Andy Montoya
Dollar Tree's $1 cheese has received a lot of attention for its questionable quality and inability to melt. While some Dollar Tree products are fine, their generic sliced and shredded cheese has been criticised for its dubious nature, with some even questioning whether it can be legally considered cheese. The product's ingredients list reveals that it contains milk protein concentrate, water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and modified food starch, among other additives. This composition has led to speculation that it is an imitation or analogue cheese, designed to resemble and taste like cheese without containing significant amounts of actual dairy. The cheese's melting properties, or lack thereof, have been a particular point of interest, with several attempts to melt it through grilling, baking, or frying resulting in failure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | Water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, modified food starch, milk protein concentrate, salt, natural flavor, sodium phosphate, stabilizer (xanthan, locust bean, guar gums), sorbic acid, lactic acid, artificial color |
| Melting Properties | Does not melt easily |
| Dairy Content | Contains milk protein concentrate |
| Taste | Reportedly not good |
| Price | $1 |
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$1.84
What You'll Learn
Dollar Tree cheese is imitation cheese
Dollar Tree's cheese has been described as imitation cheese, with a questionable quality that has sparked curiosity about its ingredients and composition. The product has been criticised for its inability to melt, a characteristic that has puzzled and frustrated consumers.
Indeed, Dollar Tree's cheese is not your typical dairy product. A closer look at the ingredients of its Sunny Acres sliced cheese reveals a concoction of various substances, with water listed as the primary ingredient, followed by food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and modified food starch. Milk protein concentrate, the ingredient one might associate with cheese, is only the fifth item on the list. The lengthy roster of additives includes salt, natural flavour, sodium phosphate, stabilisers (xanthan, locust bean, and guar gums), sorbic acid, lactic acid, and artificial colour.
The presence of water as the main ingredient provides a clue as to why this cheese alternative fails to melt. When exposed to heat, it does not transform into a molten, gooey consistency like regular cheese but instead, remains stubbornly solid. This has been confirmed by various individuals who have attempted to melt Dollar Tree cheese, only to be met with disappointing results.
The product's composition and melting properties have sparked comparisons to analogue or processed cheese, a blend of analogue cheese and actual cheese that is commonly found in frozen pizzas and other processed foods. This type of cheese often contains little to no dairy, relying instead on ingredients like soybean oil, corn starch, flavourings, and dyes. While it may be passable in cold sandwiches, it falls short when exposed to heat, resulting in a crumbly and dry texture that lacks the desired melted cheese experience.
In conclusion, Dollar Tree cheese is an imitation cheese product that differs significantly from traditional cheese in both its ingredients and behaviour when heated. Its low price point may attract budget-conscious consumers, but it is essential to understand that this product is not a substitute for real cheese in terms of taste, texture, and functionality.
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It's made in a laboratory
Dollar Tree's Sunny Acres sliced cheese is not labelled as cheese. The product is labelled as "American Slices Pasteurized Processed Sandwich Slices". The ingredients listed on the label indicate that it was likely concocted in a laboratory rather than a dairy.
The product contains milk protein concentrate, but this ingredient is listed fifth on the list, after water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and modified food starch. The other ingredients include salt, natural flavour, sodium phosphate, stabilizer (xanthan, locust bean, guar gums), sorbic acid, lactic acid, and artificial colour.
The presence of water as the main ingredient and the absence of "cheese" on the label suggest that the product is an imitation cheese product, often referred to as cheese-like or cheese-ish. These products are typically made in a laboratory and are known for their durability and inability to melt.
While the product may be suitable for certain uses, such as sandwiches, it is not suitable for recipes that require melting, such as grilled cheese or casseroles. The durability and laboratory origins of Dollar Tree cheese have been a source of humour and intrigue for some customers.
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It's not meant to be melted
Dollar Tree cheese is not meant to be melted. It is imitation cheese, a cheaper alternative to real cheese, and is made of vegetable fat, casein, and, if you're lucky, cheese flavour. It is formulated with a high concentration of casein, which is the expensive part of industrial leftover sludge, and is dyed to look like what people think cheese should look like.
The product is labelled as "American Slices Pasteurized Processed Sandwich Slices", and does not claim to be cheese. The ingredients listed on the packaging are in English and Spanish, and include water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, modified food starch, salt, natural flavour, sodium phosphate, stabiliser (xanthan, locust bean, guar gums), sorbic acid, lactic acid, and artificial colour.
The imitation cheese is not suitable for cooking purposes, despite the Dollar Tree website providing a lengthy list of recipes that can be made using their grocery selection, including nacho casserole, Irish nachos, breakfast burritos, and cheesy potato casserole. The cheese does not melt, even when heated in a microwave, pan, or oven, and turns into something resembling blackened, solid plastic.
While Dollar Tree cheese may be suitable for sandwiches, as it tastes similar to ordinary cheese, it is not recommended for cooking or melting.
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It's half the price of normal cheese
Dollar Tree's $1 cheese is a highly processed product, often failing to meet consumers' expectations of what cheese should be. Its main ingredient is water, followed by food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and modified food starch. It also contains milk protein concentrate, but this is a minor component, and the product is not marketed as cheese. Instead, it is labelled as "American Slices Pasteurized Processed Sandwich Slices".
The product's low price, half that of regular cheese, is a significant factor in its appeal to budget-conscious consumers, particularly college students. While it may be edible and nutritious, it does not perform like regular cheese, notably failing to melt when heated. This has led to negative reviews and comparisons to plastic.
The inability of Dollar Tree cheese to melt is a significant drawback, as melting is a key characteristic of many types of cheese. While some cheeses, like halloumi, feta, and aged cheddars, naturally melt less easily, they still soften with heat. In contrast, Dollar Tree cheese remains solid even after prolonged heating, leading some consumers to discard it as inedible.
The product's composition, with its high starch and oil content, likely contributes to its melting issues. Research has linked hydrogenated soybean oil, a significant ingredient in Dollar Tree cheese, to adverse health effects, further detracting from its appeal.
Despite the criticism, some consumers defend Dollar Tree cheese. It is suitable for cold sandwiches, providing a cheaper alternative to regular cheese with comparable taste and nutrients. However, it is not a suitable substitute for real cheese in recipes requiring melted cheese, such as mac n cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches.
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It's not labelled as cheese
Dollar Tree's Sunny Acres sliced cheese is not labelled as cheese. The label reads "American Slices Pasteurized Processed Sandwich Slices". The first five ingredients are water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, modified food starch, and milk protein concentrate.
The inclusion of milk protein concentrate suggests that the product contains dairy. However, the high proportion of starch and oils suggests that it may not be considered cheese. In the United States, to be sold as cheese, a product likely has to contain dairy of some sort unless there is a specific exemption.
The product does not melt when heated, which is a characteristic more typical of cheese products with a high starch and oil content. Regular cheese does not always melt well, but this is due to its artificial ingredients or pH, rather than its starch content.
While some Dollar Tree food products are reportedly fine, others, like the $1 cheese, are not so good.
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Frequently asked questions
Dollar Tree cheese is made of milk protein concentrate, water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, modified food starch, salt, natural flavor, sodium phosphate, stabilizer (xanthan, locust bean, guar gums), sorbic acid, lactic acid, and artificial color.
Dollar Tree cheese is not considered to be real cheese. While it does contain milk protein concentrate, this ingredient comes fifth on the list, after water, food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and modified food starch.
No, Dollar Tree cheese does not melt. When heated, it turns into something resembling blackened, solid plastic.
