List of American cheeses facts for kids
Did you know that the United States makes a huge variety of cheeses? While some cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella are popular worldwide, America has also created its own unique types. Many local farms across the country make special artisan cheeses, which are often handmade with great care. Almost half of all the cheese made in the U.S. comes from just two states: Wisconsin and California. New York and Vermont are also very famous for their delicious cheeses. In fact, the U.S. has become the second largest cheese exporter in the world!
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American Cream Cheeses
Cream cheeses are usually soft and spreadable. They are often used in desserts or on bagels.
- Bergenost: A mild, semi-soft cheese.
- Cream cheese: A very popular soft, fresh cheese, often used for spreading.
- Creole cream cheese: A special type of cream cheese from Louisiana.
- Cup cheese: A very soft, spreadable cheese.
- Kunik cheese: A rich, creamy cheese made from goat's milk and cow's cream.
- Red Hawk cheese: This is a special cheese from California. It's a triple-crème cheese, meaning it's extra rich and creamy. Its rind (the outside part) is washed with a salty water mixture, which gives it a unique flavor.
American Soft Cheeses
Soft cheeses are usually easy to slice or melt. They have a higher moisture content than hard cheeses.
- BellaVitano Cheese: A unique cheese that tastes a bit like Parmesan and Cheddar.
- Brick cheese: This cheese gets its name because it was traditionally pressed with bricks! It has a mild, buttery flavor.
- Cheese curd: These are fresh pieces of cheese that haven't been pressed into a block. They often make a squeaky sound when you eat them!
- Colby cheese: A mild, soft, and moist cheese, similar to cheddar but softer.
- Colby-Jack cheese: This cheese is a mix of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses, giving it a marbled look.
- Farmer cheese: A fresh, mild, and unripened cheese.
- Hoop cheese: A drier version of farmer cheese.
- Cougar Gold cheese: This is a special type of American cheddar cheese made in Washington state.
- Humboldt Fog: A unique goat's milk cheese from California with a line of edible ash in the middle.
- Liederkranz cheese: A very strong-smelling, soft cheese.
- Monterey Jack: A mild, semi-hard white cheese from California.
- Pepper jack cheese: A spicy version of Monterey Jack with added chili peppers.
- Muenster cheese: An extremely mild, semi-soft cheese with an orange rind. It's different from the stronger European Muenster.
- Pinconning cheese: An aged type of Colby cheese, often sharper in flavor.
- Pizza cheese: This cheese is made especially to melt well on pizza. It's often a mix of different cheeses.
- String cheese: A fun American type of mozzarella that you can pull apart into strings.
- Swiss cheese: This cheese is related to the famous Emmental cheese from Switzerland. It has distinctive holes!
- Baby Swiss: A milder version with smaller holes.
- Lacey Swiss: A mild, lower-fat version with a delicate texture.
- Smoked Swiss: Swiss cheese that has been smoked for extra flavor.
- Aged Swiss: The oldest and strongest-flavored Swiss cheese.
- Vermont cheddar: A type of cheddar cheese made in Vermont, known for its quality.
American Hard Cheeses
Hard cheeses are usually aged longer and have a firmer texture. They are great for grating or slicing.
- Capricious: A firm goat's milk cheese made in Petaluma, California.
- American generic parmesan: This cheese was created in the U.S. and is inspired by the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Italy. It's often grated over pasta.
American Blue Cheeses
Blue cheeses have blue or green molds inside them, which give them a strong, unique flavor and smell.
- Maytag Blue cheese: A famous brand of blue cheese from Iowa, known for its crumbly texture and tangy flavor.
Processed Cheeses
Processed cheeses are made by blending natural cheeses with other ingredients like emulsifiers. This makes them melt very smoothly.
- American cheese: A very common type of processed cheese, often made from a mix of Colby and cheddar. It's famous for melting perfectly on burgers.
- Government cheese: A type of processed cheese that was distributed by the U.S. government.
- Nacho cheese: A smooth, melty processed cheese, often used for nachos and dips.
- Old English: A processed cheese from Kraft, often used in cheese balls.
- Pimento cheese: A popular spread made from cheese, pimentos (small red peppers), and mayonnaise.
- Pizza cheese: Some types of "pizza cheese" are actually processed cheese, designed for perfect melting.
- Provel cheese: A processed cheese from St. Louis, Missouri, known for its gooey texture.
- Roka Blue: A processed blue cheese, often used in cheese balls.
- Velveeta: A well-known brand of processed cheese that is very soft and melts easily.
American Fresh Cheeses
Fresh cheeses are usually not aged at all. They have a mild flavor and a soft texture.
- Cottage Cheese: Made from skimmed milk, this cheese has a lumpy, soupy texture. It's often eaten as a healthy snack.
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