# What is the origin of American Cheese? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971 "2007-01-06T21:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/21 "2007-01-07T16:58:52Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Yes, once again we must fight the ignorance on American chesse. [/QUOTE] Yep, if we have seven or eight of these Threads a year **AHunter3** and **gonzomax** may finally realize American Cheese is not limited to individually wrapped slices of Kraft orange goo. > [@](#): > > American cheese is basically just mild cheddar (though it is processed, but only because it’s a mix of cheeses. It doesn’t have to have anything artificial in it.) Kraft also makes a Swiss cheese, and it sucks. Why is it, when someone says “I like Swiss cheese,” others don’t pile on with “Ick! Kraft plastic wrapped artificial Swiss cheese is gross!”? Incidentally, **bouv** , I share your fondness for cheddar so sharp it cuts the tongue, but I also like White American from the deli. Different cheeses for different moods/uses. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/22 "2007-01-07T17:07:37Z")
[QUOTE=China Guy] little kids love the cheese slices. All the China bambinas were chowing down from about 12 months. We have real cheese in the house, but they turn their little noses up at the good. I’m hoping this phase lasts for a while before I have to share. [/QUOTE] From Mystery Science Theater 3000: _ **Joel** _: Crow, you should not eat cheese, you know it clogs you up! _ **Crow T. Robot** _: No problem, it is not real cheese, it’s American Cheese! ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/23 "2007-01-07T19:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] No freaking ugly plastic American pseudocheese is getting anywhere close to my burger or egg! [/QUOTE] I am sorry for your shortcoming friend. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/24 "2007-01-07T19:20:01Z")
[QUOTE=tashabot] But I like Kraft slices. They’re cheap (in comparison to deli slices, anyway). Granted, I love the fresh-sliced stuff better, but Kraft is so much better than any of the REALLY horrid plastic cheeses out there - just try the Albertsons, Wal-Mart, or Kroger house cheeses sometime. They’re inedible. When I get rich and famous, I’ll splurge on good cheese, but for now, Kraft will do. 😃 ~Tasha [/QUOTE] Roger that kind soul. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/25 "2007-01-07T20:42:13Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Ode to all that is _Velveeta_ - hash brown potatos, omelets, grilled cheese sandwiches - and chili-cheese chip dip. Keep a brick around, for homeland security purposes if nothing else. 'Twould be worth its weight in gold. [/QUOTE] The wonder of Velvetta is celebrated at the Monroe Cheese Festival. Monroe is the town where Velvetta was invented. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/26 "2007-01-07T21:09:26Z")
Let’s be clear - I’m not anti-lactic by any means - but Velveeta is _good_, but only insofar a narrow spectrum as outlined above. Gouda is wonderful in omelets, but I do enjoy Velveeta in certain pedestrian applications. Ersatz food ever and always disgusts me thoroughly and generally, but I submit that Velveeta makes no pretensions of something it is not. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/27 "2007-01-07T22:36:43Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] That it goes with _nothing_ other than cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, but it is the _only_ cheese for those magnificent culinary creations, all others **suck.** [/QUOTE] I loathe American cheese on a hamburger, & in fact avoid most cheeseburgers on principle. And I like Colby for grilled cheese. So there. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/28 "2007-01-07T22:49:33Z")
I love American cheese on crackers (preferably Zesta saltines) with a bit of mayo or Miracle Whip. I also love what someone else said they hated — toasted American cheese with the browned bubbles. Mmm… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/29 "2007-01-09T15:49:47Z")
[QUOTE=bienville] Yep, if we have seven or eight of these Threads a year **AHunter3** and **gonzomax** may finally realize American Cheese is not limited to individually wrapped slices of Kraft orange goo. Kraft also makes a Swiss cheese, and it sucks. Why is it, when someone says “I like Swiss cheese,” others don’t pile on with “Ick! Kraft plastic wrapped artificial Swiss cheese is gross!”? Incidentally, **bouv** , I share your fondness for cheddar so sharp it cuts the tongue, but I also like White American from the deli. Different cheeses for different moods/uses. [/QUOTE] \ Super super sharp is my cheese. It can not be cut it crumbles too easily. I used to buy it in Pinconning Mich but not lately. It is hard to fing sharp enough cheese in the Dearborn area. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/30 "2007-01-09T15:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Yes, once again we must fight the ignorance on American chesse. Most people think of American cheese and think Kraft singles, but real American cheese is basically just mild cheddar (though it is processed, but only because it’s a mix of cheeses. It doesn’t have to have anything artificial in it.) Of course, why _anyone_ would want mild cheddar is beyond me. Make it so sharp it cuts my tongue, thank you. [/QUOTE] Yep. I like both sharp and mild cheddar. I like all cheeses. I buy the ‘American’ in the deli section. I also like the kraft singles. But certainly not the pre-wrapped ones. It’s just pre-sliced. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/31 "2007-01-09T16:01:13Z")
