3

This might sound like a dumb question:

Back in the day I cooked some pasta for some friends and they bought this cheap grated cheese in the supermarket. I remember my shock because the cheese did not melt no matter how much time we heated it (not with the hot pasta, neither in the microwave nor oven).

Months later I learned that not all cheeses melt: halloumi, kasseri, manouri, queso blanco, and paneer become a tad creamier, but don't melt the way cheddar, Swiss, and Gruyere do.

Those made with rennet and not acid, those with higher moister and higher fat are the ones to melt (or melt better).

But as far as I know, pasta cheese (the cheese used in pasta, it can be parmesan, emmental or even mozarella), are cheeses that might have the melting qualities, to give texture or good looks to the dish (as well as flavour).

So, is it "right" to sell a "pasta-cheese" which does not melt nor change any physical property (at least visually) when heat is applied?

The cheese's ingredients, translated to english, just in case, are:

CHEESE, concentrated DAIRY serum, MILK proteins, dietary fiber (corn dextrine) (4.5%), BUTTER, salt, melting salts(polyphosphates, sodium citrates), modified starch, acidic corrector (citric acid), conservator(potassic sorbate)

Improve this question
5
  • 4
    The presence of "melting salts" (specifically sodium citrate) indicates that it is intended to melt; so your experience strikes me as odd. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_citrate See specifically the point: "Sodium citrate can be used as an emulsifier when making cheese. It allows the cheese to melt without becoming greasy."
    – Chris Macksey
    Commented Jul 5, 2019 at 18:14
  • 2
    That list of 'chemicals' would make me run away, very quickly. If you google the entire ingredients list, you get a scientific paper near the top, entitled "Modification in the Functional Properties of Sodium Caseinate-based Imitation Cheese through Use of Whey Protein and Stabilizer" ... or in plain English, "Avoid".
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jul 5, 2019 at 18:16
  • 3
    As to whether it's "right"... you know those cheese slices they put on burgers, or that you can buy, individually wrapped, like squares of orange goop, barely set, that taste absolutely nothing like cheese? Same laws let them sell your 'pasta cheese'.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jul 5, 2019 at 18:24
  • 1
    @Tetsujin How is a scientific paper investigating how different concentrations of ingredients affects the properties of food something that tells you to avoid it? It sounds like it's a paper that charts things like melting points, texture, etc as you vary the amounts of whey protein in the cheese, rather than anything nefarious.
    – nick012000
    Commented Jul 6, 2019 at 14:54
  • 2
    @nick012000 - forgive me if I find the very idea of "Sodium Caseinate-based Imitation Cheese" rather off-putting.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jul 6, 2019 at 14:58

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9

That's a processed cheese product. It may be allowed to be called cheese in some places, but that's a matter of product labelling regulations where you happen to be.

The melting is a different issue. I'd expect that product to melt, though possibly not if it has the texture of parmesan - parmesan doesn't really melt on its own though it melts into sauces. And parmesan is commonly served on pasta, so a non-melting (or not really melting) pasta cheese is a thing.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.