What makes processed cheese so different from the cheese family is its extended shelf life which it owes to the amount of emulsifiers and stabilizing agents it contains. Available in many flavours and textures, processed cheese is what is widely used in cooking due to its resistance to separation when cooked. Being both smooth and medium-firm in texture, processed cheese, melts easily when baked, or grilled.
Made either from a single cheese or a blend of many, pasteurised processed cheese also contains varying amounts of cream, milk fat, water, salt, artificial colour, and spices.