Melted cheese is just as nutritious as unmelted cheese. Current evidence shows that while heating cheese changes its structure, this doesn't impact its nutritional quality or digestibility (phew!).

When you melt cheese, it undergoes changes that make it softer, stretchier, and easier to enjoy in dishes like a gooey cheese toastie. Heat removes some moisture and fat, and it alters the structure of the proteins, giving melted cheese its distinctive texture. But here’s the news we’ve all been waiting for: these changes don’t reduce the nutritional quality of the cheese or make it harder to digest.¹

While there’s still limited research on how cooking cheese impacts its health benefits,² current evidence shows that melted cheese retains the same important nutrients as fresh cheese. Whether it’s melted or unmelted, cheese provides calcium, high-quality protein, iodine, and vitamins A, B12, and K2—all of which play essential roles in a healthy diet.

According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, all types of cheese are nutritious and can contribute to a balanced diet.³ So, whether you’re enjoying a classic cheese sandwich or a toastie, you’re still getting the same great nutrition. In short: melt away!

References

1. Pastorino AJ, Dave RI, Oberg CJ, McMahon DJ. Temperature effect on structure-opacity relationships of nonfat mozzarella cheese. Journal of Dairy Science. 2002;85(9):2106-2113.
2. Feeney EL, Lamichhane P and Sheehan JJ. The cheese matrix: Understanding the impact of cheese structure on aspects of cardiovascular health – A food science and a human nutrition perspective. International Journal of Dairy Technology. 2021;74(4):656-670.
3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2013.