Bushra Griffith
Taco Bell is a fast-food chain known for its Mexican-inspired dishes and indulgent, cheesy menu items. The chain uses a variety of cheeses in its dishes, including shredded cheddar, a Three Cheese Blend, and Nacho Cheese Sauce. While the shredded cheddar and Three Cheese Blend are real cheese, the Nacho Cheese Sauce is a processed cheese product made with real cheese and blended with emulsifiers, oils, and preservatives. With cheese playing a significant role in the menu, appearing in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos, many are curious about the specific brands or suppliers of cheese used by Taco Bell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella |
| Cheese Form | Shredded, Sauce |
| Cheese Sauce | Nacho Cheese Sauce |
| Cheese Suppliers | Warehouses, Costco |
| Cheese Quality | Real Cheese, Processed Cheese Product |
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What You'll Learn
Taco Bell's cheese blend
Taco Bell is a popular fast-food chain known for its creative twists on Mexican-inspired dishes and indulgent, cheesy menu items. The chain uses a variety of cheese blends in its dishes, including shredded cheese and nacho cheese sauce.
Taco Bell's shredded cheese is typically a mild, yellow cheddar that adds a classic cheesy flavour to items like tacos, burritos, and Crunchwraps. This shredded cheddar is often combined with other cheeses to create unique blends for specific dishes. For example, the Chicken and Steak Quesadillas feature a Three Cheese Blend for extra meltiness, combining cheddar with Monterey Jack and mozzarella. This blend balances the mildness of mozzarella, the tanginess of cheddar, and the smooth meltability of Monterey Jack.
The chain's nacho cheese sauce, on the other hand, is a processed cheese product. While it contains real cheese, it is blended with emulsifiers, oils, and preservatives to create a smooth and creamy consistency. This sauce is designed to stay pourable and gooey, making it perfect for drizzling over nachos and fries. Some customers have noted that the jarred nacho cheese sauce sold by Taco Bell differs from the cheese sauce used in their dishes, with the former tasting more like spray cheese.
While the specific brand or supplier of cheese used by Taco Bell is not publicly disclosed, it is believed to be sourced from various warehouses and suppliers. The cheese is likely a blend of real cheese and processed cheese products, tailored to meet the flavour, texture, and cost requirements of each menu item. Ultimately, the cheese blends used by Taco Bell contribute significantly to the chain's signature indulgent and cheesy offerings.
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Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella
Taco Bell uses a variety of cheeses in its products, including Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella.
Cheddar
Cheddar cheese is one of the most commonly used ingredients at Taco Bell, featuring in almost all of their menu items. It is used in shredded form, as well as in their nacho cheese sauce and Doritos Locos taco nacho cheese shell. The cheese is made with pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, and an anti-caking agent. In 2015, Taco Bell removed artificial colours from their menu, replacing them with annatto, a natural colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree.
Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack cheese is another variety used by Taco Bell, often in shredded form. It is a component of their Seven Layer Shredded Cheese Blend, which also includes mild, sharp, and sharp white cheddar, asadero, low-moisture mozzarella, and queso quesadilla cheeses. This blend is available for purchase in grocery stores. Additionally, Monterey Jack Chicken Soft Tacos were a menu item in the 1990s, featuring shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a sauce.
Mozzarella
Low-moisture mozzarella cheese is used in Taco Bell's Seven Layer Shredded Cheese Blend, which can be purchased in stores. It is also an ingredient in their Salsa Verde shredded cheese, which includes three kinds of cheddar (mild, sharp, and sharp white), and salsa verde seasoning.
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Nacho Cheese Sauce
Taco Bell uses a variety of cheeses in its menu items, including shredded Cheddar, a Three Cheese Blend, and Nacho Cheese Sauce. While the shredded Cheddar and Three Cheese Blend are made with real cheese, the Nacho Cheese Sauce is a processed cheese product.
The Nacho Cheese Sauce is made with real cheese but is blended with emulsifiers, oils, and preservatives to create a smooth and creamy consistency. It is designed to stay pourable and gooey at warm temperatures, making it perfect for drizzling over nachos and fries. The exact blend is exclusive to Taco Bell, and some customers have noted that the jarred cheese sauce sold in stores does not taste the same as the sauce served in restaurants.
