Trader Joe’s garlic bread cheese is a popular frozen appetizer item sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s grocery stores. It consists of a baguette style loaf that has been slit down the middle and filled with a garlic butter and cheese blend. The combination of bread, garlic, butter, and cheese makes it a tasty and convenient option for a quick snack or appetizer. However, one question that often comes up is whether the cheese in the garlic bread melts when you bake it or if it stays solid. This article will examine if and how Trader Joe’s garlic bread cheese melts when baked.
Trader Joe’s Garlic Bread Cheese Overview
Here is some background information on Trader Joe’s garlic bread with cheese:
- Comes in a rectangular frozen box containing two 8-inch baguette halves filled with cheese
- Each half contains mozzarella, parmesan, and romano cheeses
- Also contains garlic, butter, parsley, and sunflower oil
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Nutrition info per serving (1/4 bread): 180 calories, 9g fat, 220mg sodium
- Heating instructions on box: Bake at 400°F for 18-20 minutes
- Retails for around $3.49 at Trader Joe’s stores
So in summary, it’s a convenient frozen garlic bread made with real cheese and garlic that you just pop in the oven to bake. Next, let’s look at what happens when you bake it.
What Happens When You Bake Trader Joe’s Garlic Bread Cheese
Here is a step-by-step overview of what happens when you bake a box of Trader Joe’s garlic bread cheese according to the package instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Remove frozen garlic bread from box.
- Place on baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- After about 10 minutes, the bread loaf will puff up slightly.
- At 18-20 minutes, the bread will be golden brown on top and bottom.
- Remove from oven and let sit 1-2 minutes.
- Cut each baguette half diagonally into 2-3 pieces.
- When cut open, the cheese inside will be melted.
So during the baking process, the bread loaf browns and crisps up on the outside while the heat melts the garlic butter and cheese blend inside.
Does the Cheese Melt Fully?
Upon visual inspection after baking, the cheese inside a Trader Joe’s garlic bread does appear to melt fully during the baking process.
When raw out of the package, the cheese is solid and firm. But after 18-20 minutes of baking, if you cut open a piece of the bread, the mozzarella has melted to a stretchy, gooey consistency.
The parmesan and romano also soften into a molten state where the shreds have melted together. So all three cheese components reach a melted, liquefied, or softened state during baking.
Cheese Melt Analysis
Here is more detailed cheese melt analysis:
| Cheese Type | Raw State | Baked State |
|---|---|---|
| Mozzarella | Solid, firm shredded pieces | Melted to a stretchy, gooey consistency |
| Parmesan | Solid shreds | Melted together into softened state |
| Romano | Solid shreds | Melted together into softened state |
So all three cheeses transition from a solid state to a melted state after baking. The mozzarella melts the most dramatically, while the parmesan and romano soften and melt together.
Factors That Influence Cheese Melt
There are a few key factors that allow the cheese filling to melt fully when baking Trader Joe’s garlic bread:
Direct Heat Exposure
– Since the bread loaf is slit down the middle, the cheese filling inside gets direct exposure to the hot air in the oven. This direct heat contact allows the cheese to efficiently melt.
High Temperature
– Baking at 400°F, which is relatively high heat, promotes thorough cheese melting. Lower temperatures may result in uneven melting.
Cheese Types Used
– Mozzarella is known for melting very well. Parmesan and romano also melt nicely. So the cheese components selected are meant to melt.
Fat Content
– Higher fat cheeses like mozzarella melt more readily than low-fat varieties. The butter in the filling also promotes even melting.
Pre-Shredded Cheese
– Using pre-shredded cheese helps expose more surface area to heat compared to block cheese. This aids melting.
So in summary, the direct heat exposure, high baking temperature, cheese types used, fat content, and shredded style all help the cheese filling melt fully when baking this garlic bread.
Tips for Melty Homemade Garlic Bread
If you want to mimic the nice cheese melt results at home, here are some tips for making homemade garlic bread with melted cheese:
- Use bread that splits well like a baguette, loaf, or rolls
- Spread garlic butter on split interior to help conduct heat
- Choose melting cheese types like mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, etc.
- Pre-shred or slice cheese into thin pieces for faster melting
- Bake at 375-400°F to promote melting
- Check frequently until cheese is fully melted through
Following these guidelines when making your own garlic bread can help ensure the cheese melts thoroughly inside.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when you bake Trader Joe’s garlic bread cheese according to the package instructions, the cheese filling does fully melt during the baking process.
The mozzarella cheese melts to a gooey, stretchy texture while the parmesan and romano soften from a solid to a melted state. Factors like direct heat exposure, high bake temperature, cheese types used, fat content, and pre-shredded cheese all help facilitate thorough melting.
Using similar tricks when making homemade garlic bread can help ensure your cheese melts nicely too. So if you love gooey melted cheese, Trader Joe’s garlic bread delivers on that front. Enjoy this tasty and convenient appetizer knowing that the cheese will be melted and delicious after baking.