# You know what I miss? Government Cheese.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 4, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877 "2003-12-04T05:23:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/1 "2003-12-04T05:23:41Z")
Yeah, we were poor when I was growing up. Used to get the Government cheese every month. Two pound blocks of processed cheese in a cardboard box. God, I loved that stuff. It was like Velveeta, only ten times better.
---
### Author:  [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/2 "2003-12-04T06:14:17Z")
Yup. We were never that poor, but my dad scored half a block of it, somehow. It was aged and very concentrated and was outstanding for grilled ham/cheese sandwiches and omelets.
I think it’s all gone now, not sure if they store large amounts of cheese anymore.
---
### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/3 "2003-12-04T08:35:02Z")
My mom always used it for cheese potato soup when I was growing up in the eighties. Loved the stuff.
---
### Author:  [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/4 "2003-12-04T09:25:39Z")
I was always partial to government Skittles. Can you believe they actually bought the ability to use the brand name for a product they just give away?
---
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/5 "2003-12-04T15:40:48Z")
We had a neighbour who got government cheese, and they gave her much more than she needed. She gave the surplus to me and my dad. It was perfect cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches, if nothing else.
---
### Author:  [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/6 "2003-12-04T15:48:35Z")
Govt cheese rocks! So does the butter, the peanuts, and the peanut butter. The peanut butter was a little stiff straight out of the old #10 but add just a bit of oil and run it in a mixer for a few minutes and it softens up nicely.
---
### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/7 "2003-12-04T16:12:42Z")
Can’t say I really cared for gummint cheese, though it did melt good in grilled cheese sandwiches and in fried rice, cheese, and onions (a favorite lunch dish).
The weirdest stuff was the gummint canned beef. Tough and stringy, but very tasty fried with onions. I’ve never seen anything like it, except in rural Mexico, and a dish here in Panama that’s called _ropa vieja_ ("old clothes).
As for the gummint “spam,” let’s not go there.
---
### Author:  [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/8 "2003-12-04T16:12:45Z")
My grandmother would give us her government cheese, because it ‘bound her up’. Great stuff. I tell all my friends about it, even though I haven’t had any for at least 15 years.
---
### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/9 "2003-12-04T16:25:20Z")
My grandmother tried serving us government pork once. Looked like dog food coming out of the can. Silver can with a black pig on front and black block letters **PORK**. I’m not a big fan of pork to begin with, but when you need a can opener and hear a “schloop…plop” sound, forget it.
Now the beef stew was good. I liked that.
---
### Author:  [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/10 "2003-12-04T16:41:56Z")
I was just telling my wife about my roomies and I getting a block of government cheese my freshman year in college. I don’t know how we managed it, but there it was in the 'fridge. I finally threw it out, declaring it took up too much space that was better devoted to beer.
---
### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/11 "2003-12-04T17:48:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Casey1505 \*
> \*\*My grandmother tried serving us government pork once. Looked like dog food coming out of the can. Silver can with a black pig on front and black block letters **PORK**. I’m not a big fan of pork to begin with, but when you need a can opener and hear a “schloop…plop” sound, forget it.
>
> \*\*
Are you kidding, that stuff makes great Taquitos. Drain add a couple of packs of Taco seasonings, roll in corn tortillas and fry. Great stuff. I actually did this just a month or so ago. The church next to my old place gave us a bunch of that kind of stuff after the fire. No government cheese though ☹
---
### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/12 "2003-12-04T18:07:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Stuffy \*
> \*\*Are you kidding, that stuff makes great Taquitos. Drain add a couple of packs of Taco seasonings, roll in corn tortillas and fry. Great stuff. I actually did this just a month or so ago. The church next to my old place gave us a bunch of that kind of stuff after the fire. No government cheese though ☹ \*\*
I’d have shipped you two cans had I known you enjoyed it so much. 🙂 There were a few in the basement that I’m sure had to have been there for a good 10 years or so. Probably still “fresh”. I imagine that stuff is designed to survive an atomic blast.
I vaguely remember it smelling a little like tuna, as well:confused:
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/13 "2003-12-04T20:31:03Z")
Oh yeah, I remember that stuff. They used to give it away to military families back in the 70s. The ultimate George Costanza block of cheese as big as New Jersey.
---
### Author:  [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/14 "2003-12-04T20:47:11Z")
Just to make you jelous, I had some gummint cheese this very weeK (i ate lunch in an elementary school)! I liked it- it’s similar to pasteurized processed cheese food product, but sharper and firmer.
---
### Author:  [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/15 "2003-12-04T20:52:06Z")
My finacee was at the USDA website the other day trying to find out if he could just outright buy cheese from them. I am afraid if someone tells him yes there will be cheese in every nook and cranny of my house!
---
### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/16 "2003-12-04T21:10:30Z")
Now that you mention it **Casey** I do remember thinking the same thing.
---
### Author:  [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/17 "2003-12-04T21:17:18Z")
I used to have gov’t cheese at summer camp. The peanut butter was always my favorite. Nothing like being unable to talk for 30 minutes 'cause lunch has sealed your teeth together. Oh, now I want some…
---
### Author:  [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/18 "2003-12-04T21:32:38Z")
There was a band 'round these parts called Government Cheese. The played often at the college where some friends went. They always seemed on the verge of _something_ but could never make it to that next level. I can _almost_ remember their farewell show. I had drunk just a few beers, and was too busy shaking my moneymaker to listen. I think my buddy bought their CD…
---
### Author:  [@Kyann22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyann22)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/19 "2003-12-04T21:43:16Z")
I love this cheese! YUM. I know we managed to score some when we were growing up, but not sure how. I know my parents would go pick up stuff for our elderly neighbors, so I’m guessing they must have shared with us for helping them out. God that stuff was GOOD. Makes me want a grilled cheese samich for dinner.
---
### Author:  [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877/20 "2003-12-04T21:58:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DaddyTimesTwo \*
> \*\*There was a band 'round these parts called Government Cheese. The played often at the college where some friends went. They always seemed on the verge of _something_ but could never make it to that next level. I can _almost_ remember their farewell show. I had drunk just a few beers, and was too busy shaking my moneymaker to listen. I think my buddy bought their CD… \*\*
Ah yes, Government Cheese… I used to go see 'em at The Bottom Line. I got their newsletter for a while. Wonder what ever happened to those guys. Prolly got old and fat like the rest of us.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-miss-government-cheese/216877.md?page=2)