Hot Cheetos are a popular spicy snack made by Frito-Lay. Despite the name, many people wonder if Hot Cheetos actually contain any cheese or are just flavored to taste cheesy. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the ingredients in Hot Cheetos to determine if they are truly cheesy or not.
What are Hot Cheetos?
Hot Cheetos are a variation of regular Cheetos that are coated in a signature spicy Flamin’ Hot seasoning. They come in several shapes and sizes, including puffed rounds, crunchy twists, and extra spicy XXTRA Flamin’ Hot puffs. The snacks were first introduced to the market in 1992 and quickly became popular due to their bold flavor.
Some key facts about Hot Cheetos:
- Invented by Frito-Lay research chef Arch West
- First launched in 1992
- Come in puffed, crunchy, and extra spicy varieties
- Coated in a proprietary Flamin’ Hot seasoning
- Contains ingredients like corn, sunflower oil, and malted barley
Hot Cheetos can be found in convenience stores and vending machines. They are especially popular among younger consumers like teens and college students. The snacks have also inspired spin-off products like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Asteroids, Flamin’ Hot Limón Cheetos, and Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Cheetos.
Hot Cheetos Ingredients
So what exactly is in a bag of Hot Cheetos? Here is a breakdown of the main ingredients that give Hot Cheetos their signature spicy, cheesy taste:
Cornmeal
The base of all Cheetos is made from cornmeal. This includes ground corn that has been processed into a fine flour. The cornmeal is combined with water and oil, then shaped into puffs or twists before baking.
Vegetable Oil
The most common oils used in Hot Cheetos are sunflower or/and canola oil. The oils help bind the cornmeal and carry the flavorings that coat the snack.
Cheese Seasoning
This is a key ingredient that gives Hot Cheetos their cheesy taste. The exact seasoning blend used by Frito-Lay is proprietary, but it likely contains ingredients like whey, cheddar cheese, Romano cheese, buttermilk, and salt.
Flamin’ Hot Seasoning
A signature blend of spices and flavorings that contains things like chili peppers, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, red pepper powder, paprika extract, and salt. This coating gives Hot Cheetos their signature heat.
Other Ingredients
Hot Cheetos also contain small amounts of other ingredients like malted barley, yeast extract, citric acid, sugar, corn syrup solids, and artificial colors like Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, and Yellow 6.
Nutrition Facts
Here is the nutrition breakdown for a 1 ounce (28g) serving of Hot Cheetos puffs:
| Calories | 160 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 9g |
| Carbs | 18g |
| Protein | 2g |
As you can see, Hot Cheetos are high in fat and carbs compared to their protein content. The fat comes mostly from the vegetable oils used in production. The carbs are from the cornmeal base.
Do Hot Cheetos Contain Real Cheese?
Based on the ingredients list, Hot Cheetos do contain some real cheese products that provide their signature cheesy taste. However, they do not contain large chunks or shreds of actual cheese like you’d find on nachos or other cheesy snacks.
The “cheese seasoning” used on Hot Cheetos contains dairy-derived ingredients like whey and Romano and cheddar cheese. Whey is a liquid byproduct of cheese making, while Romano and cheddar are hard, aged cheeses. When powdered and added to the snack coating, these ingredients impart a cheesy taste.
In addition to real cheese products, the cheese seasoning also likely contains artificial “cheese flavor” made from laboratory-produced compounds. So while there is some real cheese in the mix, the primary cheesy taste probably comes from artificial flavorings designed to taste like melted cheese.
Why Don’t Hot Cheetos Contain More Real Cheese?
There are a few reasons why Hot Cheetos contain minimal real cheese:
- Cost – Real cheese is expensive compared to artificial flavorings. Adding large amounts of real cheese would significantly increase production costs.
- Texture – Melted cheese tends to become sticky or oily. A smooth, powdered cheese seasoning blends more easily into the coating of Hot Cheetos.
- Flavor dispersal – Powdered cheese seasonings spread evenly over the snacks versus chunks of real cheese.
- Shelf life – Real cheese reduces the shelf life of snacks. Cheese powders last longer in storage.
For these reasons, most mass-produced snack companies rely on cheese powders and artificial flavorings instead of real cheese. A little bit of real cheese adds some authenticity to the “cheesy” taste without compromising too much on cost, texture, and shelf stability.
Should You Consider Hot Cheetos Healthy?
Based on their nutritional profile, Hot Cheetos would not be considered a healthy snack choice. Here are some of the main nutrition downsides of Hot Cheetos:
- High in fat, especially saturated fat from oils
- Contain a large amount of refined carbohydrates with little fiber
- Lack significant protein
- High amounts of sodium, around 250-300mg per serving
- Contains artificial colors and flavors
- Not a significant source of vitamins or minerals
The combination of refined carbs, saturated fat, and sodium can be inflammatory. The artificial additives are also concerning to some. Additionally, Hot Cheetos provide mostly empty calories with very little nutritional value.
That said, an occasional serving of Hot Cheetos as part of an overall healthy diet is unlikely to cause harm. But regular or excessive consumption, especially for children, can contribute to poor nutrition and weight gain.
Healthier Snack Alternatives
For those looking for healthier cheesy snack options, here are some alternatives to consider:
- Baked cheese crackers or gluten-free crackers with real cheese slices
- Low-fat string cheese or cheese sticks
- Healthy cheese chips made from corn, rice, or legumes
- Kale chips with nutritional yeast seasoning
- DIY roasted chickpeas tossed in nutritional yeast
- Edamame hummus with crackers or fresh vegetables
Conclusion
So are Hot Cheetos really cheesy? The answer is…kind of. Hot Cheetos do contain small amounts of real cheese products like whey and Romano and cheddar cheese. However, their cheesy taste largely comes from artificial “cheese flavor” seasonings. Real cheese is minimal due to cost, texture, and shelf stability issues.
While Hot Cheetos may satisfy a cheesy flavor craving, they are not a healthy snack choice due to their high amounts of refined carbs, fat, sodium, and artificial additives. Less processed snack alternatives made with real cheese, whole grains, legumes, or vegetables provide more nutrition without the negative health effects.
At the end of the day, enjoying the occasional bag of Hot Cheetos is unlikely to be harmful. But regular consumption or eating large portions in place of more nutritious foods should be avoided, especially for growing children. When you want that signature cheesy, spicy flavor, it’s best to consider healthier options that provide real nutrition and skip the artificial ingredients found in Hot Cheetos.