Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Velveeta Hamburger Tips

Velveeta adds flavor to hamburgers and other ground beef dishes.


Nearly every cheese goes well with hamburger, and Velveeta is no exception. The processed, pasteurized cheese food transforms into a creamy, almost liquid consistency when exposed to heat, and its sharp, cheesy flavor adds zest to everything from dips to main dishes. Velveeta is available plain, flavored with jalapeño peppers or with mild or hot Mexican spices and is sold in blocks as well as sliced and shredded.


Hamburger Sandwich Suggestions


Velveeta perks up hamburger sandwiches with cheesy flavor but use it sparingly as its viscosity thins when heated. If you use too much, it will make the burger and bun soggy, so use the shredded type for portion control. Velveeta goes well with spicy hamburger condiments like canned, tomato-green chili mixtures, mild diced chilies or canned jalapeños. To keep the cheese and spices separate, put a teaspoon of salsa between two thin burger patties and seal the edges before cooking. To make a milder burger, add a couple of crisp bacon strips on top of the Velveeta to accent its flavor and add texture to the sandwich. Stir cubed Velveeta into your favorite sloppy joe mixture for a cheesy twist on a favorite sandwich filling.








Main Dish Advice


Since Velveeta becomes so creamy when heated, it mixes well with canned cream soups used in main dish recipes. You can give hamburger beef stroganoff a kick by adding a few chunks of Velveeta to the cream of mushroom soup mixture and stirring them until they melt together. You can add cheesy taste to a chili bean casserole by mixing in plain or spicy Velveeta before baking. If you don't have time to make individual cheeseburger patties for supper, create a hearty Velveeta cheeseburger casserole with ground beef, Velveeta and cooked elbow macaroni.


Tex-Mex Recommendations


The bold taste of Velveeta pairs well with a variety of Tex-Mex style ingredients. For boldly flavored hamburger-based Tex-Mex dishes, use pepper jack or Mexican spiced Velveeta.


Tips and Hints


Use lean ground beef for Velveeta hamburger casserole dishes or drain the fat off the cooked beef before mixing it with other ingredients. When substituting Velveeta for regular cheese in recipes, adjust the amount of liquid to compensate for the liquidity Velveeta adds to dishes. Place blocks of Velveeta in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to harden and make it easier to slice or shred. Tightly wrap leftover Velveeta in foil and again in plastic wrap or a zipper top food storage bag to prevent it from hardening in the refrigerator.

Tags: well with, ground beef, beef Velveeta, cheesy flavor, goes well