Dairy Products in the US

You may be surprised by the countless dairy products in grocery stores. In the US, you will see/consume them quite often. In this blog, I’m going to introduce common dairy products before you get dazzled by their variety.

Milk

If you are a milk or coffee lover, then you may be familiar with these milk products. In the US, depends on the fat content, people have different options: 

1. Whole milk

2. Reduced-fat milk (either 1% or 2%)

3. Skimmed milk (non-fat milk)  

4. Half and Half: half whole milk, half heavy cream. Usually thicker than milk and lighter than cream.

5. Heavy cream: contains heavy fat and can be used in baking or cooking, such as Japanese Curry.

Cream

1. Sour cream: contains 10-20 percent of fat, made of cream with a lactic acid culture. Usually, it is used on hot dishes or used at cold or room temperature.

2. Cream cheese: contains 33-55 percent of fat. It’s soft, smooth, and mild. You can spread it on crackers/bread with jams or stir it into your scrambled eggs.

Cheese

1. Parmesan: it is hard and gritty and has a fruity and nutty taste. It goes well with salty dishes such as pizza and soup.  

2. Pecorino: made from sheep's milk. It is easily melted so you can grate it on dishes to add the luxurious melting cheesy layer.

3. Cheddar: tastes like salty yolk. It is hard but easily melted by heat.

4. Monterey Jack (or Jack): it has a mellow flavor and a high moisture content. It is commonly used in toasted sandwiches and baked pasta. 

5. Blue cheese: it is usually sharp and salty. You can spread it on bread or melt it in your burger or grilled food.

6. Swiss cheese: it has a light yellow look. It is less salty than other cheeses and tastes sweet and nutty. 

7. American cheese: It is creamy and salty. It is commonly used in sandwiches, burgers, and Mac ‘n’ Cheese.

8. Mozzarella: it is soft and its center is creamy. Its mild and salty flavor goes well with fruity dishes and veggies. 

9. Ricotta: a kind of smooth cheese with a thick texture. It is less salty and perfect to put in savory cuisines.

Don’t know how to choose the right cheese? I recommend you to visit Zingerman’s located in Kerrytown before you get lost in the cheese world. There, you can explore countless cheeses and their staff is always willing to share their advice and cooking tips.

 

Written by Ya-Ting Chang

Summer Orientation Peer Advisor

Graduate Student

Taiwan