It’s everywhere — from grilled cheese sandwiches to cheeseburgers and lunchbox slices. American cheese is one of the most common cheeses in the U.S. But have you ever stopped to ask what’s really in it?
At Tri-State Cheese, we’re proud to make real, small-batch cheese using traditional methods and simple ingredients. So today, we’re taking a closer look at American cheese, why it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and what you can choose instead.
What Is American Cheese, Really?
Despite the name, American cheese isn’t real cheese — at least not in the traditional sense. Most brands on the market are actually labeled as “pasteurized prepared cheese product.”
Why? Because American cheese is typically made by blending:
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Cheese scraps or off-cuts
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Milk protein concentrate
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Whey
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Emulsifiers and stabilizers
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Artificial color (like Yellow #5)
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Preservatives
The result is a shelf-stable, smooth-melting product that resembles cheese — but is far from what real cheese should be.
Why Did American Cheese Become So Popular?
In the mid-1900s, American cheese became a go-to option for manufacturers and fast-food restaurants because it was:
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Cheap to produce
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Easy to melt
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Uniform in color and texture
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Long-lasting on shelves
That consistency made it an easy sell — especially for school cafeterias, diners, and processed food makers.
The Problem With Processed Cheese
While American cheese might be convenient, there are some big tradeoffs:
❌ Highly Processed Ingredients
The ingredient list is long and includes things you wouldn’t find in your kitchen. That’s because it’s built for efficiency — not flavor or nutrition.
❌ Lower in Nutritional Value
Compared to natural cheeses like Colby or Muenster, American cheese has:
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Less protein
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Less calcium
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More sodium and saturated fat
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Fewer beneficial fats and vitamins
❌ Artificial Additives
From food coloring to chemical preservatives, many of the things inside American cheese are banned in other countries — but still common here.
Real Cheese, Made the Right Way
At Tri-State Cheese, we keep it simple:
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Real milk, natural cultures, salt, and enzymes
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Small-batch production
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No unnecessary additives or fillers
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Gravity-formed blocks — not pressed or processed
Whether you’re enjoying a slice of Colby, a smooth block of Muenster, or our crowd-favorite Marble cheese, you’re getting the real deal — made in Hicksville, Ohio with care and tradition.
A Better Option for Your Family
We get it — convenience matters. But with Tri-State Cheese, you get convenience and quality. Our cheeses:
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Melt beautifully
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Slice easily for sandwiches
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Taste better
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And are made with ingredients you can trust
Ditch the Processed Cheese – Choose Real
If you’re looking to make healthier, better-tasting choices for your family, start with what’s on your plate. Skip the “cheese product” and go for real cheese — the kind we’ve been making for generations.
Look for Tri-State Cheese at your local retailer, and taste the difference for yourself.