What Makes High Temp Cheese Not Melt? 4 Main Reasons! 

Cheese is a favorite of any food lover.

What if the cheese you used is not melting but rather got burnt? You will be concerned whether there was a fault in the cooking. 

This is quite frustrating.

So, What makes high temp cheese not melt?

High temp cheese may not melt because it’s resistant to heat. As a result, these types of cheese automatically burn. Moreover, high salt, fat, and moisture content make the high temp cheese not melt. High temp cheese contains high acidity, which is another reason they don’t melt.

Now, to know why the cheese doesn’t melt, you need more Info. And that is why I bring forth this article. It has all the necessary information you need.

Without further ado, let’s proceed!

Causes Behind High Temp Cheese Not Melting

The high temp cheese is special, just like bitter cream. It has certain characteristics for which it does not melt.

So, if your cheese is not melting in the oven, relax.  If you want to solve this mystery case, you must find these factors first.

High Heat Resistant

Well, high temp cheese can tolerate more temperature than usual cheese. 

Typically any cheese melts as soon as you reach 200 degrees of Fahrenheit. Go over this temp, and the cheese will melt for sure. 

What temp the high temp cheese melts? 

High temp cheeses can counter the heat up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit! This means that the cheese won’t melt a bit if your cooking temperature is below 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Thus, if your high temp cheese is not melting in milk, It’s because of its high heat resistivity.

Moisture Content

Moisture content is another reason which makes the difference between high temp cheese and ordinary cheese.

Normal cheese contains a moisture content of less than 50%. On the other hand, high temp cheese has a very small amount of moisture. Thus high temp cheeses are usually drier than normal cheese. 

So, when you heat these types of cheese, it takes more time to get melted.

One more thing to consider is that low-quality high temp cheese just doesn’t melt. It is made of inferior ingredients and doesn’t have a melting capacity. 

This is why getting good quality high temp cheese is important. Here are some of my all-time favorite high temp cheeses that I like to cook with:

So always try to get good quality high temp cheese. 

High Acidity and Salt Content

Generally, high temp cheese is more acidic than other cheese. Similarly, this type of cheese also contains a higher quantity of salt. Eventually, the melting of cheese is delayed.

Now you may think, “Is that it?”

No. The reason is the higher amount of salt, and acid modifies the cheese’s protein.

As a result, the bond between the proteins gets stronger. And because of this reason, the cheese remains solid even in high temperatures!

So, if your cheese is not melting in the sauce, perhaps this is the reason.

Less Fat, More Protein!

High temp cheeses contain more protein than regular cheese. In fact, the main structure of any high temp cheese is made of protein. 

Only a small amount of fat is present in high temp cheese. So, when you heat it up and raise the temperature, there’s no fat to burn and melt the cheese. Rather the protein structure gets hardened.

Another factor is that normal cheese contains calcium linkage. This linkage bonds the particles of the cheese. When heat is added, this linkage softens up the cheese and it melts. 

Guess what? High temp cheese does not have any calcium linkage. For this reason, they don’t follow the general science of melting cheese. 

Plus, this strong protein structure allows you to store high temp cheese in the freezer. 

Moreover, the high temp cheese shelf life is way greater than the shelf life of any ordinary cheese. You can store any ordinary cheese in the fridge for a month at max.

How long does high temp cheese last in the fridge?

Well, high temp cheese can last up to 18 months in the fridge!

Can high temp cheese be frozen?

Yes, you can easily freeze high temp cheese! Its protein structure allows it to be frozen in the freezer for months.

Not only that. In the case of high temp cheese storage, the quality of the cheese won’t degrade. Even if the cheese is stored in a freezer. 

Rather you can get the perfect taste of the cheese.

There you go. These are some possible causes for which the high temp cheese is called the high temp cheese. 

How to Deal with High-Temp Cheese?

Now high temp cheese is one of the undoubtedly special cheeses you have encountered. 

There are some facts you can keep in mind regarding the use of this special cheese. Just like your coffee tastes alcoholic at times, cheese can taste funky, too if it’s not properly stored. So always try to be careful with high temp cheese. 

Raise the Heat

If you use high temp cheese while cooking, raise the heat. Unlike most cheeses, high temp cheese, as the name suggests, requires an insane amount of heat to melt.

Try to use a higher cooking temperature, at least higher than 400 degrees of Fahrenheit. Since it’s the melting point at which the high temp cheese will melt. 

Thus you can perfectly use high temp cheese without facing any issues.

Select the Right Cooking Process

Now you already know that the high temp cheese is built differently. So, be extra careful while using this type of cheese. 

Especially you have to consider the cooking process. Otherwise, you may not get the perfect texture and taste of the cheese. 

Normally high temp cheese is best for cooking at high temperatures. 

So, use high temp cheese for such cooking processes only. If you plan to do a barbeque or have a crispy delight, then high temp cheese is the way to go. 

Also, if you plan to roast cheese, choose high temp cheese for sure!

Choose the Right Type of Food

The same goes for choosing the food you want to eat. For instance, You can use high temp cheese for sausage. Also, it is good for other meat products as well!

As you can see here, high temp cheese is perfect for patties and food items that have a longer cook time-

It’s because most of these foods require high heat. And high cheese temp is perfect for this temp. 

On the other hand, using high temp on quick dishes like mac n cheese and pasta is not recommended. 

Thus, you have to choose the right recipe for high temp cheese. After all, high temp cheese is not meant for all types of foods after all.

Now. There it goes. Try to keep these things in mind. And you will probably get the best out of your high temp cheddar cheese! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Makes Cheddar Cheese Not Melting?

Probably it’s the age of the cheese. The older a cheese gets, the harder it becomes. With time the Calcium linkage of the cheese fades. Meanwhile, the acid level of the cheese remains the same. As a result, the cheese becomes harder and drier. So, consequently, the cheddar cheese fails to melt.

My Mozzarella Cheese is Not Melting. Why?

The cheese is not stored properly. Mozzarella cheese is dipped in salt solutions. Mozzarella cheese, indeed has a good amount of moisture. Still, they don’t soften greatly. The main reason is mozzarella cheese leaves too much water when heated. Thus the cheese is kept in the salt solution.

What can I Use Instead of High Temp Cheese?

You can use cheddar cheese. Besides cheddar cheese, you can use mozzarella cheese also. Although high temp cheese is different. For some foods, there’s no other cheese you can use. Still, you can either cheddar or mozzarella. They almost have the same characteristics as the high temp cheese.

Final Words

All right, cheese fan. This is the end of the cheesy journey. Now you know what makes high temp cheese not melt. 

One more tip before I go. Always make sure to check the expiry date of your cheese. Sometimes cheese doesn’t melt simply because it’s past its expiry date. 

Until next time. Happy Cooking!