Velveeta is a famous brand making cheese products. Similar to American cheese, it’s a cheese product but not real cheese.
So why Velveeta can’t be considered cheese? And what is Velveeta made of? Keep reading to find out the answer.
Velveeta History
Emil Frey, a Swiss immigrant, created Velveeta in 1918 as a way to reduce waste from cracked cheese wheels at the Monroe Cheese Company.
“The organization sent cheese scraps to Frey to experiment with at home and he found that by adding cheese byproducts like whey to the scraps, the end result was velvety in consistency,” says Lora Vogt is a food historian and curator at the World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. “Frey called it Velveeta because of the velvety texture it took on when melted.”
There were other processed, pasteurized cheeses on the market at the time besides Velveeta. By 1921, Kraft was selling “blended cheese” in tins that could “keep in any climate,” The Velveeta Cheese Company obtained a patent in 1925 for its two varieties, American and Swiss, and Kraft acquired it in 1927, continues Vogt.
Velveeta became well-known during the Great Depression and World War II because it was not only a cheap source of protein but also inspired people to transform leftovers into something more appetizing. For the same reasons, it is still a staple in most households today.
What is Velveeta Cheese?
By combining cheese with other dairy products and emulsifying salts, the Kraft Foods company creates the cheese product Velveeta. These emulsifiers help to facilitate a smooth melting process while also holding the product together. When a typical high-fat cheese like cheddar is heated, it quickly separates into coagulated strands of protein encircled by pools of fat. However, the emulsifiers in Velveeta make sure that it holds together and keeps its smooth consistency even after melting.
Because of this structure, Velveeta blocks have a longer shelf life and are therefore available on regular supermarket shelves rather than in the refrigerated area.
The early 1900s saw Velveeta’s invention as a means of extending cheese’s shelf life, and it rose to popularity in the 1930s.
How Velveeta is Made
In order to create Velveeta, various cheeses, including cheddar, Colby, and Swiss, were initially blended with an emulsifier. Today, the method is different because pasteurized milk, along with whey, emulsifiers, and salt, are used to create the product rather than beginning with cheese fragments. In essence, the emulsifiers break down the molecular bonds that bind the milk proteins, creating a cheese-like product with a springy texture that keeps the product from crumbling when it melts.
What Kind of Cheese is Velveeta?
Velveeta may look like cheese and taste like cheese, but it is technically classified as a “pasteurized process cheese product.”
Velveeta was once made from actual cheese, but that is no longer the case. In 2002, the FDA issued a warning to Kraft that Velveeta was inaccurately being sold under the label of “pasteurized process cheese spread.” The labels have changed since then.
Is Velveeta Real Cheese?
According to the FDA, Velveeta is technically not real cheese, but rather, a “processed cheese product,” although the regulations state that it must contain at least 51 percent cheese, as well as prescribing the minimum moisture content, fat content and the temperature (at least 70 F), the minimum spreadable value.
How Long Does Velveeta Last?
In the pantry, an unopened box of Velveeta will continue to be good for two to three weeks after its expiration date, but after six months, its quality will start to deteriorate. Velveeta can be kept in the fridge for up to eight weeks after being opened if it is kept in an airtight container.
What is a Good Substitute for Velveeta?
Another processed cheese product, like American cheese or Cheez Whiz, works best as a Velveeta substitute. Since Velveeta isn’t actually cheese, replacing it with real cheese won’t necessarily produce the same results; in fact, one of Velveeta’s processed charms is its fluid texture and simplicity in melting.
The Uses of Velveeta
In recipes where it’s crucial for the cheese to melt and melt smoothly, Velveeta is frequently used. The best illustration of this can be found in cheese dips, like the classic Tex-Mex dish chile con queso dip, which is made by combining Velveeta with Ro-Tel, a brand of canned tomatoes with diced chiles.
Another dish that benefits from Velveeta’s superior melting ability is mac and cheese. This is because the cheese sauce not only needs to hold together when it melts, rather than separating, but it also needs to be able to coat the macaroni evenly.
Velveeta in used in a wide variety of other dishes, such as stuffed peppers (aka “poppers”), casseroles, soups, and even fudge. It can be chopped, shredded, or microwaved because it is sold as a solid block. It would be particularly ideal to shred it for grilled cheese sandwiches.
Conclusion
Velveeta was made from real cheese at first. But now it’s made from substances including whey, milk, milk protein concentrate, modified starch, canola oil, and cheese culture. It’s called cheese product but not real cheese.
Related Reading
Muenster Cheese: All You Want to Know
What Types of Cheese Are Good for Weight Losing
FAQs
Is Velveeta Cheese the Same as Cheddar Cheese?
We also reached out via email and a spokesperson said, “Velveeta contains cheddar cheese made specifically to deliver the unmistakable melt and creaminess that consumers know and love. Nothing melts like Velveeta!
What’s the Difference Between Velveeta And American Cheese?
Velveeta isn’t exactly American cheese, but it’s pretty close. Much like the Kraft singles, it’s made up of mixtures of old cheeses, all of which are processed with emulsifiers, which hold it together, and then processed to give it that perfect meltiness.
Is Velveeta Cheese Unhealthy?
Besides being high in calories, Velveeta is high in fat and sodium. The nutritional information on the package shows that the product has 6 g of fat per serving, but with 32 servings per box, you’ll consume 196 g of fat should you use an entire box of regular Velveeta in a cheese dip or recipe.
