Cheese sauce

Cheese sauce is a creamy sauce made from cheese, often combined with milk, butter, and flour to create a béchamel base. It can be a simple blend of melted cheese and milk or a more complex sauce with added flavourings and seasonings. It is typically prepared by heating the ingredients until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and thickened.

Cheese sauce is added to foods to provide a rich, savoury cheese flavour and a smooth, creamy texture. It is commonly used in ready meals, pasta dishes, and as a topping for vegetables or snacks like chips and nachos. Its emulsifying properties help to bind ingredients together, creating a cohesive and appealing product.

Cheese sauce is not a regulated food additive and does not have an E-number. Its health implications are primarily related to its nutritional content, particularly its fat and salt levels, which can be high depending on the recipe and ingredients used. The NHS Eatwell Guide advises limiting intake of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Excessive consumption of high-fat, high-salt foods can contribute to health issues over time.