# What is American Cheese? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538 "2003-01-18T21:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/41 "2003-01-20T12:49:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalt \* > \*\*4) do other countries mock it? (I feel they should, but that’s just my opinion) > > … > > 1. Is American cheese one of the reasons for us being called the Great Satan? We don’t actually export this stuff, do we??\*\* Never seen it here in Australia. You’re probably safe from our mockery. 🙂 OTOH, a friend of mine who visited the US brought back an _aerosol can_ of “cheese”. She brings it out at parties and we have good ol’ laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/42 "2003-01-20T14:40:23Z")
American cheese has its place. There’s nothing better for a grilled cheese sandwich (and I’ve tried different cheeses). It’s good on a balogna sandwich (if you like cheese on your balogna sandwich – I don’t). I’ve had burgers with Swiss, cheddar or provalone. None compare to a burger with American cheese. Grilled ham-and-cheese or grilled tuna-and-cheese (“tuna melt”) must be made with American cheese. Basically, American cheese is good on some sandwiches. It is one of the best (dare I say, “tastiest”?) choices if you want melted cheese. But there are times when American cheese is totally unacceptable. You wouldn’t want it on your pizza, for example. And a cold ham sandwich is best with Swiss. An American cheese Reuben? Forget it. Roast beef? Gotta have cheddar or provalone. As has been said, American cheese is not something you munch with wine. Eating cheese and crackers? Most other cheese is better for that. But in some situations American cheese is unbeatable. Finally, and to put the matter to rest once and for all, “processed cheese food” (like Kraft Singles) are not cheese (American or otherwise). I’m not saying that to be funny, like “a Yugo is not a car”, but it literally isn’t cheese. > [@](#): > > OTOH, a friend of mine who visited the US brought back an _aerosol_ can of “cheese”. She brings it out at parties and we have good ol’ laugh. I think the _concept_ is more laughable than the contents. I don’t eat the stuff myself, but I did when I was a kid. It’s very, very salty; but that’s common for kids’ snack food. Some adults like it and others don’t. Everything is like that. But the delivery is a different matter. I can see the marketing meeting: “Why should people face the drudgery of cutting cheese into chunks for their crackers? It’s so much _easier_ to spray it out of a can!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/43 "2003-01-20T15:33:09Z")
I am going to have to ask the mods to lock this thread unless one of you agrees to hope in your care and fetch me some Wisconsin cheese curds RIGHT NOW. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/44 "2003-01-20T15:34:29Z")
hope in your care = hop in your car. See what cheese cravings do to my typing? ---
**Author:** ![msgotrocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@msgotrocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msgotrocks)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/45 "2003-01-20T15:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalt \* > \*\* > > 1. is it only an American thing? If not, what do they call it in other countries? I’d be embarassed if other countries referred to it as “american cheese.” \*\* They do sell it in Europe. It’s not called American or even Cheese. The brand that comes to mind just says Toasties - that’s all - Toasties and a barcode. Not that it matters anyway, NOBODY buys it. I don’t know if the shoppers who actually notice this product associate it with America, but if any of them gave it two seconds of thought they’d probably guess its origin correctly. It is very American. ---
**Author:** ![royjwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@royjwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/royjwood)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/46 "2003-01-20T15:45:38Z")
I will most certainly be cursed for saying so, but to make home-made macaroni and cheese, the best cheese available for this is Kraft Velveeta. All others just can not melt right. But I can not get Velveeta in East Timor! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/47 "2003-01-20T15:50:10Z")
What is American cheeze ? Cheeze Whiz comes to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/48 "2003-01-20T16:02:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Kraft makes both, actually, an American cheese (called “Deluxe”) and a processed American cheese food. \*\* **Libertarian** is right, and the Kraft “Deluxe” American cheese is actually pretty good. It comes pre-sliced (but not individually wrapped) and is perfect for sandwiches and hamburgers. It melts really well, too. A world of difference from the day-glo orange processed cheese food product. My wife didn’t know the difference until she accidentally bought the wrong one, one day. That stuff sat in the fridge for months and was finally thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/49 "2003-01-20T16:18:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > Wisconsin cheese curds Sigh, that’s one thing I miss after moving from Wisconsin to the Chicago area. Yes, they don’t even sell real Wisconsin cheese curds (that I’ve seen) in grocery stores only an hour or so south of the WI border. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/50 "2003-01-20T16:23:09Z")
Cheese is unfortunately something that America does not do well. American cheese and the processed cheeses are simply horrible. Other American cheeses I’ve had never rank higher than OK (IMHO), when compared with cheeses from Europe. I never recall coming across American cheeses of any type in the UK, when I lived there, so we didn’t mock them. ---
