An American classic that exploded in popularity around the 1930s, many of us have experienced the cheesy delight that is Velveeta cheese. It’s so creamy, it’s unnatural! Compared to common natural cheeses, such as brie or cheddar, we may not be able to fully identify its ingredients. This makes it challenging for those looking to follow a gluten-free diet. Is Velveeta cheese a gluten-free food?
Yes, Velveeta is gluten-free. Although Velveeta is not certified to be gluten-free, this is due to the potential of cross-contamination during manufacturing rather than the ingredients. The best gluten-free and healthier alternatives to Velveeta include Loca Potato Queso Mild Cheddar, Core & Rind Cashew Cheesy Sauce, Good & Gather Questo Blanco Cheese Sauce, and Anthony’s Cheddar Cheese Powder.
The ingredients for Velveeta cheese are a mystery to most. Let’s take a deeper look at what goes into this delightful cheese sauce and what some other options might be for those looking to take a healthier approach.
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What is Velveeta?
Velveeta is a brand of processed cheese, similar to American cheese, invented in the early 1900s by the Monroe Cheese Factory in Monroe, New York. Nearly 10 years later, the Velveeta Cheese Company was sold to Kraft Foods as a separate company.
With a distinct orange color, mild flavor and soft consistency, Velveeta cheese is best known for its ability to melt smoothly. Velveeta’s cheese texture is created by blending different types of cheeses, mainly cheddar, Colby and swiss, and dairy products with emulsifying agents.
Because of its level of processing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize Velveeta Cheese as a type of cheese, but rather a “processed cheese product.” Under this label it must contain at least 51% cheese as well as other stipulations in order to qualify.
Is Velveeta Healthy?
Velveeta original brand cheese, as well as their other varieties, such as jalapeño pepper, Mexican and queso blanco varieties, contains a significant amount of sodium per serving. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends no more than 2300mg of sodium intake per day for adults. At about 390mg per 1-ounce, Velveeta cheese contains a whopping 17% of your total daily recommended intake for sodium.
Because this brand of cheese is popular as a dip or fondue style, sodium can be even further increased if choosing salty items, such as crackers or chips, to dip with. Because of this, it is encouraged to limit Velveeta cheese to moderation and to avoid indulging past the portion size, especially for those with elevated blood pressure.
Although Velveeta does not currently have a lower sodium option, they do have a lower fat cheese available. Velveeta 2% milk fat reduced fat cheese contains 25% less fat than the original. However, it makes up for it by adding in carbohydrates. It also has the same amount of saturated fat as the original but a little bit more protein.
Nutrition Facts for Velveeta
Velveeta Original Cheese
Ingredients:
- Skim milk
- Milk
- Canola oil
- Milk protein concentrate
- Sodium phosphate
- Contains less than 2%
- Modified food starch
- Whey protein concentrate
- Maltodextrin
- Whey
- Salt
- Calcium phosphate
- Lactic acid
- Sorbic acid (preservative)
- Milk fat
- Sodium alginate
- Sodium citrate
- Enzymes
- Apocarotenal and annatto (color)
- Cheese culture
- Vitamin A palmitate
Nutrition Facts (per 1-ounce):
- Calories 70
- Fat 4g
- Saturated fat 1g
- Sodium 390mg
- Carbohydrates 3g
- Sugar 2g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 4g
Velveeta 2% Milk Fat Reduced Fat Cheese
Ingredients:
- Skim milk
- Milk
- Milk protein concentrate
- Canola oil
- maltodextrin
- Sodium phosphate
- Whey
- Contains less than 2%
- Salt
- Modified food starch
- Calcium phosphate
- Lactic acid
- Whey protein concentrate
- Sorbic acid (preservative)
- Sodium alginate
- Milk fat
- Sodium citrate
- Cheese culture
- Apocarotenal and annatto (color)
- Enzymes
- Vitamin A palmitate
Nutrition Facts (per 1-ounce):
- Calories 60
- Fat 3g
- Saturated fat 1g
- Sodium 390mg
- Carbohydrates 4g
- Sugar 3g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 5g
Healthier Gluten-Free Alternatives to Velveeta Cheese
Because Velveeta cheese is most notable for the consistency of their cheese when melted, below are some alternatives that are similar to Velveeta cheese in their ability to maintain smoothness when melted but that are healthier, less processed, gluten-free alternatives.
Loca Potato Queso Mild Cheddar
Gluten-free and completely plant-based, this vegan cheese substitute is a plant version of the popular queso dip. Queso is a common appetizer found in Tex-Mex restaurants that is a mixture of melted cheeses and peppers.
