What is Cold Cheese Spread?

What’s not to love about cold pack cheese spread? It’s perfect for party platters, spreading on a sandwich, melting over nachos or baked potatoes, dipping with French fries, and anything else you can possibly imagine!

But what makes cold cheese spread different from other cheese spreads? How is its flavor and texture different from heat-treated cheese spreads? Let’s discuss what makes cold cheese spread so unique and delicious, so you can impress your cheesehead friends with fun cheese facts next time you’re digging into a tub together!

Cold cheese spread vs heated cheese spread

Before we get into what makes cold cheese spread different from other spreads, let’s take a look back at how it came to be. Cold cheese spread was invented in—you guessed it!—Wisconsin during the Great Depression. It was an affordable snack for bar patrons, often served with beer. That’s how it became popular in taverns and supper clubs, another Wisconsin staple.

Cold cheese spread is a blend of natural cheeses with ingredients like cream, whey, and spices, all combined without using heat. It’s like making a block of cheese spreadable! Because the cheese spread is not processed with heat, the cold cheese spread has a more intense flavor profile that’s more reminiscent of the cheeses it’s made from.

The spread’s texture is a smooth and spreadable consistency, unlike that of heated cheese spread. Most cheese spreads are pasteurized, cooked, or injected with heat. This changes the taste and texture of the cheese spread. When a cheese spread is pasteurized, the proteins inside it are compacted, giving the spread a “gritty” texture. When a cold cheese spread is blended together, it maintains the cheeses’ natural smooth consistency.

However, while cheese spreads processed with heat can often last up to 600 days on the shelf, the same does not apply to cold cheese spreads. Because it’s not processed using heat, cold cheese spread is not shelf-stable and must be refrigerated.

Key characteristics of cold cheese spread

The most defining characteristic of cold cheese spread is the fact that its ingredients are blended without heat, which is why it’s called “cold pack.” Cold cheese spread must be stored in the refrigerator to keep its freshness because it’s not shelf-stable.

Like heat-treated cheese spreads, cold pack cheese spread is typically made up of one or more natural cheeses, often with added ingredients from the cheesemaking process, such as whey and cream. The flavor profiles of the cheeses are much stronger without the heat treatment. Additionally, herbs, spices, and even alcohol (such as in the case of beer cheese) are included in the mix of cheeses to add more complex flavors.

How to enjoy cold cheese spread

Perhaps a better question is how NOT to enjoy cold cheese spread! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy our variety of cold pack cheese spreads at Renard’s Cheese:

· Serve with crackers, pretzels, or crisp vegetables as a refreshing appetizer before dinner

· Use it as a dip for chips or other snacks during game day!

· Spread on sandwiches, toast, or bagels for a hearty meal

· Incorporate into recipes for added depths of flavor

Jalapeno Cheese Dip

Speaking of recipes, here’s one of the most delicious and simple cold cheese spread recipes you can use for game day, before dinner, or as a snack shared between friends!

Ingredients:

· 2 8oz containers of Renard’s Cheese Jalapeno Pepper Cheese Spread

· 3 green onions, diced

· ¼ cup of mild salsa or diced tomato

· ¼ cup of diced red pepper

· ½ cup of Renard’s Medium Cheddar Cheese, shredded or sliced

· Tortilla chips or pretzels for dipping

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the Jalapeno Pepper Cheese Spread, onions, salsa or diced tomato, and diced red pepper.

3. Mix to combine and place in a small baking dish. Top with Medium Cheddar.

4. Bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and heated through. Remove from heat.