What's the best cheese for melting on a cheeseburger?

The sky’s the limit when it comes to selecting a cheese to grace your mouthwatering cheeseburger. The most important thing to keep in mind: meltability. 

Some cheeses are made to be melted while others are not. Hard cheeses, like Manchego or Pecorino Romano, aren’t melting cheeses. However, French Raclette or a young, creamy Gouda are prime examples of cheeses that just beg to be melted on a burger. 

So what makes a cheese meltable? It’s all about acidity. Cheese is a fermented product and it starts with milk that has been soured. The pH level, or acidity, of a cheese is ultimately going to determine whether it melts well or not. The higher the acidity gets in the milk and the curd, the more the calcium bonds get chipped away. And the more calcium that gets chipped away, the more elasticity of the cheese goes away. 

Science aside, let’s simplify things and give you 3 cheeses that will melt beautifully on top of your burger.

French Raclette

French Raclette gets to a gooey perfection when melted. In fact, the name Raclette comes from the French word “racler,” which means “to scrape.” This cheese boasts deep fruity notes that will intensify as it heats up and bubbles across the top of your burger. 

Melting Tip:

Use a wire to thinly slice your French Raclette so it’s about a quarter inch thick. Place a square or two on top of your burger once it’s about a minute away from being cooked to the temperature you desire. Close the grill lid and let the cheese work it’s magic! It will melt down within only a few seconds. 

Gruyère

Gruyère is part of the trifecta of cheeses that go into a traditional Swiss fondue recipe … so it’s an excellent cheese for melting! Rich and creamy with a slight nutty taste, Gruyère is versatile. The aromas are reminiscent of caramelized apples, hazelnut, and brown butter. Talk about a burger that’s blazin’ with flavor! 

Melting Tip:

Shred your Gruyère into a small bowl while it’s cold and then set it aside. When your burger is just about to temperature, pile on the shreds and close the grill lid for a little bit to let it melt.

Black Truffle Gouda

Sweet, earthy, and texturally elegant, Black Truffle Gouda will catapult your cheeseburger into another dimension. This cheese has a wonderfully creamy base and the specks of black truffle pack a punch. 

Melting Tip:

Use a cheese plane to create thin slices of your gouda … this will not only help the cheese to melt down faster, but release all of its beautiful aromatics as well! Place the Gouda slices on top of your burger just before serving and the residual heat will get them melted down in no time.