Sunday, August 7, 2011

Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar Cheese Slices Generally Satisfy.



The Good: Melts well, Very flavorful, Nothing truly bad in it
The Bad: Not terribly sharp, Bacon flavor is not as distinctive as I'd hoped.
The Basics: A good cheese product, Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar slices are a nice supplemental cheese product, but not one that is likely to replace most cheese-lover's natural cheese.


As part of my push to review cheeses, I recently picked up Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar slices, despite the fact that the flavor was being discontinued. If this cheese is on its way out of the marketplace, it is a bit disappointing. With the Bacon Cheddar slices, Kraft has a flavorful winner that is a step above most processed cheese products.

I found Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese at the grocery store at a clearance price of $.99 for the eight-slice, 8 oz. package. It is no longer available in my area.

Basics

Kraft is a U.S. manufacturer of cheeses in the United States. The intent of most Kraft cheeses is to supplement other dishes or meals. Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese comes in an 8 oz. plastic package. The eight slices are each 3 1/2" by 3 1/2" by 1/8" thick. They are orange with little flecks of bacon and are not individually wrapped.

The Bacon Cheddar cheese is exactly as its name implies. This is a sliced orange cheese with actual bacon broken up in it. Mixed throughout the cheddar slices are the actual chunks of red, cooked bacon, though none of them are bigger than a 1/8" in diameter.

Ease Of Preparation

Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese is a cheese, so more often than not, it is used on its own or as an ingredient in a recipe. Preparation of the cheese is pretty simple: remove the plastic wrap it is sealed in and remove the slice from the stack of slices. Despite the bacon in the cheese, these slices are very easy to work with.

This cheese is sliced and very easy to use; it melts beautifully with wonderful evenness and liquidity, making it an ideal ingredient to make flavorful omelets or to replace cheddar cheese in dishes like macaroni and cheese. It is delicious when melted into sandwiches, eggs or even a cream sauce (to make a cheese sauce). The first time I tried this cheese was actually as a grilled cheese sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised by how this cheese handled, melting perfectly before the outside of the bread burned!

Taste

On its own, the Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese has almost no aroma. There is a subtle bouquet of bacon, with only a mild hint of the cheese that surrounds it.

Unfortunately, any fears I might have had based on the scent of the Bacon Cheddar cheese was realized when I bit into the first slice. The cheddar is exceptionally mild. There is almost no flavor from the cheddar itself. On the other hand, the bacon is flavorful and it dominates the cheese. This makes the cheese slices taste more like meat than the dairy product they are supposed to.

The Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese releases the full flavor of the bacon when heated. This seems to allow the cheddar to act as a conduit to the bacon flavor. Heating the cheese does not make it taste any more sharp than it did when cool.

Nutrition

Kraft Deli Deluxe Cheese is not intended to be all that one lives on. But for those who try, the Bacon Cheddar cheese is not a terribly healthy choice. The bacon does not seem to add anything of note to the cheese of nutritional value. A serving size is considered a single slice (1 oz.). In that, there are 110 calories, 80 of which are from fat. This cheese has 25% of one's daily recommended saturated fat intake and 19% of the RDA of sodium. On the plus side, it does have 15% of the RDA of calcium and has five grams of protein.

Obviously, Bacon Cheddar cheese is a dairy product and a meat product, so it is in no way kosher and those who are lactose intolerant will have problems with it. This cheese is made primarily of cheddar cheese, water and milkfat. That makes it mostly natural, but it does have several preservatives, which robs it of being considered all natural.

Storage/Cleanup

As a cheese, Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar cheese should be kept refrigerated. So long as that happens, it ought to stay fresh for several weeks. I am utterly unable to write about shelf-life as our eight-slice block was gone within five days of being opened! So long as it is kept in an airtight, cold environment, it ought to remain fresh and supple. Our block, bought in July 2011 had a late September expiration date.

Kraft's Bacon Cheddar is a cheese, so it is not going to stain or ruin anything unless it is ground into a fabric. Baring that, cleanup of nonporous surfaces is as easy as wiping them with a damp cloth. I have noticed, though, that more than most Kraft cheeses, this one leaves grease spots on paper.

Overall

A flavorful cheese product, Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar slices are good, but not extraordinary. Still, if it remains on the market, it is easy to recommend.

For other cheese reviews, please check out my takes on:
Yancey's Fancy Buffalo Wing Cheddar
Ostenborg Havarti Dill
Cabot Smoky Bacon Cheedar

6.5/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my index page on the subject! That is available by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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