Cheez Whiz facts for kids
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A cheesesteak sandwich with Cheez Whiz at Pat's King of Steaks
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| Owner | Kraft Heinz |
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| Introduced | 1952 |
Cheez Whiz is a well-known brand of creamy, orange-yellow cheese sauce and spread. It's made by Kraft Foods, a big food company. This tasty spread first came out in 1952 and is still popular today!
You'll often find Cheez Whiz in a glass jar. People love to use it as a topping for many different foods. It's great on corn chips and hot dogs. In Philadelphia, it's a super popular choice for cheesesteak sandwiches. Cheez Whiz is sold in several countries, including Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, and Venezuela. In the U.S., some people think of it as a fun "junk food" treat.
Contents
What's in Cheez Whiz?
| Nutritional value per 2 tbsp (33 g) | |
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| Energy | 80 kcal (330 kJ) |
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5 g
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| Sugars | 3 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0 g |
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5 g
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| Saturated | 1 g |
| Trans | 0 g |
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Protein
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3 g
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| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Sodium |
27%
410 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 5 mg |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. Source: Kraftapps.com |
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When Cheez Whiz first came out in 1952, its main ingredients included American Cheese, water, and milk. It also had things like cream, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard for flavor.
Today, Kraft describes Cheez Whiz as a "cheese dip." The company says it still contains cheese. However, the ingredients list now shows the different parts that make up the cheese, like cheese culture and milk. This is a common way for food companies to list ingredients.
Key Ingredients
Some of the ingredients you'll find in Cheez Whiz today are:
- Whey (a part of milk)
- Milk
- Canola oil
- Maltodextrin (a type of sugar)
- Milk protein concentrate
- Sodium phosphate (helps keep it smooth)
- Salt
- Lactic acid (gives it a tangy taste)
- Mustard flour
- Worcestershire sauce
- Sorbic acid (a preservative to keep it fresh)
- Added color (to give it that orange-yellow look)
- Cheese culture and enzymes (used to make cheese)
- Natural flavor
Different Sizes and Types
Cheez Whiz comes in different jar shapes depending on how it's meant to be used. If it's sold as a spread, the jar might be narrower at the bottom. If it's advertised as a dip or sauce, the jars are usually wider and more round. This makes it easier to dip your snacks right into the jar!
Cheez Whiz Varieties
You can find several different kinds of Cheez Whiz:
- Cheez Whiz (the original)
- Cheez Whiz Light (a lighter version)
- Cheez Whiz Tex Mex (with a spicy kick)
- Salsa Con Queso (a cheesy salsa dip)
- Cheez Whiz Italia
- Cheez Whiz Bacon (with bacon flavor)
- Cheez Whiz Pimento
Cheez Whiz is also part of "Handi Snacks" products. For example, in Canada, you might find Ritz Cheez Whiz 'n' Crackers, which are crackers with a small container of Cheez Whiz.
Around the early 2000s, Cheez Whiz was updated. The new recipe is used for Cheez Whiz Light and the Original Big Cheese. The jars were also made wider so it's easier to dip your snacks.
How the Recipe Has Changed
Over the years, Kraft has made some changes to the Cheez Whiz recipe. This happens because of new ways to get dairy products and changes in food rules. These changes have sometimes meant less cheese content in the product.
Kraft also changed how they list ingredients. Instead of saying "cheese," they now list the parts of cheese, like "milk" and "cheese culture." These kinds of changes are common in the food industry and often happen without big announcements.
One of the people who helped create Cheez Whiz in the 1950s, Dean Southworth, tried a jar in 2001. He said it tasted very different from the original recipe.
See also
In Spanish: Cheez Whiz para niños
- Cheese sauce
- Easy Cheese – a form of cheese product in a spray can
- Kraft Dinner
- Plant cheese
- Velveeta
- Welsh rarebit
