The Perfect Cheese For A Classic Philly

The Philly Cheesesteak is an iconic sandwich that originated in Philadelphia in the early 20th century. The classic combination includes thinly sliced steak, caramelized onions, and melted cheese, all stuffed into a hoagie roll. While there are many variations, the most popular cheeses used in this sandwich are mild provolone, white American cheese, and Cheez Whiz. The best cuts of beef for Philly Cheesesteaks are ribeye and sirloin, as they are tender, well-marbled, and can be sliced thinly to cook quickly while staying juicy.

Provolone

Some people prefer the sharper taste of provolone, while others opt for a milder version. The provolone cheese slices should be placed on top of the steak and vegetables, and left to melt. The cheese is then stirred through the mixture, creating a gooey, stringy texture.

White American Cheese

When making a Philly cheesesteak, you'll want to pick a type of steak that is well-marbled and can be sliced super thin so that it cooks quickly while staying nice and juicy. Sirloin is a good choice as it is usually less expensive than the traditional ribeye, but either cut will work well.

The original cheesesteak can be ordered with only steak or with steak and onions. However, you can add in some peppers and mushrooms if you like. The onions and peppers need to cook much longer than the steak, so cook them first separately and then combine everything together with the cheese to finish the dish.

Cheez Whiz

While Cheez Whiz was originally made with a "reasonable amount" of real cheese, today it is largely comprised of salt-packed flavourings and chemicals. The first listed ingredient is whey, the liquid that is released from cheese curds during the cheesemaking process. It also contains milk, canola oil, maltodextrin, milk protein concentrate, and sodium phosphate, among other ingredients.

For those who want to enjoy the taste of Cheez Whiz without the additives, there are recipes for homemade versions that use real cheese and fewer ingredients. These recipes typically include cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, turmeric, sugar, milk, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Mushrooms

The mushrooms should be piled high on the sandwich, along with the other ingredients, to create a big and overstuffed sandwich.

Caramelized Onions

To make caramelized onions, start by halving and thinly slicing a sweet onion. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a pan over medium-high heat and add the onions. Let the onions cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar (optional) and continue to cook for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring every few minutes to prevent burning. If the onions start to dry out, add a little water to the pan. Once the onions are a rich, brown colour, deglaze the pan with a splash of balsamic vinegar or wine (optional) for added flavour.

Caramelizing onions can be a lengthy process, taking up to an hour or more, so an alternative method is to fry the onions. To do this, heat a generous amount of oil in a hot pan and fry the onions at medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they start to brown. Then, reduce the heat to low, add a few tablespoons of butter, and let the onions simmer for about an hour, stirring every 10 minutes.

Frequently asked questions