Frederic Melton
Jack cheese, also known as Monterey Jack, is a semi-hard, creamy, and mildly-flavoured cheese that originated in California in the 18th century. It is a versatile cheese that can be eaten in many ways, including cubed as a snack, sliced in a sandwich, or melted on pizzas, burgers, and casseroles. There are several varieties of Jack cheese, including Dry Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, and Cheddar Jack. These cheeses are made by combining Jack cheese with other cheeses or ingredients like peppers, resulting in different flavours and textures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Semi-firm, creamy, semi-hard |
| Colour | Pale yellow, white |
| Flavour | Mild, buttery, tangy, nutty, sweet |
| Taste similar to | Mild cheddar, Colby cheese |
| Melting ability | Melts very well |
| Type | Cow's milk |
| Age | Aged for a short period |
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What You'll Learn
Monterey Jack
For example, when mixed with Colby cheese, it forms Colby-Jack, a nuttier, orange and white hybrid. When combined with yellow cheddar, it becomes Cheddar Jack, which has a sharper flavour. Pepper Jack is made by adding spicy chilli peppers, bell peppers, and herbs to Monterey Jack. Finally, Dry Jack is a harder variety of Monterey Jack with a longer ageing time. It was created by accident in 1915 when a San Francisco wholesaler forgot about some wheels of fresh Jack cheese he had stored, and they aged into a product that could substitute classic hard cheeses like Parmesan.
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Dry Jack
The aging process for Dry Jack involves keeping the wheels in original hand-dug cellars in Willows, CA, dating back to the 1920s. Each wheel is then coated with a custom mixture of ground pepper and cocoa powder. The wheels are hand-rolled and weigh around 7 pounds.
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Pepper Jack
Mozzarella is a good alternative for melting, offering a smooth texture similar to Pepper Jack. For a spicier option, mozzarella can be mixed with finely chopped jalapenos. Gouda, a Dutch cheese, is richer and creamier than Pepper Jack, with a slightly nutty flavour. It melts beautifully, making it a great choice for sandwiches and casseroles. However, it may melt faster than Pepper Jack, so the ratio may need to be adjusted when substituting.
Cheddar is a versatile substitute for Pepper Jack and is widely available. It has a sharper taste than Pepper Jack and a firmer texture, making it suitable for grating and topping on dishes such as tacos, casseroles, or salads. Colby Jack, a blend of Colby and Monterey Jack, can also be used as a substitute for Pepper Jack if a creamy texture without spice is desired. Adding crushed red pepper flakes can introduce heat similar to Pepper Jack.
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Colby Jack
Colby cheese is an orange, semi-hard cow's milk cheese that originated in Wisconsin. It has a subtle, nutty flavour. Monterey Jack, on the other hand, is a semi-firm, creamy, mild-flavoured cheese made from cow's milk and aged for a short period. It is known for its tanginess and excellent melting properties.
When Colby and Monterey Jack are combined, the resulting Colby Jack cheese takes on a rich orange hue and added nuttiness from the Colby, while retaining the mild, tangy flavour and excellent meltability of Monterey Jack.
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Cheddar Jack
Jack cheese, or Monterey Jack cheese, is a semi-hard, creamy, and mildly-flavoured cheese made from cow's milk. It is often described as having buttery notes and a slight tang. It is a very versatile cheese and can be eaten cubed as a snack, sliced in a sandwich, or melted into casseroles, pizzas, burgers, and cheese sauces.
There are several varieties of Jack cheese, including Dry Jack and Pepper Jack. Dry Jack is an aged version of Jack cheese with a harder texture, while Pepper Jack is seasoned with hot peppers, herbs, and spices.
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Frequently asked questions
Jack cheese, also known as Monterey Jack, is a semi-hard, creamy, and mildly-flavoured cheese made from cow's milk. It originated in California in the 18th century and is named after American businessman David Jack, who sold the cheese commercially.
There are several varieties of Jack cheese, including Dry Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, and Cheddar Jack. Dry Jack is aged Jack cheese, while Pepper Jack is seasoned with hot peppers, herbs, and spices. Colby Jack is a blend of Jack and Colby cheese, and Cheddar Jack is a mix of Jack and cheddar cheese.
Due to its mild flavour and good melting properties, Jack cheese is a versatile cheese that can be used in many dishes. It can be eaten on its own as a snack, cubed or sliced in a sandwich, or melted on pizzas, burgers, and casseroles.
