Making American cheese to debunk a conspiracy

NileBlue

1 Feb 202421:35

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this sponsored video, the host embarks on a culinary adventure to understand and recreate American cheese, a processed cheese product that, despite its name, isn't legally considered cheese by the FDA. Through a hands-on process involving real cheese, emulsifying agents, and other ingredients, the host explores the science behind the cheese's unique texture and meltability. The experiment culminates in a homemade version that surprisingly resembles store-bought slices, debunking myths about its composition and highlighting the blend of science and tradition in food processing.

Takeaways

🧀 The video explores the nature of American cheese, questioning if it's real cheese or something else.
🔍 The script delves into the history and development of American cheese from traditional cheddar and Colby cheeses in the 1910s.
📚 It mentions that according to the US FDA, American cheese is legally considered a processed cheese product, not real cheese.
🍽️ The video documents an attempt to recreate American cheese by grinding real cheese and mixing it with emulsifying agents and other ingredients.
🧪 The process involves using chemicals such as sodium citrate dihydrate and sodium hexametaphosphate, which are safe for consumption and used in various foods.
🍴 The script humorously describes the challenges faced during the cooking process, including the unexpected taste of the mixture and the texture issues.
🧈 The addition of butter and whole milk powder is highlighted as a step to enhance the flavor and consistency of the homemade American cheese.
🍰 The final product is compared to store-bought processed cheese, noting its similar soft, plastic-like texture and self-healing properties.
🍞 The script concludes with the successful creation of a cheese sandwich, demonstrating the functionality of the homemade American cheese.
🤖 The video also promotes 'Brilliant', an educational platform for learning subjects like math, data science, and computer science through interactive lessons.
🎓 The sponsor, Brilliant, is highlighted for offering a free trial and a discount for the first 200 users who sign up through the provided link.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to explore the nature of American cheese, its ingredients, and the process of making it at home to understand why it's not legally considered cheese by the FDA.
What is the historical background of American cheese mentioned in the script?
-American cheese was developed in the 1910s from cheddar, Colby, and similar cheeses.
What does the US FDA consider American cheese to be?
-According to the US FDA, American cheese is not legally considered cheese but rather a processed cheese product.
What are some of the ingredients used in the process of making American cheese as described in the script?
-Some of the ingredients used include sodium citrate dihydrate crystals, sodium hexametaphosphate, butter, and whole milk powder.
Why does the script mention that American cheese is not considered cheese by regulatory agencies?
-Regulatory agencies do not consider American cheese as real cheese because of its processing, which involves diluting the cheese with water and other ingredients, making it a derivative of cheese.
What is the role of sodium citrate and sodium hexametaphosphate in the making of American cheese?
-Sodium citrate and sodium hexametaphosphate are used as emulsifying agents to help combine the water with the cheese, creating a more liquidy mixture that can be processed into American cheese.
What is the significance of the interactive lessons provided by Brilliant, as mentioned in the video?
-Brilliant offers interactive lessons that make learning subjects like math, data science, and computer science more engaging and game-like, covering a wide range of topics from basics to advanced levels.
How does the script describe the final texture and appearance of the homemade American cheese?
-The homemade American cheese is described as having a soft, plasticky texture, and it is indistinguishable from a regular processed cheese single, with a slightly thicker consistency.
What issue did the script encounter when trying to spread the cheese on a tray?
-The issue encountered was that the cheese was solidifying too quickly, making it difficult to spread it out into thin slices as desired.
What is the script's conclusion about American cheese after the experiment?
-The conclusion is that American cheese is not made of plastic or horrific chemicals, but is essentially a cheddar cheese derivative that has been processed with additional water and emulsifying agents.

Outlines

00:00

🧀 The Mystery of American Cheese

This paragraph introduces the topic of American cheese, questioning its authenticity as real cheese. The narrator discusses the FDA's stance that it's a processed cheese product and not legally considered cheese. The script sets the stage for an experiment to make American cheese from scratch using ingredients like cheddar, emulsifying agents, and chemicals such as sodium citrate dihydrate and sodium hexametaphosphate. The process involves shredding cheddar cheese, mixing it with chemicals, and heating the mixture to create a homogeneous blend.

05:03

🔬 Experimenting with Cheese and Chemicals

The narrator details the process of creating a cheese sauce by mixing water, cheese, and chemicals. They describe the initial reaction and taste test of the mixture, which is unpleasantly salty and sour. The script continues with the addition of butter and whole milk powder to enhance the flavor and texture. Despite the initial challenges, including an unappealing smell and chunky texture, the mixture eventually thickens into a cheese sauce. The narrator reflects on the unnatural feeling of using chemicals in food but acknowledges their safety and prevalence in many foods.

10:04

🍞 Crafting the American Cheese Slice

The paragraph describes the attempt to solidify the cheese mixture into a slice of American cheese. The narrator encounters issues with the cheese solidifying too quickly and not spreading evenly. After a moment of panic, they recover the cheese and successfully reheat it, using a smaller preheated tray to spread it out thinly. The final product is a thicker version of American cheese, which is then refrigerated to set.

15:04

🍴 The Texture and Taste Test

The narrator evaluates the final product, noting its resemblance to processed cheese singles in both texture and appearance. They describe the cheese as having a soft, plastic-like texture and note its self-healing properties when cut. The cheese is tasted and found to be similar to a Kraft single, with a more rounded flavor due to the addition of butter and milk powder. The paragraph concludes with the narrator's realization that American cheese is essentially a diluted form of cheddar cheese.