The Nacho Cheese Sauce likely contains pickled jalapeño juice, giving it a unique flavor. While the exact recipe is not known, some have suggested that adding jalapeño juice to pre-made nacho cheese sauce, such as Kraft nacho cheese, can help replicate the taste.
While the cheese sauce in the jars may not taste the same as the sauce in restaurants, some alternatives that are similar to the Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce include Tostitos cheese salsa and the cheese sold at Costco, which comes in giant cans.
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Cheese suppliers
Taco Bell is a fast-food chain known for its Mexican-inspired dishes and indulgent, cheesy menu items. The chain uses a variety of cheeses across its menu, including shredded Cheddar, a Three Cheese Blend, and Nacho Cheese Sauce.
The shredded Cheddar cheese used by Taco Bell is a mild, yellow Cheddar that adds a classic cheesy flavour to many dishes, including tacos, burritos, and Crunchwrap Supremes. This cheese is likely sourced from various suppliers and warehouses, as Taco Bell's food is delivered without brand names on it.
The Three Cheese Blend is a combination of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella, providing a balanced flavour and meltability. This blend is commonly used in the chain's quesadillas and specialty burritos.
Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce, on the other hand, is a processed cheese product. While it contains real cheese, it is also blended with emulsifiers, oils, and preservatives to create a smooth, creamy, and pourable consistency. This sauce is perfect for drizzling over nachos and fries, adding a cheesy boost to various menu items.
While the specific suppliers of these cheeses are not publicly disclosed, some sources suggest that the Nacho Cheese Sauce may be available for purchase in certain Taco Bell stores. Additionally, similar cheese sauces can be found at some retailers, such as Costco, though they may not have the same spicy kick.
Overall, Taco Bell's cheese offerings play a significant role in enhancing the flavour and texture of their dishes, contributing to their popularity as a cheesy, indulgent fast-food option.
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Real cheese vs processed cheese
Although it is unclear where Taco Bell sources its cheese from, it is known that the fast-food chain uses a mix of real cheese and processed cheese products. Real cheese carries traditional craftsmanship and remarkable diversity in taste and processing methods. It is usually made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk and is a common accompaniment to wine and cured meats. For example, the shredded cheddar and three-cheese blend used in Taco Bell's quesadillas and specialty burritos are made of real cheese. On the other hand, processed cheese, also known as American cheese, is usually mass-produced to ensure a consistent flavor and texture. It often contains around 50% cheese, with the remaining ingredients being non-cheese additives such as salt, food dyes, preservatives, extra dairy, emulsifiers, or other artificial ingredients. Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce is an example of a processed cheese product, designed to stay pourable and gooey, making it perfect for nachos and fries.
While some may view processed cheese in a negative light due to its artificial ingredients and lower cheese content, it has its advantages. Processed cheese is convenient, long-lasting, and affordable. It melts in a way that real cheese does not, creating the perfect ooey-gooey cheese pulls. Additionally, it is important to note that all cheese is processed to some extent, as it is a man-made product that does not exist in nature.
When it comes to identifying processed cheese, there are a few indicators. Processed cheese is often sold in pre-packaged forms such as slices, spreads, or sprays. It also contains emulsifiers such as sodium citrate or disodium phosphate, which are not typically found in real cheese. If you are looking for less processed cheese options, it is recommended to choose cheeses with fewer industrial ingredients and those that come from smaller companies.
In conclusion, both real cheese and processed cheese have their unique characteristics, uses, and advantages. While real cheese offers a diverse range of flavors and traditional craftsmanship, processed cheese provides convenience, consistency, and melting capabilities. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on the specific needs and preferences of the consumer, and both have their place in the culinary world.
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Frequently asked questions
Taco Bell uses a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, mozzarella, monterey jack, and romano. Their cheese usually comes in shredded form, and they also have a three-cheese blend.
Taco Bell's three-cheese blend is a mix of equal parts mozzarella, cheddar, and monterey jack cheese.
Taco Bell's nacho cheese is prepared using a variety of methods, including pre-made sauces, powdered cheese, and melting cheese blocks with milk. The exact method may vary depending on the location and whether it is a franchise or corporate store.
