Cheese Database

American cheese vs Cheez Whiz

American cheese, field guide plate
American cheese, photographed

American cheese

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-soft
Type
Processed
Rind
No rind
Country
United States

American cheese, in the sense used in the United States, is a processed cheese, usually built on cheddar, Colby, or similar young cheeses. Emulsifying salts make it melt in an even sheet.

Cheez Whiz, field guide plate
Cheez Whiz, photographed

Cheez Whiz

Facts

Texture
Soft
Type
Processed
Rind
No rind
Country
United States

Cheez Whiz is a jarred processed cheese sauce from the United States. It is sold as a brand, and the jar is the form you find in shops. The sauce is smooth and orange, and it is thick enough to spoon when cool. Warmth loosens it into a glossy pour for snacks and hot dishes. It is a pantry product, not a wheel with a rind or a wedge of aged cheese.