If you’re a fan of string cheese, you might be wondering whether string cheese melts. How can it be melted, and does melting it actually result in something nice? It’s not one of the first cheeses most of us consider when thinking about melted cheese, but why is that?
Does string cheese melt? The answer is that you can melt string cheese just fine, and many people really enjoy melted string cheese’s taste and texture. It does not turn into pools of melted cheese because it doesn’t have much moisture content – and that means it’s great if you want stringy cheese for a pizza or something similar.
What Temperature Does String Cheese Melt At?
String cheese starts to melt around 140° F (60° C) but only a bit.
The proteins within the cheese begin to alter at this temperature, but you may notice that the cheese just becomes soft, rather than stringy and melted.
It has started the process, but you will need to maintain or increase the temperature in order to get the cheese to melt properly.
Some people feel that string cheese never actually really melts – it just turns soft and stringier than its unheated counterpart.
It’s worth noting that string cheese will often take longer to melt than other similar cheeses, so you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time and check that it has melted properly before you pronounce a meal ready.
How Can You Melt String Cheese?
You can melt string cheese in the microwave or in the oven.
How to Microwave String Cheese
If you are melting it in the microwave, make sure that you remove all the packaging, and that you keep an eye on it because of its low moisture content. Try to microwave it in short bursts, rather than for long periods of time. Brief periods of cooling between bursts of heat will increase the chances of it successfully melting.
It’s important to remember that how much it melts and how quickly will depend on how large a piece you are trying to melt. If you just bung a whole piece of string cheese in the microwave for a few seconds, you will probably find it’s no different from when it went in – or possibly a little more pliable.
By contrast, if you put a shred of string cheese in for the same amount of time, it may melt completely.
That means you need to think about how much string cheese you are trying to melt and how long it will take. If you have several string cheeses in at once, they will take longer than just a single one.
Often, five minutes on a high heat will be enough to melt a string cheese (depending on your microwave settings). However, don’t microwave it for a full five minutes; give it a minute and a half and check on it, and then do the same again. You shouldn’t leave string cheese unattended in the microwave.
If you have cut up the cheese, microwave it for thirty seconds or a minute and see how it’s looking; depending on the size of the pieces, it may take longer.
How to Oven Cook String Cheese
If you are cooking string cheese in the oven, it will probably be on top of another dish. You should check on the dish regularly to make sure that it is melting and not burning, but otherwise, nothing should need to be done.
String cheese will usually take on a lovely golden brown color when melted in the oven, which makes it popular on many dishes. It also retains some of its shape even when melted, so you should find that it doesn’t end up in greasy pools, but remains even across the surface of the food.
You might then be wondering what happens if you put an entire string cheese in the oven, not on a meal. The answer is that, depending on the temperature, it might struggle to melt. If you can put it on a reasonably high temperature and stop it from burning, however, it should eventually melt entirely.Remember to remove all the packaging before you test this out!
If you just want to melt string cheese, it is probably best to do this in a microwave if possible.
What Should You Do Before Melting String Cheese?
It’s a good idea to cut up or shred your string cheese before you try and melt it. This will ensure even melting and make it a much quicker process than if you just try and melt a whole piece.
You can tear string cheese up very easily, or you can use a grater or cut it into circles. By increasing the surface area and reducing its size, you will make it much easier for the string cheese to melt and ensure that the heat is evenly distributed.
If, for example, you are going to put string cheese on a pizza, you could cut it into circles, or grate it and then sprinkle it across the pizza’s surface.
What Dishes Can You Use Melted String Cheese For?
You can use melted string cheese for any dish that you might use mozzarella cheese for. A few very popular examples include pizza, lasagna, and mac and cheese (read: does Kraft Mac and Cheese go bad?).
Melted string cheese can also be used to top burgers and hot dogs, or other popular fast food options. Try it on top of nachos for a different twist to the dish!
Melted string cheese has a great salty flavor and is quickly proving a popular alternative to mozzarella.
Some people even use it to make a cheese-stuffed crust for their pizzas, simply by rolling the base dough around whole string cheeses before baking the pizza.
Final Thoughts
String cheese does melt very nicely, although it becomes more of a soft, stringy melted cheese, rather than one that totally loses all its structure.
It makes a great alternative to mozzarella and many people enjoy the convenience and flavor that it offers, as well as the deep golden color it can lend to any tempting melted cheese dish!