Loca Potato queso in mild cheddar is similar in flavor and melting ability to Velveeta with less sodium and calories per 1-ounce serving and it’s made from vegetables, such as potatoes. It is stovetop or microwave ready. You can find this product on eatlocafoods.com as a party box, which includes four 12-ounce jars for $48. This plant-based cheese is also lower in calories and fat compared to Velveeta.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Sunflower oil
- Nutritional yeast
- Tomato paste
- Salt
- Gluconic acid
- Jalapeño pepper
- Contains 2% or less of:
- Onion powder
- Garlic
- Food starch modified
- Natural flavors
- Xanthan gum
- Annatto seed
Nutrition Facts (per 1-ounce):
- Calories 50
- Fat 3.5g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Sodium 290mg
- Carbohydrates 3g
- Sugar 0g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 1g
Core & Rind Cashew Cheesy Sauce, Sharp and Tangy
Another plant-based, gluten-free cheese dip similar to Velveeta is Core & Rind cashew cheesy sauced. Made with pureed pumpkin and cashews, this creamy sauce is made with 100% plant-based ingredients.
It is lower in calories and saturated fats when compared to Velveeta and it also includes 2g of fiber compared to 0g in Velveeta cheese. It is considerably high in sodium content, so it should be limited to small portions when consuming. You can find this product on ThriveMarket.com or CoreAndRind.com at $10.99 for an 11-ounce jar.
Ingredients:
- Pumpkin puree
- Cashews
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tomato paste
- Nutritional yeast
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Organic Dijon mustard
- Organic distilled vinegar
- Water
- Organic mustard seed
- Sea salt
- Organic spices
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Turmeric powder
Nutrition Facts (serving size:1/3 cup)
- Calories 60
- Fat 4g
- Saturated fat 0.5g
- Sodium 730mg
- Carbohydrates 5g
- Sugar 1g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 2g
- Protein 3g
Good & Gather Queso Blanco Cheese Sauce
Made with real cheese, gluten-free, smooth, and creamy, Good & Gather Queso Blanco cheese sauce is another great alternative to Velveeta cheese. Lowest in cost compared to the other options listed, you can find Good & Gather Queso Blanco cheese online at Target.com or in-stores at $2.49 for a 15-ounce jar. Good & Gather Queso Blanco cheese sauce is significantly lower in calories, fat and sodium compared to Velveeta cheese.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Cheese blend
- Milk protein concentrate
- Water
- Soybean oil
- Monterey jack cheese
- Milk
- Cheese
- Cultures
- Salt
- Enzymes
- Salt
- Milkfat
- Sodium phosphate
- Lactic acid
- Modified corn starch
- Red bell peppers
- Corn oil
- Maltodextrin
- Jalapeño peppers
- Green chili peppers
- Salt
- Sodium citrate
- Datem
- Sodium phosphate
- Yeast extract
- Natural flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 1/3 cup):
- Calories 40
- Fat 2.5g
- Saturated fat 0.5g
- Sodium 280mg
- Carbohydrates 3g
- Sugar 0g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 1g
Anthony’s Cheddar Cheese Powder
Gluten-free, USA made, and Non-GMO, Anthony’s cheddar cheese powder is a great alternative to Velveeta cheese. It is easily incorporated into mixes for quick cheese sauces. It is made with real cheese and is less processed than Velveeta cheese varieties. However, it does contain a significant amount of sodium so it should be used in limited quantities during cooking.
Ingredients:
- Cheddar cheese
- Whey
- Butter
- Buttermilk
- Salt
- Disodium phosphate
- Annatto extract
- Natural flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 2-tablespoons):
- Calories 70
- Fat 4.5g
- Saturated fat 2.5g
- Sodium 480mg
- Carbohydrates 4g
- Sugar 4g
- Added sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 3g
Other Healthy Alternatives to Velveeta Cheese
Best healthy alternatives to Velveeta cheese are going to include natural cheeses that are a lot less processed, such as Gouda, Mozzarella or Fontina cheeses. You can also add sodium citrate to your own melting cheeses to get a similar consistency to Velveeta cheese. Sodium citrate is responsible for the famous melting texture of Velveeta cheese. Also known as a melting salt, sodium citrate helps to create a smooth emulsion without curdling during cooking.
Related Questions
Is Velveeta Keto?
Original Velveeta cheese contains 3g of carbohydrates per 1-ounce portion. Those on the keto diet are to restrict their carbohydrates to no more than 50 grams per day or less. Some keto diets restrict to even lower, at no more than 20-30 grams per day. Technically considered a low-carbohydrate food, as with most cheeses, it would qualify for those on the keto diet if consumed in the recommended portion size.
Is Velveeta Refrigerated?
Because of its level of processing, Velveeta cheese does not need to be refrigerated until after it is open. This is why you can find it on the grocery store shelves instead of in the refrigerated dairy section. Once opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 1-2 months.
Does Velveeta have Lactose?
Yes, Velveeta cheese contains milk in its ingredients list. Milk contains lactose therefore, those who are looking to avoid lactose, or have an intolerance to lactose, should look for lactose or dairy free cheese products. Although natural cheeses will have higher amounts of lactose, Velveeta and other processed cheese products, such as American cheese, can contain anywhere from 9-14 percent lactose.