You ever notice how those individually wrapped slices aren’t called “cheese”? They’re called “singles”. Because they aren’t cheese, they’re something else. Something gut-wrenchingly disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/32 "2007-01-09T16:40:29Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] You ever notice how those individually wrapped slices aren’t called “cheese”? They’re called “singles”. Because they aren’t cheese, they’re something else. Something gut-wrenchingly disgusting. [/QUOTE] Heh; apparently [Kraft](http://www.kraft.com/brands/namerica/us.html) deals in: Natural Cheese Process Cheese Loaves Process Cheese Sauce Process Cheese Slices Process Cheese Spread :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/33 "2007-01-09T16:51:57Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] You ever notice how those individually wrapped slices aren’t called “cheese”? They’re called “singles”. Because they aren’t cheese, they’re something else. Something gut-wrenchingly disgusting. [/QUOTE] Actually, they’re clearly marked as “Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product” on the labels, which is a bit odd, since the usual designation it “Pasteurized Process Cheese Product.” That name is a specific FDA designation as to what it includes, and there are minimums of milkfat and other ingredients. Not that it tastes any good. At best, it has no flavor at all; at worst, it can ruin anything it gets within six inches of. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/34 "2007-01-09T16:54:14Z")
American Cheese…yaaaaass. Most people reguard Human Cuisine as being limited to South Seas barbcues or the rah-ther heavily processed product Soylent Green, but you can make a _perfectly_ delightful Cheese out of most Americans [Here is my own Human Cuisine recipie. Bon appetite! A-haw-haw!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=397313&highlight=irish+stew) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/35 "2007-01-09T19:07:39Z")
gah—American “cheese”. Why is there almost no consumer product that, when you put “American” in front of it, you know immediately that it’s an internationally respected, high-quality product eagerly sought the world over? About the only exception I can think of is cigarettes, the aroma of which betrayed the presence of Americans in post-WWII-era German short stories. And cigarettes are evil now. I feel shame for my country. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/36 "2007-01-09T20:02:26Z")
Since there are so many people out there, myself included, who have a devotion to “real” American Cheese…wouldn’t it make sense for somebody to get up and running on production of an actual, honest to goodness REAL American Cheese, something that’s not “cheese food product” but an actual dairy-made cheese that has the taste and texture of what we know as American Cheese, a cheese that’s just as legitimate a cheese as Monterey Jack or Gouda? They could label it “Gourmet American Cheese,” place it in “upscale” groceries, and make a mint. Somebody out there has to be able to do this, right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/37 "2007-01-09T22:01:16Z")
[QUOTE=Not A Tame Lion] wouldn’t it make sense for somebody to get up and running on production of an actual, honest to goodness REAL American Cheese, something that’s not “cheese food product” but an actual dairy-made cheese that has the taste and texture of what we know as American Cheese, a cheese that’s just as legitimate a cheese as Monterey Jack or Gouda? [/QUOTE] Yes, why is it only sold at the deli counter, and not in packaged rectangles like other cheese? Or have I just not noticed it? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/38 "2007-01-09T22:03:04Z")
Is “government cheese” American? If so, real or process cheese? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/39 "2007-01-09T22:12:46Z")
My semi-annual primer on American cheese. By definition, all American cheese is processed cheese. There are three main types, in descending order of quality: 1. American cheese. Made only of cheese and emulsifying salts (maybe dye, too). This is what McDonald’s uses on their sandwiches, and what you get when you buy “Kraft Deluxe” slices. 🙂 2. American cheese food. As little as 51% cheese. What you get when you buy “Kraft Singles.” The rest is mostly water, skim milk, whey, and emulsifying salts. :dubious: 3. American cheese product. 50% or less cheese. The rest is mostly water, skim milk, whey, and emulsifying salts. What you get when you buy “Kraft Velveeta.” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971/40 "2007-01-09T22:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I’m amazed to find that particular foodstuff is actually [based on Cheddar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese). I thought it was some kind of artificial wibbly substance created in a lab. [/QUOTE] No, THAT would be Velveeta. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-american-cheese/386971.md?page=3)