Melt Appeal: Making Your Cheesiest Dishes Look as Good as They Taste

It’s no secret that cheese is one of the most universally loved foods in the world. The global population collectively enjoys millions of tons of cheese annually, with Americans consuming 6,2 million tons in 2024 alone. 

If you’re among the millions who love the tempting flavors, richness, depth, and satisfying creaminess of cheese and enjoy creating dishes that look great, too, this article is for you. We’ve shared our favorite tips and tricks for taking your culinary skills to a new level and adding a generous dash of melt appeal to your dishes.

Choose Cheeses with a High Melting Potential

Melted cheese is an opulent addition to any dish. The key to achieving that truly perfect ‘cheese pull’ effect that makes your mouth water is to select cheeses that melt optimally in the oven or on the stove. Cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda are all well-known for their melting potential. This is especially true for mozzarella, which is widely used in Italian dishes like pizzas, calzones, lasagnas, and pastas. 

Mozzarella’s mild flavor adds unctuousness without overwhelming lightly flavored or delicate dishes. Options like classic English cheddar have a stronger, more savory flavor profile, making them perfect for iconic meals like grilled cheese sandwiches, tuna melts, and baked mac ‘n’ cheese. 

Provolone cheese, another Italian favorite, is a fantastic option for creating melted, cheesy concoctions. This soft, full-flavored cheese comes in unsmoked and smoked variations and works well layered in lasagna, melted over hamburgers, or shredded onto sandwiches and pizzas. 

Moving a little further into European territory, Swiss cheese is a delicious addition to dishes requiring melted cheese. Best melted slowly and at a low heat, classic and aged sharp Swiss can both add their own unique flair to your plate. Traditional Swiss cheese has a mild, subtly sweet taste that works well in a wide range of meals, and sharper aged Swiss can help add a new dimension to dishes that can support stronger flavors.

All these options will allow you to create perfectly melty, gooey cheese dishes that would look at home in a cookbook or chef’s Instagram reel.

Oven-Melt for Deep Caramelization

We mentioned that choosing the right cheeses for melting can significantly impact the look and taste of your finished dishes. But it’s also essential to take your melting method into consideration to get the best effect.

While stovetop melting is usually best for making grilled cheeses and croque monsieurs, dishes with cheese toppings almost always benefit from a few minutes in the oven. The heat from your oven’s elements melts cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella, adding rich brown caramelization to their surfaces. The result is delectable dishes with a perfect balance of melted savoriness and chewy, browned goodness.

You can also use an air fryer for quick results, although the depth of the caramelization will be less than that achieved with an oven element. Or, if you’re feeling brave, use a chef’s blowtorch to create the perfect caramel topping. You’ll wow your guests in the process with your culinary prowess, too!

Include Flavored Cheeses for Color and Piquancy

Cheeses come in an endless range of flavors. There are cheeses infused with spices and herbs, options studded with fruit for a sweet-and-savory finish, and cheeses packed with peppers or horseradish for the adventurous palate.

These ingredients can add attractive color and extra deliciousness to any dish, helping take your cuisine to new heights. Bacon cheddar is a perfect, meaty accompaniment to burgers and grilled meats, and caraway cheddar will add a pleasant tang and woody spice to sauces and sandwiches. If you’re craving something spicy, Dragon’s Breath cheddar infused with habanero peppers gives you the scintillating heat you need.

Dill farmer’s cheese has a refreshing, herbaceous taste that works well with home-style dishes, chicken, and fish. The lovely colors and flavors of tomato-basil feta will complement any Italian meal in an instant. If you are cooking for a special occasion, black truffle goat cheese can infuse your dishes with the sweet richness of goat’s milk and the luxurious earthiness of real black truffle.

Add Textural Contrast

Cheesy dishes are always a fan favorite, but there are a few important notes to remember when creating sensational meals. 

One of these is to ensure your dish contains several different textures. While delicious, melted cheese can be soft and rather monotonous in texture. Adding a crunchy, chewy, crisp, or crumbly textural element can elevate your creations and keep everyone returning for seconds.

Blue cheese is one of our top picks for adding a great combination of texture and complex flavor to dairy-laden meals. Both classic blue cheese and gorgonzola stand up well to high temperatures, softening slightly in the heat while still maintaining their iconic, crumbly textures. 

Cheese curds can also add an interesting textural pop, especially to meals like Canadian poutine and baked pastas. With a mild taste and an enjoyable, subtly elastic texture, cheese curds can even be deep-fried to create tantalizing snacks and garnishes. Try breaded and fried cheese curds as a topping for mac ‘n’ cheese to recreate the traditional breadcrumb topping with an unexpected twist.

Greek-style traditional feta is another terrific addition to cheese-rich foods. Its bright, fresh, salty flavor and crumbly texture refresh the palate while adding an extra cheesy element to your plate. Feta pairs exceptionally well with pizzas, pastas, baked potato dishes, omelets, chicken, and regional Greek and Mediterranean dishes. These dishes also photograph beautifully, so feta is always an excellent standout ingredient if you’re building your food portfolio.

Elevate the Melt Appeal of Your Dishes

Even the simplest cheesy dishes can provide comfort, warmth, and satisfaction, but simple tricks can elevate them. Choosing the right cheeses for each meal, browning and caramelizing cheese toppings in the oven, and including ingredients with unique flavors and textures can transform any dish into an unforgettable experience.

Browse our collections of quality cheeses at Keystone Farms Cheese and elevate your melt appeal with our expertly crafted dairy products.