Processed Cheeses

In North America, processed cheese calls to mind those orange cheese-like slices that are, against all odds, pretty good in a grilled cheese sandwich. The category of processed cheeses, however, relates to a broader range of products. La vache qui rit (the laughing cow), for instance, is a mixture of Comté cheese, cream, flavoring, and preservatives. A number of the spreadable processed cheeses are usually based on a specific cheese (cheddar or Emmental, for instance) that has been heated and augmented with cream and various flavorings.