# Can You Age American "Cheese" Into Something Tasty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492 "2012-12-09T06:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/41 "2012-12-10T16:08:12Z")
I have no doubt that there are some types of unprocessed cheese being sold as “American Cheese” somewhere in the US. But anything that is processed is not wholly real cheese, even if cheese is one if the ingredients. It cannot be sold as “cheese”, by law. Some processed cheeses are allowed to be called “American cheese” or “pasteurized process American cheese”, but must meet specific criteria and are limited in their labeling. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/42 "2012-12-10T16:21:34Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Thanks for the replies..what exactly is that USDA “cheese” (that is given out in large blocks)? Is it cheese or “cheese food”? It’s American pasteurized process cheese in my experience of it, in other words, real cheese. It’s possible they might give away blocks of something else, but if so it will be labeled properly. > [@](#): > > Also, I’m told that al lot of cheap pizza chains don’t use real mozzarella cheese-they se something made from lard and milk powder-is this correct? It might be - in which case it might be labeled “imitation mozzarella cheese” or some such, but how often do you see the labels for your restaurant food? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/43 "2012-12-10T22:46:48Z")
Weird. To me wrapped American Cheese singles are so horrible tasting I always assumed it was made from vegetable oil or tofu. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/44 "2012-12-11T02:22:33Z")
That comparison is an insult to tofu. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/45 "2012-12-11T02:36:20Z")
I’ve read the word _cheese_ so many times now it no longer has any meaning :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492/46 "2012-12-11T03:13:10Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > I’ve read the word _cheese_ so many times now it no longer has any meaning :eek: This should recalibrate your vision. > [@alt.acme.exploding.newsgroup](#): > > Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cleese. Cheese. > Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Crease. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. > Cheese. Looney. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. > Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Chinese Cheese. Cheese. > Cheese. Cheese. Cheeks. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. > > Spot the looney. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-age-american-cheese-into-something-tasty/643492.md?page=2)