Hot pepper jack is Monterey Jack with hot peppers mixed in: creamy, buttery and spicy.

• Milk: cow’s
• Origin: Monterey Jack comes from California
• Style: semi-soft
• Added: chopped chili peppers, often jalapeño, mixed into the curd

About Monterey Jack

Monterey Jack started in the Monterey area of California, with roots in the simple farmer’s cheese made there under Spanish and Mexican rule. The name is usually tied to David Jack, a businessman who sold it in the 1880s, though the stories about its origin conflict. Pepper jack is the spicy version, made by mixing chopped peppers into the curd.

How to use it

It’s semi-soft and buttery, and it melts well, which makes it a favorite for quesadillas, grilled cheese, burgers and mac and cheese. If you want it silky, melt it gently (see Why does melted cheese turn greasy or stringy?).

Wrapping up

If you like a little heat, this is an easy one to keep in the fridge.