Why does cheese taste better melted?

[ParanoiA]

We were talking about taste today, yet another subject that we are clueless about. Were wondering why melted cheese seems to taste better. Is it just a texture thing that we interpret as better taste?

[YT2095]

no, it`s the aromatics being released, the majority of flavour is actualy related to Smell and NOT the tongue

[insane_alien]

depends on which taste you prefer, i like it unmelted better.

[5614]

no, it`s the aromatics being released, the majority of flavour is actualy related to Smell and NOT the tongue

Really? *interested*

 

So if I put a peg over my nose and stopped breathing for a little bit would melted cheese not taste as nice?

 

I wouldn't have said melted cheese does taste better. I prefer it, I like the softer texture and find that the flavour does change, and I prefer the melted flavour. However I also would have thought some people prefer it straight from the fridge. I would have put it down to a matter of personal taste/opinion...

[YT2095]

but again, that totaly depends upon the cheese.

some will benefit from heating, others not so much if at all

 

5614, yes really

plug your nose 100% and then go through you herb and spice rack tasting each, even try fruit juices, if you were blindfolded at the time you would hardly know one from the other at all

[Dak]

So if I put a peg over my nose and stopped breathing for a little bit would melted cheese not taste as nice?

 

why not do it, and tell us

 

has anyone melted cheese, let it cool down, and then et it? does it taste better, or the same, as unmelted cheese? there could be some kind of chemicl reaction happens during the heating? sugars breaking down, or summat?

[ParanoiA]

no, it`s the aromatics being released, the majority of flavour is actualy related to Smell and NOT the tongue

 

Thanks, I had no idea.

 

depends on which taste you prefer, i like it unmelted better.

 

I wonder if there's a study on how many people prefer melted over non-melted.

 

I'm sure we'll find that people who prefer melted cheese have much higher IQ's...

[ParanoiA]

why not do it, and tell us

 

has anyone melted cheese, let it cool down, and then et it? does it taste better, or the same, as unmelted cheese? there could be some kind of chemicl reaction happens during the heating? sugars breaking down, or summat?

 

I have done that with tortilla chips and shredded marble jack/cheddar. Let it cool down a bit where it's almost the same as it was before I heated it up...and it lost all of it's melted flavor. I'm inclined to believe YT on this one for sure.

[insane_alien]

I'm sure we'll find that people who prefer melted cheese have much higher IQ's...

 

i'll let that slip... for now.

[Skye]

Nothing much happens chemically unless it starts to brown, then there's probably all manner of oxidations going on.

[5614]

why not do it, and tell us

 

has anyone melted cheese, let it cool down, and then et it? does it taste better, or the same, as unmelted cheese? there could be some kind of chemicl reaction happens during the heating? sugars breaking down, or summat?

Maybe I will try the non-breathing thing sometime soon, not now, just had dinner! Maybe tomorrow.

 

Occasionally, by accident, I have let melted cheese unmelt (is that a word?!) and it does not taste good. Although my reasoning may not be universal. Normally I only leave melted cheese if it's too hot to eat, the only time it's too hot to eat is when I've melted it for so long that you have different liquids forming from the cheese. The cheese melts and seperates to its component liquids. As it 'unmelts' these liquids do not come back together, so the cheese doesn't taste the same.

 

If however you melted cheese, but only so it was soft, not completely melted into its component liquids, then when it 'unmelts' you could get a normal tasting cheese. Maybe I'll try that as well!

 

Finally, when I say it does not taste good, what I mean, scientifically, is that it doesn't taste like that cheese before it was melted. Its taste has changed, it is personal opinion as to whether it is nice or not.

[ecoli]

Maybe I will try the non-breathing thing sometime soon, not now, just had dinner! Maybe tomorrow.

 

Occasionally, by accident, I have let melted cheese unmelt (is that a word?!)

 

how about solidify?

[Sisyphus]

how about solidify?

 

"Freeze" would also technically be correct...

[5614]

Aww, you're good!

 

I tried the not breathing thing, it seemed to taste the same.

 

Haven't tried the solidifying part yet. I'll probably get around to it sometime next week.

[CPL.Luke]

when you melt chease some of the grease comes out of it, that probably has alot to do with it tasing different.