Frederic Melton
Chipotle uses a blend of Monterey Jack and white cheddar cheese in their dishes. The Monterey Jack cheese is semi-hard with a rich texture and mild flavour, which pairs well with the bolder ingredients Chipotle uses, such as salsa or seasoned proteins. The cheese is shredded and included in the price of the meal, but extra cheese may incur an additional charge. Queso, a cheese dip made from white cheddar, is also available as a side for an extra fee.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Monterey Jack, White Cheddar |
| Texture | Rich, creamy, shredded |
| Flavor | Mild, buttery |
| Cost | Included in the price of the meal up to a certain point, extra cheese may result in an additional charge |
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What You'll Learn
Chipotle uses Monterey Jack cheese
Monterey Jack is a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine and has been a key ingredient in Chipotle's success. It is one of the 53 ingredients used by the fast-casual empire, and it is a favourite among customers. Chipotle's Monterey Jack cheese is sourced from small to midsize dairy farms that adhere to the company's "Food with Integrity" standards. These farms do not use artificial hormones to increase milk production, and antibiotics are only used to treat sick cows. The herds have constant access to pastures, fresh water, and clean shelter.
The creamy texture and mild flavour of Monterey Jack make it a versatile cheese. It can be shredded and melted on top of burritos, tacos, and bowls, or used as a base for Chipotle's famous queso dip. The queso dip is made with Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and a blend of peppers and spices, creating a gooey and creamy sauce that customers happily pay extra for.
Chipotle's use of Monterey Jack cheese showcases its commitment to using high-quality, natural ingredients. The cheese's ability to complement other bold flavours while also shining on its own makes it a key component in many of Chipotle's signature dishes. Whether shredded, melted, or dipped, Monterey Jack is a crowd-pleaser that keeps customers coming back for more.
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White cheddar is used for queso dip
Chipotle's queso dip is made with white cheddar cheese. The white cheddar is aged, giving the queso dip a sharper taste. The white cheddar is paired with milk, peppers, spices, and Monterey Jack cheese to create the gooey dip. The Monterey Jack balances the sharper taste of the aged white cheddar with its buttery flavour.
White cheddar is the same as the cheddar cheese that most Americans are familiar with, but without the addition of annatto, which gives it the classic orange hue. This variety of cheese is famous for its tangy and complex flavour, which can stand out even when paired with Chipotle's other bold ingredients, such as salsa or guacamole.
Chipotle sources its white cheddar from small to mid-size dairy farms that adhere to the company's "Food with Integrity" standards. These farms use milk from pasture-reared cows that are raised without rBST (bovine growth hormones) or artificial hormones to increase milk output. Antibiotics are only used to treat sick cows, and the herds have constant access to pastures, fresh water, and clean shelter.
The white cheddar is not available as a shredded cheese option at Chipotle, but customers can enjoy it as part of the queso dip, which is a popular extra side option at an additional charge. The dip is often served with Chipotle's in-house-made chips, but customers are advised to get it on the side to avoid ending up with a soggy tortilla that falls apart.
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Cheese is included in the meal price
Chipotle uses two types of cheese in its dishes: Monterey Jack and white cheddar. The former is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that has a rich texture and a mild flavour, which pairs well with bolder ingredients. It is also highly moist and fatty, allowing it to melt easily. This cheese is included in the price of your meal up to a certain point. While asking for an extra pinch or two won't be a problem, turning your burrito into a glorified quesadilla may result in an extra charge.
Monterey Jack is used in Chipotle's shredded cheese, quesadillas, and queso dip. It is made in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese and in California by Petaluma Creamery. The cheese is produced by small to midsize dairy farms that adhere to Chipotle's "Food with Integrity" standards, which include no use of artificial hormones to increase milk output and restricted use of antibiotics.
White cheddar, on the other hand, is used in Chipotle's queso dip alongside Monterey Jack. It has a tangy and complex flavour that can stand up to other bold ingredients. Chipotle does not specify where its white cheddar is sourced, but it does state that all its cheeses come from pasture-reared cows raised without rBST (bovine growth hormones).
The inclusion of cheese in the meal price at Chipotle allows customers to enjoy the creamy and buttery taste of Monterey Jack without incurring additional costs for a reasonable quantity. This cheese option has become a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine and is beloved by Chipotle fans.
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Extra cheese may cost more
Chipotle uses a combination of Monterey Jack and white cheddar cheese in its dishes. The Monterey Jack cheese is produced in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese, and in California by Petaluma Creamery. The white cheddar used by Chipotle is not sourced from a specific location, but the company states that all its cheeses come from pasture-reared cows raised without bovine growth hormones.
While Chipotle is known for its generous portions, some customers have reported being charged a fee for extra cheese, particularly when ordering in person. The extra cheese fee appears to vary across different Chipotle locations, with some customers reporting being charged only for excessive amounts of cheese, while others claim to have been charged for any additional cheese.
Some customers have suggested that the reason for the extra cheese fee may be to control costs and manage portion sizes. Charging for extra cheese allows Chipotle to maintain profitability while still offering its famous large portions to customers who are willing to pay for them.
It is worth noting that the extra cheese fee does not apply when ordering through the Chipotle app, where customers can add extra cheese to their orders without incurring any additional charges. This inconsistency in pricing between in-person and app orders may be due to Chipotle's efforts to streamline in-store operations and encourage customers to utilize its digital ordering platforms.
Overall, while extra cheese at Chipotle may occasionally come at a cost, the fee does not seem to be consistently applied across all locations, and customers can often enjoy generous portions of cheese without incurring any additional charges.
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Cheese is a key ingredient
The shredded white cheese that Chipotle uses is commonly known as Monterey Jack. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts well when exposed to heat. This cheese is used in quesadillas and to make the queso dip. It is a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine and is produced in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese and in California by Petaluma Creamery. The cheese has a rich texture and a mild flavour, which pairs well with bolder ingredients like salsa or seasoned proteins.
Chipotle's Monterey Jack cheese is also used in their queso sauce, which includes white cheddar and serrano, poblano, and chipotle peppers. This sauce is an extra surcharge and is available as a dippable side or added to burrito bowls. The company uses an aged version of white cheddar, which gives the queso a sharper taste that is balanced out by the buttery flavour of the Monterey Jack.
Customers can ask for extra shredded Monterey Jack cheese on their orders without incurring additional charges. However, adding too much cheese may result in an extra fee. While Chipotle lists white cheddar as an ingredient, it is not available as a shredded option. The cheddar is used specifically for the queso dip and pairs well with the Monterey Jack, creating a gooey dip that customers happily pay extra for.
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Frequently asked questions
Chipotle uses a mixture of Monterey Jack and white cheddar cheese.
The white shredded cheese at Chipotle is Monterey Jack.
The shredded cheese is included in the price of your meal up to a certain point. However, if you add too much cheese and turn your burrito into a glorified quesadilla, you may be charged extra.
The queso at Chipotle is made from a mixture of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
You cannot buy Chipotle's cheese at their restaurants, but you may be able to find similar cheese at your local grocery store or farmer's market.
