Why is American/Processed cheese called....?

Question

Processed. What makes it a process?

Or what is the difference in the way it's made as too Cheddar cheese or other cheeses?

Answer 1

Processed cheese, process cheese, prepared cheese, or cheese food is a food product made from regular cheese and sometimes other unfermented dairy ingredients, plus emulsifiers, extra salt, food colorings, and/or whey. Many flavors, colors, and textures of processed cheese exist. In the United States, the most recognizable variety of processed cheese is sold under the name American cheese, although this name also has other meanings. The name American cheese also has a legal definition as a type of pasteurized processed cheese under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.[1] The term American slices is also recognized globally for the same product. The Laughing Cow, a French product, is another type of processed cheese, showing the international reach of this product.

And if you want to read how cheeses are made, here's the url.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_maki...

Answer 2

American cheese is cheddar cheese that is "processed" by adding milk and re forming it giving it a more uniform texture and a lighter taste.

Answer 3

It is called processed because unlike real cheese, made from just a few ingredients, American cheese is contains many additives and chemicals to make it a certain consistency.

Natural cheese is very simple in the way it is made. They pretty much just take some milk, coagulate it with the enzyme rennet, or sometimes with vinegar or other acid, add some salt, and let it age.

American cheese is made from many low quality ingredients, and was invented in order to save money and resources during the second world war. The true name for this food is actually cheese food or cheese product because it is not really true cheese.