Introduction
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a popular fast food chain offering a selection of Mexican-style items to customers. One hard to miss item on the menu is their classic shredded cheese topping served up with tacos, burritos, and other items. So, what kind of shredded cheese does Chipotle use?
The answer is that Chipotle uses a combination of three different types of shredded cheese. The three cheese options that make up Chipotle’s signature blend are Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, and white queso quesadilla cheese. All three cheeses are combined in equal parts to create their unique flavor profile which customers have come to know and love at their restaurants.
Chipotle reported on their website that the combination of cheese found in each restaurant will always contain the same ratio for consistency purposes. Not only does this provide consistency in melt and flavor profile but it also allows for larger order purchases at discounted prices due to the predictable continually used ingredients making it easier for franchise owners to restock as needed without worrying about fluctuating changes in smaller orders from different suppliers.
Chipotle’s Cheese
Chipotle is one of the most recognizable fast-food chains in the United States and is beloved for its delicious Mexican cuisine. One of the signature ingredients in many Chipotle dishes is its shredded cheese. So, what kind of cheese does Chipotle use in their dishes? Let’s take a closer look.
Types of Shredded Cheese Used
Chipotle uses a variety of aged and unaged cheeses, including the following:
- Aged cheeses:
- Cheddar – aged for at least 10 months for sharp flavor and smooth texture
- Monterey Jack – aged for seven to eight months for a mild, sweet, nutty flavor
- Queso Quesadilla – aged six to seven months for a creamy meltability
- Unaged cheese:
- Feta – has a crumbly texture and salty taste with hints of citrus and grassiness
- Mozzarella – has an elastic texture yet melts easily in dishes like Chipotle’s quesadillas
Chipotle also offers vegan cheese options. These are plant-based cheeses without the dairy component. The vegan cheese options vary by location and include varieties that resemble cheddars as well as oatmilk jack cheeses.
Where Does Chipotle Get Its Cheese?
Chipotle is known for their high-quality, flavorful food, and the source of their cheese is no different. Chipotle gets its shredded cheese from Leprino Foods, a Denver-based food company that produces and distributes cheese, whey protein and other dairy products. Leprino also makes all of Chipotle’s sour cream, so it’s not just their cheeses that are receiving rave reviews.
The Monterey Jack scattered across Chipotle’s burritos and tacos is produced from farm-fresh fluid milk and comes in a few varieties depending on where it’s purchased. In order to get the perfect taste, Leprino adds salt along with other flavoring agents like annatto to the mix before the cheese is shredded or cut into blocks. This ensures uniformity when it comes to taste since different batches will be used at various locations throughout the country.
Their selection process for ingredients is extremely thorough because they only use dairy farms certified by third parties in order to ensure every sour cream and cheese they get is held up to their exacting standards. This quality control system has been in place for decades, providing customers with a consistent flavor experience every time they visit Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Nutrition Information
Knowing the nutrition information for shredded cheese used in Chipotle’s dishes can be an important part of maintaining a healthy diet. The type of shredded cheese used by Chipotle can vary, but the nutritional content of the cheese is typically quite similar. In this article, we’ll look at the nutrition information for the different types of shredded cheese used by Chipotle.
Calories
Calories are a measure of energy provided by the food we eat. They provide the fuel our bodies need to carry out daily activities, including exercise, and are essential for growth and development in children. Calories come from macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
Calorie-dense foods, such as fast food, candy, cake and processed snacks can add empty calories to your diet if you’re not careful. Nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates from whole grains and lean protein contain important vitamins and minerals in addition to providing energy.
It’s important to pay attention to calorie counts when deciding what to eat but also look at serving size. For example, a small portion of lasagna may have fewer calories than a piece of grilled fish; however the recommended serving size for the lasagna is much less than that of the grilled fish. The more refined our diets become with unhealthy processed foods; it’s more important than ever to understand calorie content when making healthy choices.
Protein
Protein is an essential part of a balanced diet and is necessary for growth, cell repair and the development of lean muscle mass. The protein content of different cheeses can vary widely, but shredded cheese is typically a good source.
