclette, Gruyère, Provolone, Swiss, Blue, Brie, Fontina, Havarti, Muenster, Double Gloucester, Gouda, Mozzarella |
| Texture | Semi-hard, soft, creamy, mild, tender, smooth, nutty, buttery, stretchy, tangy, sharp, crumbly, funky, earthy, melting |
| Meat pairing | Beef, lamb, turkey, bacon |
| Other toppings | Pickled jalapeños, caramelized onions, avocado, BBQ sauce, ranch seasoning, dried onion, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, onion jam, mushrooms, pickled red onions |
| Bun | Classic soft squishy potato bun |
| Other | Burgers with cheese are considered gourmet |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheddar: a classic, semi-hard, tangy cheese that melts beautifully
- Monterey Jack: an all-American soft cheese, often used instead of Cheddar
- Blue Cheese: a strong, tangy cheese that adds depth of flavour
- Swiss Cheese: a nutty, buttery cheese with holes, also known as Emmentaler
- American Cheese: a processed cheese that blends varieties, adding brightness to burgers
Cheddar: a classic, semi-hard, tangy cheese that melts beautifully
Cheddar is a classic choice for a cheeseburger. This semi-hard, pressed cheese has a distinctive, tangy taste and melts beautifully. It is a perfect match when paired with beef and onions.
Cheddar cheese comes in a range of varieties, from mild to sharp (or aged). Typically, young (mild) cheddars will melt the best. While vintage cheddars aged four years or more are super delicious, they are perhaps better suited to a cheese platter or enjoyed with crackers. Medium cheddar is also a good choice for cheeseburgers, as it melts well and has a strong flavour.
Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can be used on a wide variety of burgers. It can be used on thick steakhouse burgers or two thin and crispy smashed patties. It is also a good choice for lamb burgers, where its strong flavour can help to temper the taste of the lamb.
Cheddar is a popular choice for cheeseburgers because it is fairly cheap and easy to find. It is a good supporting character to the burger, without pulling focus.
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Monterey Jack: an all-American soft cheese, often used instead of Cheddar
Monterey Jack is a soft, mild, and tender cheese that is often used on burgers in place of Cheddar. It is an all-American favourite, capturing an authentic, classic taste.
When it comes to choosing the right cheese for your burger, it's important to consider the role you want it to play. If you're using a high-quality, ethically raised, thick steakhouse patty, you may want to opt for a cheese that complements the meat without overpowering it. In this case, Monterey Jack is an excellent choice, as it has a mild flavour and melts beautifully, creating a classic cheeseburger experience.
On the other hand, if you're working with a less expensive or less prominent patty, you may want to choose a cheese that takes centre stage. In this scenario, a stronger-flavoured cheese like Cheddar could be a better option. Cheddar is a classic choice for burgers due to its distinctive, tangy taste and its ability to melt well.
Ultimately, the best cheese for a burger is a matter of personal preference and the specific burger you're crafting. However, with its mild flavour and meltability, Monterey Jack is a versatile option that can elevate your burger without stealing the spotlight from the other ingredients.
Experimenting with different cheeses and finding the perfect combination of flavours is all part of the fun of creating the ultimate burger. So, whether you choose to go with Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or another variety, don't be afraid to explore and discover the cheeses that work best for you and your taste preferences.
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Blue Cheese: a strong, tangy cheese that adds depth of flavour
Blue cheese is a common sauce for classic hamburgers, but it can also add new depths of flavour. It has a strong, tangy taste that will give your burger an extra zing. Saint Agur, a variety of blue cheese, melts perfectly in the mouth and has a robust, tangy taste. It goes well with vibrant, homemade pickled red onions.
Blue cheese is a good choice if you want to add extra flavour to your burger. Its strong taste can be a bit too much for some people, so it is a good idea to check with your guests before serving it.
Blue cheese is a good option for lamb burgers as its strong flavour can help to temper the taste of the meat. It can also pair well with other strong flavours, such as the nuttiness of bacon or the earthiness of sautéed mushrooms.
If you are looking for a cheese that will add depth of flavour to your burger, blue cheese is a good option to consider. Its strong, tangy taste can provide an extra zing to your burger and it melts well, making it a good choice for a juicy, flavourful bite.
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Swiss Cheese: a nutty, buttery cheese with holes, also known as Emmentaler
Swiss cheese, or Emmentaler, is a nutty, buttery cheese with holes, also known as "eyes". It is a famous semi-hard Swiss cheese, instantly recognisable due to its large size and spattering of eyes. The original Swiss cheese, Emmentaler, is named after its region of origin, the valley of the River Emme in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. The cheese gets its distinctive holes from the carbon dioxide formed by bacteria during production.
Emmentaler has a nutty, buttery, and slightly fruity flavour, with a thin, hard rind. The cheese is traditionally made from unpasteurised milk in copper kettles and formed into wheels weighing up to 120 kg. As the cheese ages, its flavour profile changes, becoming fruitier and more complex, while the texture becomes crumblier. At four months, the young cheese has a mild and nutty flavour, while at eight months, it becomes fruitier, and at 12 months, it develops a full-flavoured complexity.
Emmentaler is commonly enjoyed fresh in sandwiches or salads, but it is also excellent when melted in gratins or fondue. It pairs well with other Alpine foods and wines such as riesling, pinot noir, or merlot. When used in burgers, Emmentaler is a great melting cheese and tastes extra special when paired with bacon or sautéed mushrooms, as in the Mushroom Swiss Burger. Its mild, nutty flavour and melting capabilities make it a popular choice for burgers, adding a distinctive yet mellow taste.
While Emmentaler is the original Swiss cheese, there are other popular Swiss cheeses such as Gruyère and Appenzeller. Emmentaler is widely available in grocery stores, specialty cheese shops, and online retailers, although traditional Emmentaler may carry a premium price tag.
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American Cheese: a processed cheese that blends varieties, adding brightness to burgers
American cheese is a popular choice for burgers, particularly in the US. It is a processed cheese, typically made from a blend of different varieties of cheese. This blend creates a cheese that is ideal for cooking, as it melts well and has a distinctive flavour that many associate with the classic cheeseburger.
American cheese is available in white, yellow, and orange varieties, adding a hint of brightness to your burger. It is often sliced and added to burgers, melting quickly and evenly over the patty. American cheese has been a staple of American burgers for decades, and its popularity has spread worldwide.
American cheese is a versatile topping, suitable for a wide variety of burgers. It can be used on traditional beef burgers, adding a creamy texture and a tangy flavour. It also pairs well with other meats, such as lamb or turkey burgers. The mild flavour of American cheese makes it a good choice when you want the other ingredients in your burger to shine.
When choosing American cheese for your burger, it is important to select a quality product. While it is a processed cheese, it should still contain a minimum percentage of real cheese, as mandated by federal regulations. Look for a product that uses dairy cheese from a farm or specialty store, rather than artificial cheese slices.
American cheese is an excellent choice for burgers due to its meltability, flavour, and versatility. It is a popular option for those seeking a classic, all-American cheeseburger experience.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many different types of cheese that can be put on a burger, including cheddar, American cheese, provolone, Swiss cheese, blue cheese, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, and Muenster.
American cheese is a processed cheese that blends a few different varieties to create the perfect cooking cheese. It can be found in white, yellow, or orange.
Younger cheeses tend to melt better than aged cheeses. Some cheeses that melt well and are commonly used on burgers include American cheese, cheddar, provolone, and raclette.
