Frederic Melton
Provel cheese is a white processed cheese that is prominent in St. Louis cuisine. It is made from a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone, along with preservatives, flavourings, and liquid smoke. It was first made by Costa Grocery in St. Louis in collaboration with Hoffman Dairy Company of Wisconsin in the 1940s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Inventors | Costa Grocery (now Roma Grocery) and Hoffman Dairy of Wisconsin (now part of Kraft Foods) |
| Year of invention | 1940s |
| Main ingredients | Cheddar, Swiss, and provolone |
| Other ingredients | Liquid smoke, preservatives, flavourings |
| Texture | Gooey |
| Flavour | Buttery |
| Melting point | Low |
| Use | Topping for St. Louis-style pizza, cheese soup, pasta sauces, salads, sandwiches |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Provel cheese is made in St. Louis
Provel was invented in the 1940s, when the owners of Costa Grocery decided they didn't like how stringy mozzarella was on pizza. They wanted a cheese that melted well and had the same gooeyness as mozzarella, but without the strings. The result was Provel, a cheese with a low melting point, a gooey texture, and a buttery flavour.
Provel is rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis. If it is manufactured anywhere else, it isn't considered Provel and has to be labelled as 'St. Louis-Style Cheese'. It is a mainstay in many St. Louis dishes, including pizza and cheese soup. It is also used in pasta sauces, salads, and sandwiches.
Provel is often manufactured and sold in and around St. Louis. It can be purchased at St. Louis-area grocery stores such as Schnucks or Dierbergs Markets, and Hy-Vee grocery stores across the Midwest.
Blue Cheese Milk: What's the Secret Ingredient?
You may want to see also
It's a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone
Provel cheese is a blend of cheddar, Swiss and provolone, along with some preservatives, flavourings and liquid smoke. It is a "pasteurised process cheese", a term used by the FDA to categorise cheeses that are blends of multiple types of cheese, have a low moisture content and other factors.
Provel was first made by Costa Grocery in St. Louis in collaboration with Hoffman Dairy Company of Wisconsin. It was created specifically as a topping for St. Louis-style pizza. The aim was to create a cheese that melted well and had the same gooeyness as mozzarella, but without the strings. It has a low melting point, a gooey texture and a buttery flavour.
Provel is rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis. It is considered a regional delicacy and has a love-it-or-hate-it flavour. If it is manufactured anywhere outside of St. Louis, it is not considered Provel and has to be labelled as "St. Louis-Style Cheese". It is often manufactured and sold in and around the St. Louis area, and can be purchased at St. Louis-area grocery stores such as Schnucks or Dierbergs Markets, and Hy-Vee grocery stores across the Midwest.
Halloumi Cheese: A Cultural Journey to the Mediterranean
You may want to see also
It was created in the 1940s
Provel cheese was created in the 1940s by Costa Grocery (now Roma Grocery on the Hill) in St. Louis, in collaboration with Hoffman Dairy of Wisconsin (now part of Kraft Foods). It was specifically invented for St. Louis-style pizza, as people wanted a cheese that melted well and had the same gooeyness as mozzarella, but without the strings. It is a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone, along with some preservatives, flavourings, and liquid smoke. It has a low melting point, a gooey texture, and a buttery flavour.
Provel is a processed cheese, which means it is made by blending multiple types of cheese together. In the case of Provel, this is a combination of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. This blend gives Provel its unique flavour and texture, which has made it a popular choice for pizza toppings and other dishes in St. Louis.
The exact date of Provel's creation is debated, with some sources claiming it was invented in the 1940s, while others stating it was created in 1947. However, it is clear that the cheese was first made by Costa Grocery, a St. Louis-based company, in collaboration with Hoffman Dairy of Wisconsin.
While Provel is not considered a "real" cheese by some, it has nonetheless become a beloved staple of St. Louis cuisine. Its unique flavour and texture have made it a popular choice for pizza toppings, as well as other dishes such as cheese soup, salads, and sandwiches. Provel is rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis, and is considered a regional delicacy.
Cheese Whiz: What's in the Jar?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It's a topping for St. Louis-style pizza
Provel cheese is a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone, along with some preservatives, flavourings, and liquid smoke. It was first made by Costa Grocery in St. Louis, in collaboration with the Hoffman Dairy Company of Wisconsin. It was specifically created as a topping for St. Louis-style pizza. The owners of Costa Grocery (now Roma Grocery) wanted a cheese that melted well and had the same gooeyness as mozzarella, but without the strings. Provel has a low melting point, a buttery flavour, and a gooey texture, making it perfect for pizza. It is rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis, and is considered a regional delicacy.
The Ancient Origins of Andean Cheese
You may want to see also
It's rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis
Provel cheese is rarely used or sold outside of St. Louis. In fact, if it's made anywhere else, it's not considered Provel and has to be labelled as 'St. Louis-Style Cheese'.
Provel is a white processed cheese made from a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone, along with some preservatives, flavourings, and liquid smoke. It was created in the 1940s by Costa Grocery (now Roma Grocery on the Hill) in St. Louis, in collaboration with Hoffman Dairy of Wisconsin (now part of Kraft Foods). It was specifically designed as a topping for St. Louis-style pizza, as people wanted a cheese that melted well and had a gooey texture, but without the stringiness of mozzarella.
Provel has retained its popularity in St. Louis and is often manufactured and sold in and around this area. It can be purchased at St. Louis-area grocery stores such as Schnucks or Dierbergs Markets, and Hy-Vee grocery stores across the Midwest.
Provel is a mainstay in many St. Louis-style pizza and cheese soup dishes. It is also used in pasta sauces, salads, and sandwiches such as the Gerber sandwich. Its unique flavour is considered a love-it-or-hate-it taste.
The Ancient History of Mozzarella Cheese
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Provel cheese is made in St. Louis, Wisconsin.
Provel cheese is made from a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone, alongside some preservatives, flavourings, and liquid smoke.
Provel cheese is used in St. Louis-style pizza, pasta sauces, cheese soup, salads, and sandwiches.
Provel cheese has a buttery flavour.
Provel cheese has a gooey texture and is white in colour.
