Shredded cheese is a versatile ingredient used in many dishes across cuisines. It comes pre-cut into small, fine shreds that melt quickly and evenly, making it convenient for cooking and baking. Some of the most common uses for shredded cheese include:
Pizza
Pizza just wouldn’t be the same without shredded mozzarella cheese melted over the top. The small shreds spread evenly and melt beautifully in the hot oven, creating the quintessential stretchy, gooey texture we know and love. Shredded cheese also has more surface area than block cheese, helping the cheese melt faster so the pizza is ready in a jiffy.
Pasta Dishes
Tossing pasta with shredded cheese is one of the easiest ways to create a delicious, creamy pasta dish. Popular options include cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian cheese blends. The small shredded pieces incorporate smoothly and add rich, cheesy flavor to mac and cheese, baked ziti, lasagna, and more.
Quesadillas and Nachos
Mexican recipes like quesadillas, nachos, and tacos typically call for shredded Mexican cheese blends. The most common is a combo of Monterey Jack, cheddar, and asadero. The fine shreds spread readily over tortillas or chips and melt quickly under the broiler or in the microwave to create the quintessential melted cheese binding and flavor.
Omelets and Scrambled Eggs
Shredded cheese is the perfect way to add cheesy richness to omelets, scrambled eggs, and egg bakes. Finely shredded cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Gruyère all work well. The small pieces incorporate evenly into the whipped eggs and form tiny melty pockets when cooked.
Salads and Vegetables
Shredded cheese is a tasty topping for salads and cooked vegetables. It adds a hit of creamy, salty flavor and texture. Popular options are cheddar, feta, Parmesan, and Mexican-style. Try sprinkling some over a taco salad, Caesar salad, roasted broccoli, or baked potatoes.
Soups and Stews
Stir a handful of shredded cheese into soups and stews just before serving to add creaminess and richness. The heat melts the cheese nicely while the stirring evenly distributes the bits throughout. Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and smoked gouda pair well in chilis, broccoli cheese soup, baked potato soup, and more.
Casseroles and Bakes
Classic comfort food casseroles almost always call for shredded cheese mixed throughout and/or sprinkled on top. The shredded form integrates smoothly and melts nicely into the creamy fillings. Popular choices are cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and Mexican blends. Some examples are mac and cheese, chicken enchiladas, tuna noodle casserole, and cheesy potato bakes.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
A grilled cheese sandwich just wouldn’t be complete without the ooey, gooey shredded cheese melted in the middle. Opt for shreds of good melting cheeses like cheddar, Gruyère, Fontina, Gouda, and Havarti. The fine shreds distribute well and melt evenly between the toasted bread slices.
Burgers
Adding shredded cheese on top of burgers is an American classic. The small shreds start melting immediately and help the cheese adhere evenly over the patty. Good melty picks are cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and provolone. Let it get all melty for cheeseburger perfection.
Enchiladas
Authentic enchiladas are all about the melted cheese. Fill the tortillas with shredded Mexican cheese blends or Monterey Jack, roll them up, and smother with sauce and more cheese. As they bake, the interior cheese melts into hot gooey deliciousness while the top forms a nice browned crust.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas need lots of finely shredded cheese to melt properly inside the tortilla. Good melting Mexican options like asadero, Chihuahua, queso quesadilla, and Oaxaca work well. Evenly distribute the shreds before crisping the quesadilla on both sides to create an oozing cheesy interior.
Breakfast Casserole
Finely shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack melted into eggs is the basis of a good breakfast casserole. Mix the cheese into an egg bake with veggies, meat, and spices and bake until puffed and set. The cheese shreds provide plenty of melty richness throughout.
Dips
Blending shredded cheese into dips helps create a silky texture and cheesy flavor. Try cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or Mexican blends in favorites like queso, bacon cheddar ranch dip, salsa con queso, and more. Garnish with extra shredded cheese on top.
Potatoes
Potatoes love melted shredded cheese! Mix it into mashed potatoes, bake it over shredded hash browns, or sprinkle it on top of loaded baked potatoes. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and Gruyère pair especially well.
Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese requires ultra-melty shredded cheese for the signature creamy sauce. Cheddar, Colby, and Monterey Jack are classics. The small shreds melt smoothly into the cooked pasta to create cheesy perfection.
Conclusion
With its quick melting properties, ease of use, and extra surface area for browning, it’s easy to see why shredded cheese is such a popular ingredient. It provides convenient cheesy flavor and texture to so many dishes across cuisines. Pizza, pasta, Tex-Mex recipes, egg dishes, salads, soups, sandwiches, and comforting casseroles all benefit from the addition of melted shredded cheese.
When purchasing shredded cheese, look for shreds that are finely and evenly grated. Avoid bags with excessive powder or hard, dry shreds which don’t melt well. For the best quality and flavor, choose natural shredded cheese without additives whenever possible.
Shredded cheese is useful to have on hand for spur of the moment nachos, omelets, grilled cheese, or just snacking! With proper storage in the refrigerator, most shredded cheese stays fresh for a week or two. Reseal the bag tightly and keep away from moisture, light, and air to prevent drying out. An unopened bag can be frozen for longer term storage.
Thanks to its convenience, versatility, and delicious melted flavor, shredded cheese is here to stay as one of the most commonly used ingredients in home kitchens and restaurants alike.