What Is American Cheese?

Every week, more than 110 million Americans eat at least one slice of Kraft American cheese.

How is American cheese made?

American cheese begins with two or more "real" cheeses, which are mechanically grated into fine shreds and melted together to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The melted cheese is then blended with additional dairy products, such as milk and whey, as well as additional milk and whey proteins. Next, food coloring, flavorings, and salt are added, along with emulsifiers like potassium phosphate, sodium, or citrate, which bind the mixture and prevent it from separating when heated.

Once all the ingredients have been combined into a smooth, homogenous mixture, it can be poured into large molds to solidify into sliceable bricks, which become the American cheese slices you can buy in the deli department. Or, it could be piped through an extruding machine that creates long, thin sheets of American cheese that are cooled, sliced, and individually wrapped.

What's the difference between white American cheese and yellow American cheese?

The difference between white and yellow American cheese is obvious—color! While white American cheese is left au naturel, when yellow American cheese is made, coloring is added to give it a more cheddar-ish appearance. Some brands use natural colorings, like annatto or paprika. Cheaper brands may use artificial food dyes. Outside of the color, everything else about white and yellow American cheeses is exactly the same.