20:05

📚 Learning Beyond Cheese with Brilliant

In the final paragraph, the narrator transitions to discussing the sponsor of the video, Brilliant, which offers interactive lessons in various subjects such as math, data science, and computer science. They highlight the benefits of the platform, including its engaging, game-like lessons and the wide range of topics covered. The narrator also mentions a new course on how large language models like Chat GPT work and encourages viewers to try Brilliant for free for 30 days, with a special offer for the first 200 users.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡American Cheese

American Cheese is a type of processed cheese that is soft, gooey, and malleable, known for its easy melting properties. It is central to the video's theme as the host explores its nature and attempts to recreate it. The script mentions that it's not legally considered cheese by the FDA, highlighting the processed nature of this product.

💡Processed Cheese Product

A processed cheese product is a type of cheese that has been altered from its natural state through the addition of emulsifying agents and other ingredients. In the video, the host discusses the distinction between natural cheese and processed cheese products, emphasizing the latter's unique characteristics and regulatory status.

💡Emulsifying Agents

Emulsifying agents are substances added to food to help mix ingredients that wouldn't normally blend, such as oil and water. In the context of the video, sodium citrate dihydrate and sodium hexametaphosphate are used as emulsifying agents in the homemade American cheese recipe, playing a crucial role in achieving the cheese's texture and consistency.

💡Sodium Citrate Dihydrate

Sodium citrate dihydrate is a chemical compound used as an emulsifying agent in the production of American cheese. The script describes it as a crystalline substance sourced from a chemical company, which is safe for consumption and is used in the experiment to help create the cheese's malleable texture.

💡Sodium Hexametaphosphate

Sodium hexametaphosphate is another emulsifying agent used in the script's cheese-making process. It is mentioned as a component that, along with sodium citrate dihydrate, contributes to the formation of the processed cheese's unique properties, despite its somewhat unappetizing appearance.

💡Cheese Melting

Cheese melting is a process where the cheese is heated until it becomes soft and fluid. The video's narrative revolves around the ease with which American cheese melts, which is a desirable quality for many culinary applications. The host's homemade cheese experiment also focuses on this property.

💡Cheese Shredding

Cheese shredding is the act of cutting or grating cheese into fine pieces. In the script, the host shreds cheddar cheese as part of the preparation for making American cheese, illustrating the transformation from a solid block to a form that can be more easily mixed with other ingredients.

💡Cheese Sauce

Cheese sauce is a mixture of melted cheese and other ingredients, often used as a topping or base for various dishes. The video describes the host's experiment reaching a point where the mixture resembles a cheese sauce, highlighting a stage in the cheese-making process.

💡Butter

Butter is a dairy product made from cream and is added to the cheese mixture in the script to enhance the flavor of the homemade American cheese. It is an example of how additional ingredients can be incorporated to modify the taste profile of the final product.

💡Whole Milk Powder

Whole milk powder is a dairy product made by evaporating milk until it becomes a dry powder. In the video, it is used as an alternative to liquid milk in the cheese-making process, helping to thicken the mixture and contribute to the cheese's texture.

💡Cheese Slices

Cheese slices refer to thin, uniform pieces of cheese that are often used for sandwiches or other food items. The host's goal in the video is to create American cheese that can be sliced thinly, which is a characteristic feature of store-bought American cheese products.

💡Cheese Alloy

The term 'cheese alloy' is used metaphorically in the script to describe American cheese as a derivative of cheddar cheese with added water and other ingredients. It illustrates the host's realization that despite its processed nature, American cheese is essentially a form of cheese that has been altered and combined with other substances.

Highlights

American cheese is not legally considered cheese by the US FDA.

American cheese is developed from cheddar, Colby, and similar cheeses.

The manufacturing process involves grinding cheese and combining it with emulsifying agents and other ingredients.

Sodium citrate dihydrate and sodium hexametaphosphate are key ingredients in the process.

USP grade chemicals are used, indicating they are safe for consumption.

The process begins with shredding cheddar cheese.

Cheese is mixed with water and chemicals to form a homogeneous mixture.

The mixture is heated to facilitate the combination of cheese and water.

The addition of butter and whole milk powder is necessary to enhance the flavor and texture.

The final product has a soft, plastic-like texture similar to store-bought American cheese.

The process feels unnatural due to the addition of chemicals, but they are safe and commonly used in food.

The final cheese product is a derivative of cheddar, diluted with water and chemicals.

The experiment demonstrates that American cheese is not made of plastic, but is a processed form of cheddar cheese.

The final product is compared to a thick craft single, indistinguishable in appearance and texture.

The video concludes that American cheese is a cheese alloy, a processed derivative of cheese.

The video is sponsored by Brilliant, a platform for learning math, data science, and computer science.

Brilliant offers interactive lessons and covers a wide range of topics from basics to advanced.

A new course on how LLMs like Chat GPT work is mentioned, indicating the platform's relevance to current technology.

Lessons on Brilliant are divided into small, manageable sections, making them accessible for quick learning.

A free trial for 30 days and a 20% discount on an annual premium subscription are offered to the first 200 users.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Cheese Making Food Science DIY Tutorial American Cheese Processed Food Cooking Experiment FDA Standards Cheese Texture Educational Content Sponsored Video