American Cheese Is Not Real Cheese—Here's What It's Really Made Of

There's no mistaking American cheese. Aside from that classic orange color, the iconic plastic-wrapped square is known for its meltability. A slice of American cheese is the ideal choice for a gooey grilled cheese, to top a burger, or to layer in a sandwich.

While American cheese has many devotees, there are also many skeptics who say it isn't "cheese" at all. Could that be true? Sure, it might not be in the same bracket as fancy aged cheeses, and it probably won't be found on many charcuterie boards, but American cheese is cheese, right?

Before you rush to the fridge to check your package of American cheese, here's everything you need to know about the classic slices.

Is American Cheese Real Cheese?

Sorry to break the news, but American cheese is not real cheese. It contains cheese, but not in large enough amounts to bear the title. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers American cheese to be “pasteurized process cheese.” All cheese—real or not—undergoes some degree of processing to achieve the final product. Makers of American cheese go a few steps further by continuing to process the "cheese" with added ingredients.

Federal regulations limit just what ingredients can supplement your slice of American, ranging from milk and cream to emulsifying agents and preservatives. But in general, you should expect only about 50% of your slice to comprise actual cheese.

Before you get grossed out at the concept, it’s worth asking why manufacturers add all of these extra ingredients. The obvious answer is that all that filler makes for a cheaper product. But the filler also serves a culinary purpose.

Real cheese that’s been overheated can separate into oily puddles. The emulsifiers found in American cheese may not be easy to pronounce, but they do eliminate that issue, so you get perfectly melty grilled cheese sandwiches. In the manufacturing process, American cheese is also seasoned, which gives you a consistently flavorful slice every time.

Is it going to offer a lot of nuance in the flavor department? No. Is it the most nutrient-dense product in the dairy aisle? Certainly not. But what American cheese does bring to the table is optimal texture and a nostalgic flavor that will always have a place in our hearts.