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[–] 20 points 1 year ago (16 children)

I grew up in the midwest. We survived on processed ingredients. I now live in the Bay Area.

I tell my partner that I need the shitty Kraft cheese for my grilled cheese sandwich, not the cheeses from Whole Foods or Trader Joes, because that's what I had growing up. I need the shitty ingredients for certain specific foods because I want that taste. It's not a lot of meals, but a handful must match my childhood.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (8 children)

    Im not a cheese eater but I was under the impression that American cheese made a better grilled cheese because of the way it melts.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    The cheese melts faster. But I've def had better grilled cheese with, like, provolone.

    I think there is such a thing as fancy American cheese that actually tastes good, but I've never seen it or tasted it.

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  • [+] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)
  • Sodium citrate. Which I believe is there to allow the cheese to survive pasteurization, but it results in the texture and melting properties that make it the objectively correct choice for cheeseburgers. I still stand by provolone for cheesesteak sandwiches though.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    That's actually correct, and a lot of people like to give American cheese grief because it comes individually sliced and packaged in plastic, but in reality it's just cheddar that has been reconstituted with extra milk. It can still be very high quality, with a uniquely creamy texture that is unmatched for a hot ham and cheese, or melting onto a burger.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Its a different dish. American cheese is very melty but unless you go for some specialty shit or do some kitchen chemistry, its a very uncomplex cheese. It'll taste like a blend of mild cheeses, predominantly unaged cheddar. That's sometimes good, but one of cheese's best features as a food is that it's got a wide range of deeper flavors available. For the cozy familiar dish you go with the cozy familiar version. But those of us who love the depths of cheese and don't have that craving, we often prefer more fancy cheese blends

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    that is true. normal sliced american cheese melts better than cheddar or other real cheese.

    the cheap individually-wrapped 'singles' melt even easier.. like velveeta does.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    The Boar’s Head yellow American cheese is a great melter and actually has some cheese flavor compared to Kraft singles.

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