**Author:** ![Amethyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Amethyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amethyst)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/51 "2003-01-20T18:55:50Z")
Gee and all this time I assumed ‘American’ cheese was the same thing as Kraft Singles. I don’t ever recall seeing American Cheese in Canada, but I certainly have seen it on American TV commercials. And, of course, we do have kraft singles, and Velveeta, and cheese whiz (yuck!) (As an aside, all of these cheese food products make me recall the various Canadian? TV specials in the 70’s sponsored by Kraft. There would be very few commercials except for the Kraft kitchens commercial showing some ‘tasty’ recipe which always seemed to involve Kraft velveeta, kraft marshmallows, kraft mayonnaise, kraft miniature marshmallos, kraft Philadelphia cream cheese, and kraft peanut butter. I can still see the two hands mixing up the stuff in the bowl and hear the announcer’s voice in the background!) Now I’m curious what American cheese is like on a grilled cheese sandwich or on a hamburger. (Whenever a restaurant serves an item with cheese, I ask is it real or processed and if it is not real then I have them hold the cheese or I order something else.) As for grilled cheese sandwiches, I can tolerate them with kraft singles if they are really hot and I eat them quickly without tasting it. My favourite grilled cheese sandwich needs not too thick but certainly not too thin slices of french or italian bread, a variety of cheeses depending what I have in my refrigerator (1 or 2 year old cheddar, I save the 4 to 6 year old to eat on its own, emmanthaler or gruyere swiss cheese, tangy mozzarella, monteray jack …), and some homemade garlic butter that I spread on the inside of the sandwich before I fry it. mmmmmm ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/52 "2003-01-20T19:04:02Z")
Laugh all you want but “American Cheese” and their cousins is the only way for me when it comes to grilled cheese (grilled ham and cheese sandwiches) and creamy macaroni and cheese. Try either with a little bit of Mrs Dash Table Blend and it makes a more flavorful sandwich or mac-n-cheese. [epicurious.com](http://epicurious.com): \< [http://eat.epicurious.com/dictionary/food/index.ssf?DEF\_ID=3393&ISWINE=](http://eat.epicurious.com/dictionary/food/index.ssf?DEF_ID=3393&ISWINE=) \> > [@](#): > > According to U.S. government standards, only 51 percent of the final weight needs to be cheese. I like all kinds of cheese, I am a cheese freak. Unfortunately it’s hard to find cheeses that don’t break the budget unless you go for the dairy case rather than the deli case. Then there’s the melting quality of a proccessed cheese. Can’t be beat. My all time favorite though, is a nice sharp cheddar. I buy up all that I can when it does on sale. And yes, it’s usually Kraft because it’s what I can afford and they don’t package deli cheese in a way that lasts long enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/53 "2003-01-20T19:58:17Z")
Is there still a General Question on the table here? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/54 "2003-01-21T13:24:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarone \* > \*\*Cheese is unfortunately something that America does not do well. American cheese and the processed cheeses are simply horrible. Other American cheeses I’ve had never rank higher than OK (IMHO), when compared with cheeses from Europe. > \*\* [Try finding some Maytag Blue then.](http://www.startribune.com/stories/1611/1004087.html) It’s not quite as good as Stilton, but it does rank up there, IMHO. I prefer it over Rocquefort. ---
**Author:** ![Vixenation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/278dde/32.png) [@Vixenation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vixenation)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/55 "2003-01-21T14:19:59Z")
Ick…American cheese. The only time I’ve ever willingly eaten it was when my friend had chunks of deli American at a party, and when eating McDonalds cheeseburgers (is this even American cheese?). All my friends were Kraft Singles fans when they were growing up, but I never had anything but sharp Vermont cheddar, provolone, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella on my sandwiches–by choice! The reasoning for this was because I had tasted a Kraft single once and didn’t get at all what I was expecting: a disgusting, spoiled-tasting, greasy floppy slice of cheese…substance. I assumed all American cheeses tasted this way, so I stayed away from them until I tasted the lovely deli American. It may not be the best cheese in the world, but it is FAR more superior to Kraft and its ilk. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/56 "2003-01-21T17:48:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pulykamell \* > \*\*[Try finding some Maytag Blue then.](http://www.startribune.com/stories/1611/1004087.html) It’s not quite as good as Stilton, but it does rank up there, IMHO. I prefer it over Rocquefort. \*\* I will look out for it. I do like Stilton, especially with a glass of port. ---
**Author:** ![Robertheadley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Robertheadley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robertheadley)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/57 "2003-01-22T00:37:25Z")
It is rather unfair to call Kraft single’s the worst of all cheese. Why? Kraft is the rolls royce of processed cheese food. It’s simply the best. Maybe you aren’t going ot eat a block of Kraft processed cheese food. But nothing in this world compliments meat more than Kraft cheese, be it singles or my preference, velveeta. Btw… What is velveeta, exactly ? it doesnt seem the same as Kraft singles, neither in taste, nor in texture. The best hamburgers in my opinion are made with velveeta cheese. Cheddar and other cheeses tend to overpower the flavor of the beef. It just doesn’t fit to have cheddar on a hamburger, too oily, irregular, and sharp. I consider myself a connoisseur of the american hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538/58 "2003-01-22T02:20:22Z")
this thread turned out to be far more informative than I initially thought possible. This place rules. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-american-cheese/149538.md?page=2)