Cheez Whiz, a processed cheese dip created by Kraft Foods, was developed in the 1950s as a soft cheese sauce that remains viable at room temperature. It is commonly used as a dip or topping, including on Philly cheese steak sandwiches. However, the use of an unapproved additive called Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) has caused controversy. Cheez Whiz can also be used as a homemade stain remover for grease-based stains.
Cheez Whiz, that icon of the midnight snacking world, is actually considered a “processed cheese dip” by its creator, Kraft Foods. Kraft Foods introduced the product in 1952, although its popular predecessor, a thicker processed cheese food called Velveeta, had been on store shelves since the 1920s. While Velveeta worked well in recipes that call for a melted cheese, it remained firm enough at room temperature. By adding various stabilizers and extenders, Kraft’s food engineers were able to create a cheese sauce that would still be soft at room temperature. Cheez Whiz was the end result of those experiments.
Most people use Cheez Whiz as a cheese dip for snacks like crackers, french fries, and corn tortilla chips, but it can also be mixed with diced onions, cilantro, and jalapeño peppers to form salsa con queso. Because it remains viable at room temperature, it can also be offered as a topping for hamburgers, hot dogs and other sandwiches. One of the most popular uses of the sauce is as a topping for authentic Philly cheese steak sandwiches. Customers at the famous Philly cheese stands in Philadelphia often order their sandwich “Whit wit,” which means a reheated Cheez Whiz topping and grilled onions.
While processed foods in general have been criticized for years, manufacturers of this and similar dairy products have recently come under fire for using an illegal, or at least unapproved, additive called Milk Protein Concentrate, or MPC. In the case of Cheez Whiz, MPC is primarily used to eliminate some of the problems inherent in cheese solids. When milk is filtered through an ultra-fine mesh, the result is a concentrated form of milk protein that has the ability to lock in more whey and water than traditional cheese protein. MPC has not been approved as a food additive by the US government, so its continued use is somewhat controversial.
One surprising use of Cheez Whiz is as a homemade stain remover for grease-based stains. Certain natural enzymes found in this product have the power to break down organic fats and oils, so a number of people have been known to use it as a pre-wash cleaner. A generous supply of cheese sauce should be worked into the soiled area and allowed to sit for ten minutes before washing. While it’s not meant to be a pantry item, it can still be stored with other laundry supplies in a closet.
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