Steam Is The Secret To Flawless Melted Cheese On Literally Any Dish

Which cheeses to melt with steam

Cheddar, Gouda, mozzarella, and American cheese are popular and dependable choices for melting, dipping, drizzling, and spreading on toast, burgers, or baked potatoes. The ability of a cheese to melt well depends on several factors, including moisture content, fat levels, age, and acidity. Aged cheeses like Pecorino Romano and Parmesan typically do not melt as smoothly as their younger counterparts; they tend to become grainy and greasy, lacking the ideal cheese pulls seen in pizza commercials. Using a steamer can help even the most temperamental cheeses melt uniformly and prevent them from separating.

You don’t need to buy a new steamer basket to tackle your cheese melting issues, although they are quite inexpensive. There are numerous hacks and alternatives you can use in a pinch. You can create a makeshift steamer with a wire cooling rack, a pie pan with holes, or even aluminum foil placed in a deep pot. The key is to keep your cheese covered and elevated above the water. For a creamy, pourable cheese sauce perfect for nachos, leftover fries, or veggies, you can use the steaming method with a double boiler to melt just the cheese you want to use as a topping.