# American Cheese **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2001, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731 "2001-11-11T04:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bassman6st](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@bassman6st](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bassman6st)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/1 "2001-11-11T04:23:46Z")
While perusing the dairy aisle at my local supermarket I noticed that american cheese doesn’t exist anymore. There was plenty of american cheese “food” but no american cheese. Is the reason because that all the american cheese died waiting for food or is it another terrorist plot. I didn’t know you had to feed it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/2 "2001-11-11T04:44:53Z")
You might want to change your convinience store. Our [local](http://www.centralmarket.com/) stocks real chhese. Some of it even from the good ol’ USA [sub] all right, Vermont[/sub]. Click [here](http://www.smokejacks.com/cheese.htm) for more cheese, even if most of it is Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/3 "2001-11-11T04:47:28Z")
While I was travelling in the states, I got the impression that “American Cheese” was a euphemism for “Processed Cheese”. Isn’t it? Is there something called “American Cheese” that isn’t fluorescent orange soft vinyl? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/4 "2001-11-11T04:58:40Z")
Don’t get me started, **bassman6st**. Some years back the “real cheese” folks sued the makers of the product you mentioned to stop them from calling the stuff cheese.They won, kinda. So now you see words like ‘cheddar’ and ‘provolone’ on the same type of product. As long as they call it ‘food’, or ‘product’, or something like that. I tried, without success, to find a link. It ain’t cheese, but they get to call it that anyway. I dislike the crap. But my grandkids (like) it. :eek: Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/5 "2001-11-11T05:02:03Z")
Hey, if it’s good enough for cheese to eat, it’s good enough for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/6 "2001-11-11T05:47:54Z")
I’m a big fan of ‘Easy Cheese’ brand processed cheese food. It comes in this can where you spray the stuff out like silly string. My wife calls it ‘plastic cheese’, and I always have to set her straight. It’s right there on the front of the can, “Made With Real Cheese,” and sure enough, if you look in the ingredients, there it is! Right after ‘disodium phosphate’. (Just kidding!) ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/7 "2001-11-11T06:10:06Z")
Cheese in an aerosol can? That is pure bologna! Cheese like beer MUST come in a glass bottle or jar to have any redeeming quality what-so-ever. That is why Cheese Wiz is the only true Americun cheese available in any respecting grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/8 "2001-11-11T06:28:28Z")
I remember suggesting to some people in my fraternity that we have a wine and cheese event using the spray cheese and Mad Dog 20/20. Never got to try it though. As far as I know, you can still get American cheese at pretty much any deli, and even watch them slice it for you. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/9 "2001-11-11T08:41:31Z")
Ya know, you guys are right. Velveeta _is_ real cheese. Wisconsin Cheddar is _not_. Sound like a challenge? 😃 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/10 "2001-11-11T09:19:37Z")
People have such short memories. Don’t you remember in 1995 when the United Nations passed a resolution declaring American cheese to be “an atrocity” and “a violation of the Natural Rights of all human beings?” And then in 1998, when Clinton unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles to destroy the world’s last American cheese factory in Algeria? It’s been kind of scarce since then. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/11 "2001-11-11T13:46:13Z")
“American Cheese Food” is an abomination made from gelatin, various chemicals, and some real cheese added as a flavoring. It is amazing that anybody intentionally buys the stuff. Anybody who visits the USA should be aware that such a monstrous pox exists here. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/12 "2001-11-11T15:05:58Z")
Processed Cheeses [http://www.foodsubs.com/Cheprocessed.html](http://www.foodsubs.com/Cheprocessed.html) American cheese = American cheese food = American pasteurized process cheese food Notes: These are often sold in individually wrapped sandwich slices. Substitutes: Cheddar cheese (much more flavorful) OR Swiss cheese (more flavorful) pasteurized process cheese food pasteurized process cheese sauce or spread Shopping hints: Cheez Whiz is a popular brand. This cheese is similar to pasteurized process cheese, but it’s moister. To make your own: Melt in a double boiler 2 pounds Velveeta cheese + 1 C milk + 1 teaspoon sugar + 1/2 C margarine. Recipe from the Cookbooks On/Line recipe database. Substitutes: pasteurized process cheese food (less moist, higher in fat) OR vegetarian cheese substitute (To make your own, try the Melty Cheese recipe posted on [http://www.vegweb.com](http://www.vegweb.com), or the Mock Cheese Sauce recipe posted on [http://www.our-daily-bread.com](http://www.our-daily-bread.com).) processed cheese = process cheese These products combine cheese with gums and stabilizers that improve shelf life but compromise flavor and texture. Shopping hints: Velveeta is a popular brand. This cheese is similar to pasteurized process cheese, but it contains more milk solids and water. Substitutes: pasteurized process cheese (less moist, higher in fat) OR pasteurized process cheese spread (moister, lower in fat) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/13 "2001-11-11T17:50:06Z")
Cecil discusses process cheese in the column [Why is cheddar cheese orange?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a981002b.html) An earlier thread: [Who invented American Cheese?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55972) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/14 "2001-11-11T20:17:46Z")
Quoth **Larry Mudd** : > [@](#): > > Is there something called “American Cheese” that isn’t fluorescent orange soft vinyl? American cheese is white, and although it’s softer than many cheeses, it’s far from vinyl. Make sure that you go to the “deli” section of the supermarket, not the “lunch meat and hot dogs” aisle. You’ll also see orange American, but it doesn’t add anything to the flavor, and isn’t the natural color. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/15 "2001-11-11T21:18:46Z")
Naah, I’ll stick to cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/16 "2001-11-11T21:20:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by waterj2 \* > \*\*I remember suggesting to some people in my fraternity that we have a wine and cheese event using the spray cheese and Mad Dog 20/20. Now that’s what I call a superb wine and cheese pairing. Congratulations on your culinary savy! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-cheese/92731/17 "2001-11-11T22:49:56Z")
…why have there been no Python Cheese Shop hijacks in this thread yet.