chili cheese dog question

Hello all,

I will attempt to serve chili cheese dogs off my cart this weeekend and have a question. Should I just use the shredded cheese or go for the melted cheese? does anyone get complaints from the shredded?

It might be a silly question but I usually just stick to the basics and never added chili or cheese to my menu.

Thanks

I would only buy if shredded was available. The melted cheese is not the same, in my opinion. Its a cheese product not really cheese.

Boy, you will probably be bashed to death for this one. This was a very big topic a while back. search, search, search.
As for me though, i use the melted stuff. (but i use a high quality brand) and people seem to like it. I also have shredded but never requested. (probably depends on the area.)

Either way---QUALITY is the key!

I'm a consumer, only, and I'd not want one with pre-melted cheese.

Ditto on Michael Hoffman's post. Shredded, shredded, shredded.

Interesting on a dog folks here would only go with shredded cheese, yet fix up a philly cheese steak and you would be in trouble if you didn't use processed melted cheese. RJF

quote:

Originally posted by RichardFriese

Interesting on a dog folks here would only go with shredded cheese, yet fix up a philly cheese steak and you would be in trouble if you didn't use processed melted cheese. RJF

Thank you all for your input. Shredded cheese it is. Shelly I would have done a search but I like to ask fresh members their opinion as well. The Captain and cokes didn't help my searching skills either lol. I will try to post pictures of my cart at the even because I always find it entertaining when others do. Thanks again

I'd go eat either from a cart. One thing... if it is shredded (and if given a choice in a restaurant that is my only choice) I would want it to be mostly melted from the chili or a broiler before I got to it. Just because shredded needs to melt a little to stick on after each bite. EH, I'd take either even without it. I sometimes like the gooey mess the non-shredded makes.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardFriese

Interesting on a dog folks here would only go with shredded cheese, yet fix up a philly cheese steak and you would be in trouble if you didn't use processed melted cheese. RJF

I guess I'm in trouble. No processed melted cheese for me on a cheesesteak. Provolone every time.

Quick, I was only joking.
I was NEVER a big fan of pump cheese (that is what i call it)But, somehow and honestly i don't even Know how i ended up using it, but i did!!! But i know it does make a difference if you use a quality brand. But now that i am thinking of it, i think i started w/ that because i was doing cheesesteaks. (oh yeah, that was why.). Anyway, no one at my cart EVER asks for shredd. Or believe you me, I would give it to them Good luck to ya whatever you choose.

Personally, I think cheese only ruins a good chili dog. But if I had to choose one, I'd go with shredded. Melted cheese reminds me of a self-serve topping for those two for a buck convenience store hotdogs. Yucck!

I use the 3 blend shredded from Costco, in my restaurant, inexpensive, good, and better eye appeal.

Shredded is always my choice to eat on a dog. That said, I was at a pool hall that had free nachos if you bought a beer. There was a machine that said Ortega. You push a button and out comes the melted cheese. Hey, it was pretty good for dipping tortilla chips. It was the best melted type cheese I have had.
Joe

Look at the cinci style dogs. The mounds of finely shredded cheddar almost hides the dog. Thats how I want mine. Whiz-never
britt

I'll go with shredded every time on a chili dog.

Pump cheese on a cheesesteak makes me nauseous. I'll only have provolone.

Its been interesting to see the negative comments against processed cheese (Cheese Wiz). Food Channel has had several shows about the two top places in Philly that serve cheese steaks and its a give there that processed cheese is sloshed all over it. Its a given that the locals wouldn't take it any other way. I wonder if the hot dog places go the same direction in that area. RJF

Well I cooked up some chili and added some shredded cheese like suggested and this is what the final product looked like. I will add a little more cheese when I am at the event. Alot of the cheese melted so it look like I was skimpy on it lol. It tasted great and belive it or not it was the first time I had chili with shredded cheese.

Thanks again all. This forum is a must if you own a hot dog cart and the info is priceless!

Throw some onions on and you got my kind of chili dog. RJF

I always put the cheese on the dog first (and mustard!), then the chili on top of that. Not as good a presentation as having the cheese on top, I just like how the cheese mixes into each bite that way.

If your doing a chili cheese dog, go with feather shredded style Colby or cheddar for the best flavor. (Actually the thicker shred tastes better, but not as cost effective). With the feather shred, it will start to melt on the chili sauce, especially if you wrap the dog.
If you want your dog taste like a 7-Eleven type of dog, use Old El Paso Jalapeño Nacho Cheese from a can.
(Shredded is my choice by far).

Well I set up my cart and brought my chili and shredded cheese and sold 0 chili cheese dogs lol. I guess the kids at the skate boarding contest wanted regular dogs. I did not sell one specialty condiment either (coleslaw, cream cheese, chili, mayo). I sold a ton of water and Gatorade though. Overall I did pretty well. A taco truck pulled up and parked and put a scare into me. They were eating from the taco truck at first but once a few people started coming to my cart it started a trend. I had most of the business by the middle of the day. Maybe I will serve chili to a different croud next time. Live and learn I guess lol.

Thank you all for you advice.

Well-there is another option. I didn't want to use a "canned cheese sauce" and keeping my chili hot enough to melt shredded cheese tended to thicken and scorch my chili. For a while I went with melting american cheese on the flat top but the timing was too critical for high traffic periods...I went with aerosal cheese-it's easy, looks good, and since it needs no refrigeration it melts well and comes in several varieties. The cost is somewhat high, but it's the best I've found.

catnhatnh,
You didn't want to use canned cheese sauce yet you decided to use aerasol cheese? HUH?? Is that any different. My God man think of what you just said. You don't need to refridgerate your aerasol cheese????????????????? So you think this is REAL cheese????????? I will take my land o lakes canned cheese that has to be refridgerated over your NON refridgerated aerasol cheese any day.

As a consumer, I never get cheese on my dog unless I know it's real cheese, shredded. If I see it's pre-melted, canned, jarred, whatever - pass.

I agree.Great dog,cheese to me is overkill...but if the dog is average,I'd put cheese on ONLY if it was the real thing!!!

cheese sauce belongs on fries, shredded belongs on dogs.

in philidelphia they serve cheese sauce on hot dogs that are deep fried (yuk)....so im told....

i would recommend fancy shredded cheese, not thick shredded or regular. sharp american. for several reasons, but the main one is that with the fancy shred style you can spread it out over a wide space and if your sauce is hot enough (@ least 180*F) it will melt and look fully covered. this will save you $ and product on the cheese, you will get more.

quote:

Originally posted by ShellysDawgHouse

Boy, you will probably be bashed to death for this one. This was a very big topic a while back. search, search, search.
As for me though, i use the melted stuff. (but i use a high quality brand) and people seem to like it. I also have shredded but never requested. (probably depends on the area.)

Even the highest quality "melted stuff" is still fake.

Ok Its all about shredded and I use a mix Jack, cheddar, colby and it has to be fresh and
HI quality, Onioms with my chili and I like shredded on it but I get requests for nacho cheese as well. I blame the ball Parks for this.