Cheese Database

Cold Pack vs Pimento cheese

Cold Pack

Facts

Texture
Soft
Rind
No rind
Country
United States
Place
Wisconsin

Cold pack is a cheese spread from Wisconsin, in the United States. Makers grind one or more natural cheeses and blend them into a smooth mass without using heat. The result stays close to the cheese it starts from, and it is soft enough to spread with a knife. Many batches use cheddar, though Colby and other firm cheeses appear as well. Spices, nuts, vegetables, or a little wine may be mixed in, so the flavor is not one single recipe.

Pimento cheese, field guide plate
Pimento cheese, photographed

Pimento cheese

Facts

Texture
Soft
Rind
No rind
Country
United States

Pimento cheese is a cheese spread from the United States. Cooks stir sharp or mild cheddar with mayonnaise and chopped pimento peppers until the mix is soft and spoonable. Some recipes add a little cream cheese, onion, or a pinch of cayenne, but the three core ingredients define the dish. It is a prepared food, not a wheel with a rind. Jars and tubs are common in grocery stores, and many households still mix a bowl at home.