American cheese

This article is about the specific type of cheese. For cheeses of the United States generally, see List of American cheeses. For the album, see American Cheese (album).

American cheese
An individually wrapped slice of American cheese (not necessarily labeled as such, see § Regulation), also known as a single
Country of originUnited States
Source of milkCows' milk
Pasteurisedyes

American cheese is a type of processed cheese made from cheddar, Colby, or similar cheeses, in conjunction with sodium citrate, which permits the cheese to be pasteurized without its components separating.[1][2] It is mild with a creamy and salty flavor, has a medium-firm consistency, and has a low melting point. It is typically yellow or white in color; yellow American cheese is seasoned and colored with annatto.

Processed American cheese was invented in the 1910s by James L. Kraft, the founder of Kraft Foods Inc., who obtained a patent for his manufacturing process in 1916.

  1. ^ López-Alt, J. Kenji (October 24, 2023) [July 2016]. "What Is American Cheese, Anyway?". Serious Eats. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. ^ American Cheese Isn't Cheese. Atomic Frontier. October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023 – via YouTube.