Courtesy of USA Cheese Guild
App highlights USA cheese varieties, pairings, and recipes from around the globe
To make it easier than ever to enjoy cheeses produced in the United States, the USA Cheese Guild has created the USA Cheeseboard app which features cheese profiles, over 150 recipes by cheese type, and almost 300 cheese and beverage pairings. The goal of the app is to help educate chefs and consumers about the craftsmanship, quality, variety and versatility of USA Cheese.
The USA Cheeseboard app is available as a free download on Google Play or in the Apple App Store. The new app highlights over 15 US cheese varieties, including:
Monterey Jack Cheese
One of the first uniquely American cheeses, Monterey Jack was invented in 1882 by David Jacks, a dairy owner and businessman in Monterey, California.
An excellent melting cheese, it is great in soups, sauces, and casseroles, as well as sliced or shredded. The USA Cheese Board app recommends a creative beverage pairing with barley shōchū, a Japanese spirit with a nutty flavour, or more traditional pairings such as IPA (Indian Pale Ale).
It pairs well in global cuisines, like this beef satay recipe, or in fusion dishes such as this stuffed chicken breast:
Cheddar
USA is the world’s largest producer of cheddar cheese with more than 1.7 million metric tons currently produced annually, which is five times more than what is produced in England, and 60% of world production. Wisconsin produces the most cheddar cheese in the U.S. Mild cheddar is aged for up to three months, medium cheddar is aged for three to six months, and sharp cheddar is aged for six months or more.
Cheddar pairs well with several styles of beer, such as IPA or stout, and goes well with bourbon, aged tequila, full bodied red wines and ports.
While cheddar is great just sliced on a cracker, its meltability makes it ideal for cooking. Try these international dishes featuring cheddar:
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese was invented in 1872 in New York state, and this soft, creamy and mild cheese continues to be an American favourite. It is globally renowned for making cheesecakes and is a popular go-to choice for a myriad of other applications.
Apart from dishes, cream cheese can be paired with a variety of drinks including soju, aged tequila, dark rum and rosé wine. Try these delicious Asian-inspired dishes featuring cream cheese:
The United States is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cheese, and also holds the distinction of producing the most varieties of cheese. There are over 1,300 registered cheese manufacturing facilities, producing more than 1,000 varieties of cheese from milk supplied by U.S. dairy farms.
The United States also produces many award-winning cheeses, with flavour-infused, rubbed-rind and other varieties pushing the limits of innovation, flavour, and artisanship. Oregon-based Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue cheese was crowned World’s Best Cheese at the 2019 World Cheese Awards, with U.S. cheeses winning an additional 131 honours. At the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest, USA Cheeses earned 94 Best in Class finishes.
The USA Cheese Guild is also launching a new website this May, which will feature dairy farmers, cheesemaker profiles and award-winning cheeses, along with recipes, videos and more.
