A Slice of Americana: Why Orange Cheddar Will Always Have a Special Place in Our Hearts (and Stomachs) In America, cheddar cheese is orange due to annatto, a natural food coloring from the achiote tree seeds, added to achieve a consistent color year-round. This tradition mimics the natural hue from cows’ milk high in beta-carotene … Read more
Can You Eat Cheese With White Stuff On It? The white specks you might encounter on cheddar cheese, both on the surface of a block or in pre-shredded varieties, are actually calcium lactate crystals. Consider these a mark of quality! These calcium deposits are a natural byproduct of aging in cheddar (and many other cheeses), … Read more
Why Is an Aged Cheddar More Bitter? There’s a variation in cheddar cheese bitterness because not all cheddars are aged the same. During the aging process, a natural phenomenon occurs in cheese, including cheddar. Bioactive peptides are produced, and the longer the cheese ages, the greater the accumulation of these peptides. This increase in peptides … Read more
Is Cheddar a High-Fat and Low-Moisture Cheese? The key to melty magic lies in a cheese’s balance of fat and moisture. While cheddar offers a delightfully sharp flavor, its high-fat content (around 35 grams per 100 grams) can lead to a more oily texture when melted. This tendency is shared by many hard cheeses like … Read more
Does Less Moisture Equal More Crumble? It’s important to understand moisture content before exploring why cheddar crumbles. Generally, cheeses with less moisture tend to be crumblier. This applies to all varieties, as water content plays a significant role in cheese texture. The lower the water percentage, the greater the likelihood of a crumbly texture developing. … Read more
Cheddar-gate: Subway’s Decision to Ditch a Classic Cheese Subway discontinued cheddar cheese to streamline its menu and supply chain, focusing on operational efficiency and minimizing waste. Cheddar’s lower sales led to its removal as a cost-cutting measure. While corporate decisions have phased out cheddar, some franchises may still offer it, reflecting menu variations across locations. … Read more
Cheddar Alert: Keep It Fresh or Toss It? Cheddar cheese can spoil if left unrefrigerated for too long. It’s safe at room temperature for up to 8 hours but should be stored cool and consumed within days to avoid spoilage. When Should I Refrigerate Cheddar Cheese? So, as I’ve already mentioned, cheddar (and cheese in … Read more
Does Cheddar Cheese Have Pork Enzymes? So, as you can see, the main issue with Cheddar Cheese is the use of rennet, more specifically animal rennet. However, as 95% of the cheese produced worldwide uses vegetable rennet, this is potentially only a minor problem. That being said, this also means that potentially 5% of cheese … Read more