Andy Montoya
Pizza-flavoured cheese strings were a popular snack in the 1990s and early 2000s, but they seem to have been discontinued. They were made from mozzarella, a type of cheese that has a natural stringing quality. The manufacturing process involves heating the cheese to 60 °C (140 °F) and then stretching it, which causes the milk proteins to align and allows the cheese to be peeled into strips or strings. While pizza-flavoured cheese strings are no longer available, other flavours, such as original and smoky bacon, can still be purchased.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavors | Original, two-color Twisted, cheddar, smoky bacon, pizza, gouda, gouda-emmental mix, mozzarella, cheddar-mozzarella mix |
| Brand | Kerry Group, Tesco, Dairylea, Dunnes Stores, Baker Cheese, Kraft |
| Shape | Square, cylindrical |
| Size | 6 inches long, less than 1 inch in diameter |
| Country | Mexico, Armenia, Syria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ireland, UK, US, Dominican Republic |
| Region | Oaxaca, Wisconsin, St. Cloud, Zázrivá |
| Type of Milk | Goat, sheep, cow |
| Seasoning | Black cumin, mahleb |
| Manufacturing Process | Heating to 60 °C/140 °F, stretching, pulling, braiding |
| Texture | Stringy, stretchy, braided |
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What You'll Learn
Pizza-flavoured cheese strings were square and peeled into strips
Pizza-flavoured cheese strings were likely made from mozzarella cheese, as it is the only type of cheese with a natural stringing quality. The process of making string cheese involves stretching and pulling the cheese while simultaneously heating it to 140 °F. This temperature causes the milk proteins to move and change, aligning horizontally and becoming stretchy.
While pizza-flavoured cheese strings are no longer available, the original flavour of Cheestrings, akin to mozzarella, is still on the market. Additionally, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cheestrings in May 2021, the pizza flavour was temporarily reintroduced.
Some people have even used string cheese as a substitute for shredded mozzarella on their pizzas. While it may not melt as well as traditional shredded mozzarella, it can still be a tasty alternative.
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They were a popular snack in the 1990s
Pizza cheese strings, or Cheestrings, were a popular snack in the 1990s. They were made from real cheese, not processed cheese, by the Kerry Group, and their mascot was a cartoon character called Mr. Cheestrings. The manufacturing process aligned the proteins in the cheese, making it stringy. This was done by heating the cheese to 60 °C (140 °F) and then stretching it, allowing the milk proteins to line up and the cheese to become stringy. They were available in a variety of flavours, including cheddar, smoky bacon, and pizza, and could be peeled into strips.
In the United States, string cheese generally refers to snack-sized servings of low-moisture mozzarella. This form of string cheese is roughly cylindrical, about 6 inches (15 cm) long and less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. It can be eaten by pulling strips of cheese from the cylinder along its length and eating these strings. It was invented in 1976 by Frank Baker, and his company, Baker Cheese, remains one of the largest string cheese manufacturers in the nation.
String cheese is also popular in other parts of the world, such as Mexico, where the first type of string cheese was invented in 1885 by Leobarda Castellanos García. In Armenia, traditional string cheese, called chechil, is made with a white base of aged goat or sheep milk and seasoned with black cumin and mahleb. It is traditionally sold in the form of a braided endless loop. In Turkey, the most common type of string cheese is dil peyniri, a fresh white cheese made from cow's milk.
While Cheestrings are no longer available in all the flavours they once were, they are still sold today. They are currently available in Original (a cheese akin to mozzarella) and the two-colour Twisted variety. The pizza flavour was even reintroduced in May 2021 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cheestrings.
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They were discontinued, but reintroduced in 2021
Pizza-flavoured cheese strings were discontinued, but they were reintroduced in May 2021 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cheestrings.
Cheestrings are a type of string cheese, which is any cheese that has been manufactured in a way that aligns its proteins, giving it a stringy quality. This is achieved by heating the cheese to 60°C (140°F) and then stretching it, allowing the milk proteins to line up. This process means that strips of cheese can be peeled from a larger block.
