Ingredient · Updated
Cheese Powder
What is Cheese Powder?
Cheese powder is a dehydrated form of cheese, commonly made by removing moisture from cheese through methods like spray drying or freeze drying. This creates a shelf-stable, concentrated powder that captures the flavor of cheese.
It is used to infuse foods, such as snacks and sauces, with a cheesy flavor without requiring refrigeration. While cheese powder retains some natural nutrients from cheese, its nutritional profile may vary depending on the type of cheese used and the presence of added ingredients. The health impact generally aligns with that of regular cheese.
When you see cheese powder on a label, it's important to recognize that, like cheese, it can be calorie-dense and high in sodium, which might be a concern for those on low-sodium diets.
Commonly found in: Snacks, Sauces, Seasonings, Instant Noodles, Packaged Meals
What to watch
- Can be high in sodium, which may be a concern for those monitoring salt intake.
Benefits
- Provides cheese flavor without requiring refrigeration, making it convenient for storage and transport.
Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a dairy ingredient in foods.
The nutritional value varies, and it may contain additional ingredients not present in natural cheese.
Cheese powder is animal-derived and not suitable for vegan diets.
Sources: Overview of cheese powder manufacturing and applications
Scout's take
Cheddar cheese with whey, buttermilk solids, salt, sodium phosphate and lactic acid.
Found in 1 product
Where Cheese Powder shows up
- Salty Snacks 1 product
Higher-scoring picks without Cheese Powder
Products from the same categories whose analyzed ingredient list does not include Cheese Powder, scoring 80 or above.
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