One ounce of cheese, or one slice, provides as much as 20 to 25 percent of the recommended daily calcium intake. In addition, research has identified certain types of cheese, such as cheddar and mozzarella, that might help prevent tooth decay. The downside is that cheese can be loaded with fat, calories and salt. Cooking with cheese isn't as easy as slicing cheese for a sandwich or snack, but it's far from complicated. The most important tip is to turn down the heat.
Most cheeses respond best to low and medium temperatures.
Cook only long enough to melt the cheese and blend it with the other ingredients. High heat and extended cooking times lead to stringy and tough cheese. To help accelerate the blending, shred, grate or cut cheese into small pieces before using for cooking. One of the easiest ways to shred cheese is with one of the fastest-selling kitchen gadgets. Bake casseroles containing cheese at 350 degrees to prevent overcooking.