Chipotle uses an all-natural Monterey Jack cheese for their burritos and tacos – both shredded and as slices. It contains 7g of protein per 1ounce serving (about 2 tablespoons). It also offers a good source of several other essential nutrients, including:
- Calcium – 17% of the RDI
- Vitamins A & B12 – 4% & 6 % respectively
- Phosphorous – 11%
- Magnesium – 10%
Monterey Jack cheese can be used in a variety of dishes – from omelets to macaroni and cheese. When choosing it in the store look for an organic version with minimal added ingredients, such as salt.
Fat
Fats have been shamed as unhealthy and unhealthy additions to diets. However, not all fats are created equal. There are many different types of fats: saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans fats. It is important to limit our consumption of saturated and trans fat; both can increase cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol levels and even benefit our overall health when consumed in moderation.
- Saturated fat: This type of fat is found primarily in animal products such as meat, butter, cheese, and whole milk products; it is also found in some plant sources like coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature. Health experts recommend limiting the amount of saturated fat in your diet to less than 10 percent of your daily calories from fat.
- Monounsaturated fat: These fatty acids are typically found in foods like olive oil, avocado, peanuts, sesame oil, almonds, cashews and canola oil. Monounsaturated fats may help lower cholesterol levels as part of a healthy diet — a maximum of 20 percent (or about 24 grams for someone eating 2000 calories per day) should come from this source daily.
- Polyunsaturated fat: This type is often referred to as “good” or “essential”fat because the body cannot produce it on its own—it must be obtained through foods such as flaxseed oil or sunflower oil. The American Heart Association recommends that we get 5–10 percent (or about 6-12 grams per day for someone consuming 2000 calories) from polyunsaturated sources.
- Trans Fat: Trans fatty acid results when liquid oils become solid through hydrogenation process which add hydrogen atoms to vegetable oils thereby making them more shelf stable – usually referred too margarine or shortening but also found in fried foods like potato chips, cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes, French fries, donuts, dough, etc. Trans fatty acids mainly increase bad cholesterol levels raising heart disease risk so try to limit these artificially made trans fatty acids as much as possible — ideally no more than 1 percent of your total daily caloric intake or 2 grams if you consume 2000 calories a day should be from trans fats.
Carbs
Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient found in a wide variety of foods, most impressively in grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk products. Carbs provide energy for our bodies – 4 calories per gram to be exact. The three basic forms of carbs are Sugars, Starches and Fiber.
Sugars are the simplest form of carbohydrates broken down quickly by the body for immediate energy needs. They come both naturally occurring from fruit (fructose) and from table sugar (sucrose). Because sugars are broken down quickly their consumption should be monitored.
Starches are long chains of sugar molecules that take longer to break down into simple sugars and provide slower – but longer lasting – energy source. Starches occur naturally as complex carbohydrates in plants such as wheat, rice, potatoes and corn. Refined starches like white breads and flours provide simpler forms of starches that don’t offer much other nutrients besides energy straight away.
Fiber is often referred to as “nature’s broom” because it helps sweep through our digestive tracts and eliminate toxins from our bodies while aiding digestion regularity. It is found almost exclusively in plant-based foods though some animal sources such as eggs or shellfish have small traces too. It is also known to decrease inflammation thus decreasing risk for heart disease and cancer while helping maintain healthy weight since it often makes us feel more satiated after meals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that Chipotle uses 4-cheese blend of ingredients for its shredded cheese. The 4-cheese blend includes Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar, queso quesadilla, and asadero cheeses. All of these cheeses combine to give Chipotle’s signature flavor and texture for optimal customer satisfaction.
Moreover, the use of vibrant colors makes the chain’s dishes stand out even more increasing customer appeal. All in all, this combination of finely shredded cheese makes a delicious topping to just about any type of dish at Chipotle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of shredded cheese does Chipotle use?
A: Chipotle uses a blend of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese.
Q: Is the shredded cheese Chipotle uses pre-shredded?
A: Yes, the shredded cheese Chipotle uses is pre-shredded.
Q: Is the shredded cheese Chipotle uses vegetarian?
A: Yes, the shredded cheese Chipotle uses is vegetarian.