Mozzarella is the most well-known type of string cheese, and it is often used as a snack in the United States in roughly cylindrical, snack-sized servings. However, other types of cheese can also be made into strings, including cheddar, gouda, emmental, and dil peyniri ("tongue cheese"), a fresh white cheese made from cow's milk, traditionally in Bilecik and Bursa in Turkey. In Armenia, traditional string cheese, chechil, is made with a white base of either goat or sheep's milk, seasoned with black cumin and mahleb, and sold in the form of a braided endless loop.
Pizza-flavoured cheese strings were a popular variety of Cheestrings, a product of the Kerry Group, which became a popular snack in the Republic of Ireland and the UK after their introduction in 1996. The pizza flavour was eventually discontinued, but it was brought back in 2021 as a limited edition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cheestrings.
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They are made by heating and stretching mozzarella
String cheese is made by heating and stretching mozzarella. This process aligns the milk proteins, creating the cheese's signature stringy texture. The cheese is heated to 60 °C (140 °F), causing the milk proteins to move around and line up in a row. This alignment allows the proteins to become stretchy, enabling the cheese to be peeled into strings or strips.
Mozzarella is the only type of cheese with this unique "stringing" quality, which is why it is the primary choice for string cheese production. The manufacturing process for string cheese involves stretching and pulling the cheese while simultaneously heating it to the desired temperature. This technique is essential in creating the stringy texture that characterizes this type of cheese.
In the United States, string cheese typically refers to snack-sized servings of low-moisture mozzarella. This form of string cheese is usually cylindrical, approximately 6 inches (15 cm) long and less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The cheese is often a combination of mozzarella and cheddar, providing a balance of flavours and textures.
The production of string cheese involves a combination of natural ingredients, including milk, culture, and rennet, an enzyme that helps transform the milk into thick curds. The use of high-quality, fresh milk from local farmers is essential to ensuring the best-tasting string cheese. The stretching and heating process further contribute to the unique texture and stringiness of the final product.
String cheese, or cheese strings, made from mozzarella, is a popular snack item, especially for children's lunch boxes. Its convenient size, nutritional value, and enjoyable texture make it a favourite among consumers. The process of heating and stretching mozzarella plays a crucial role in creating this beloved snack, enjoyed by people of all ages.
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They can be used as a substitute for shredded mozzarella on pizza
String cheese can be used as a substitute for shredded mozzarella on pizza. In the United States, string cheese is typically defined as snack-sized portions of low-moisture mozzarella. This type of string cheese was invented in 1976 by Frank Baker and gets its name from the fact that it can be eaten by pulling strips of cheese from the cylinder along its length. The cheese is stretched and pulled while being heated to a temperature of 60 °C (140 °F), allowing the milk proteins to align horizontally and become stretchy. This process gives mozzarella its natural stringing quality, which no other type of cheese has.
When using string cheese on pizza, it is better to cut it into small blocks with a knife rather than peeling it into strips. While string cheese can work well as a substitute for shredded mozzarella, it may not melt as well and produce the desired spread-out, gooey texture. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in non-caking agents to prevent sticking, which can dry out the cheese and affect its flavor. Therefore, string cheese may be a better option for pizza than pre-shredded cheese, although it will not melt as well as freshly shredded mozzarella.
Oaxaca cheese, also known as quesillo or "queso Oaxaca," is widely considered the best mozzarella substitute. It is a popular type of string cheese sold in balls of various sizes and is now found throughout Mexican territories. In addition to mozzarella, string cheese can also contain a combination of other cheeses, such as cheddar. However, when using string cheese as a substitute for shredded mozzarella, it is important to ensure that it is made from real cheese rather than processed cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Pizza cheese strings are a type of string cheese that includes pizza sauce.
String cheese is any of several different types of cheese where the manufacturing process aligns the proteins in the cheese, making it stringy.
Yes, string cheese works great for pizza! However, it doesn't melt as well as shredded mozzarella.
Cheese strings are currently available in Original (akin to mozzarella) and the two-colour Twisted variety. Discontinued flavours include cheddar, smoky bacon, and pizza.
Cheese strings are available in grocery stores.
