The Best Type Of Cheese That Melts Seamlessly Over Your Burgers

A cheeseburger without melted cheese is pointless. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but if you've just got a slice of cold, hard cheese on your burger, you may be reassessing your melting process; however, it's not always as easy as you'd think to get your cheese to ooey, gooey perfection. While you could use a skillet with a lid or place your cheese between the bun and burger for quicker melting, the cheese you choose is also of utmost importance.

Some varieties, such as queso fresco, ricotta, and feta, are much more difficult to soften  — and while they work well on cheese boards, sandwiches, and salads, you'll want to keep them away from the grill. However, mozzarella, cheddar, and gruyère melt much more quickly. But the crème de la crème of melting cheeses? It's one of the most quintessentially American types — aka American cheese.

The ideal cheese for melting on burgers is the second-most popular cheese in America (following cheddar), according to a YouGovAmerica poll. Unsurprisingly, American cheese takes the cake here. We're not simply talking about cheeses that are made in America, of course — we're talking about the ones that are typically processed, a little orangey in color, and sold in single slices. And as it turns out, American cheese was made with the goal of melting in mind.

The slices are typically pretty thin, which already leads to quicker melting. But also, single slices are typically packed full of added ingredients like milk protein concentrate, skim milk, and milkfat, which make the cheese liquidate at a much lower heat than other types. This means that not only are you more likely to get a gooey result, but you should only have to add your slices a minute or two before your burger is done cooking. Now that you know the melting capabilities of American cheese, you probably won't be able to resist putting it on every burger for quick and effortless flavor.