Chipotle Bowl Bliss: Choosing The Perfect Cheese

Chipotle's cheese is a topic of much discussion and intrigue, with many customers wondering how they can recreate the magic at home. The answer is Monterey Jack, a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts beautifully. Chipotle uses shredded Monterey Jack in its burritos, bowls, and tacos, and blends it with white cheddar to make its Queso Blanco. The cheese is sourced from farms in Wisconsin and California, and the cows are pasture-reared and raised without hormones.

Monterey Jack is the cheese used in Chipotle bowls

If you're a cheese lover, Chipotle is a paradise. The chain is generous with its shredded cheese, and it's good cheese—salty, creamy, and a bit nutty. The type of cheese Chipotle uses in its bowls is Monterey Jack, a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a rich texture and a mild flavour that pairs well with bolder ingredients like salsa or seasoned proteins. It's also a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine, having been first produced in California by Mexican Franciscan friars.

Monterey Jack is the perfect cheese for Chipotle's bowls because it melts easily. Whether you're adding it to a burrito bowl or using it as a topping, you're guaranteed a creamy, melted texture. And the best part? You can ask for more cheese without feeling ashamed or worrying about being charged extra. Chipotle is happy to give you another handful.

While Chipotle uses other types of cheese in some of its dishes, such as white cheddar in its queso dip, Monterey Jack is the star of its bowls. It's no wonder that Chipotle fans are team Monterey Jack. This cheese has a buttery taste and a high moisture and fat content, making it an ideal choice for a gooey, cheesy bowl.

If you're looking to recreate the Chipotle bowl experience at home, be sure to get a block of Monterey Jack cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese often has starches added to prevent it from melting and sticking together, so shredding your own will ensure you get that signature Chipotle cheese melt.

White cheddar is used in queso

After receiving widespread criticism, Chipotle went back to the drawing board and introduced queso 2.0 in 2020. The new recipe includes Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and serrano, poblano, and chipotle peppers. The sauce is now much creamier and has remained on the menu since its relaunch.

White cheddar is simply what most Americans know as cheddar, but without the addition of annatto, which gives cheddar its classic orange hue. This variety of cheese is known for its tangy and complex flavor, which can stand up to Chipotle's other bold ingredients like salsa and guacamole. Chipotle uses an aged version of white cheddar, which gives the queso an overall sharper taste that is balanced out by the buttery Monterey Jack.

The base of the queso recipe is the two cheeses, paired with milk, plus a variety of peppers and spices, to create the gooey dip that customers happily pay an upcharge for. While the original version of the queso received negative reviews, the new recipe, with the addition of white cheddar, has been a success.

Chipotle's cheese is sourced from Wisconsin and California

Chipotle's cheese is sourced from two states: Wisconsin and California. The cheese used in their burritos, bowls, and tacos is shredded Monterey Jack, a semi-hard cheese with a rich texture and mild flavour. This cheese is produced in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese, and in California by Petaluma Creamery.

Chipotle's commitment to "food with integrity" standards is reflected in their choice of cheese suppliers. The dairy farms supplying the Monterey Jack adhere to strict requirements, including the prohibition of artificial hormones to increase milk production and the restriction of antibiotics to only sick cows. The herds are provided with constant access to pastures, fresh water, and clean shelter.

In addition to the Monterey Jack, Chipotle also uses white cheddar in their queso dip. While the source of this cheese is not specified, Chipotle maintains that all their cheeses come from pasture-reared cows raised without bovine growth hormones.

The combination of Monterey Jack and white cheddar creates a delicious and memorable dining experience, with the mildness of the former complementing the robust, tangy flavour of the latter. This blend of cheeses not only enhances the flavour but also adds a savoury element to the burrito bowls, making it a favourite among cheese lovers.

The cheese is made from pasture-reared cows

Chipotle bowls are loaded with Monterey Jack cheese. This cheese is shredded from a block and piled into burritos, on top of bowls, and into tacos.

Pasture grazing is a predominant method of feeding cows in countries like Ireland and New Zealand, and their dairy producers promote the taste and nutritional benefits of their pasture-fed cheese. In the United States, several high-profile cheeses are made from pasture-fed cow's milk, such as Pleasant Ridge Reserve and European-style artisanal cheeses.

The use of pasture-fed cow's milk in cheese offers a great opportunity to differentiate a product and attract consumers who are increasingly interested in specialty cheeses. Marketing cheese as being made with milk from pasture-reared cows can highlight its unique sensory properties and potential health benefits.

You can get extra cheese on your Chipotle order

If you're ordering in-person, you can simply ask for extra cheese, and you will get a large handful. Asking for "a bit more cheese" will get you another handful, and you won't be charged extra.

If you're ordering through the Chipotle app, you can customize your order by selecting "light" or "extra" for the cheese option. However, some people have reported that they still receive a bowl covered in cheese even when they request light. In such cases, you can try labelling your order with a name like "cheese on the side" or "side of cheese, please."

For orders placed through third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats, it might be challenging to add extra cheese or salsa. In such cases, calling the restaurant directly after placing the order might be a possible solution.

It's worth noting that some Chipotle locations may have different practices regarding cheese portions and charges, so your experience may vary depending on the specific store.

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