Cream cheese, there are much better than the boxed kind?

[SAWYER]

I was reading a thread on another site about cream cheese and a person made a comment about getting real cream cheese and how it was much better. I have only had the Philadelphia or the generic stuff from WM or other grocery stores and love it, am I missing out AT???

 

[Markbnj]

There's a good article out there from a few years back on why cream cheese is so difficult to make, and why so few companies have been successful. Some university in Wisconsin even has a team working on how to make the process more repeatable.

Anyway, as a bagel-addicted northeasterner, for my money there are only two kinds of cream cheese: Philly (Kraft), and Temptee. Also, the smaller packages taste much better. In other words, don't save money on the five pound brick, imo.

 

[Crono]

I don't eat cream cheese anymore, but a local bagel shop near me, David's Bagels, has excellent cream cheese, as does Bubba's Bagels.

Good bagels too, of course. Bagel shops usually have the best cream cheese.

 

[Howard]

Pretty much Philly cream cheese is the only game in town, at least for cheesecakes...

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Pretty much Philly cream cheese is the only game in town, at least for cheesecakes...

I make a lot of cheesecake and can't tell the difference between Philly and the store brand. Even eating them smeared on a plain bagel they're identical. The important thing when baking is to use the regular version of any dairy products like cream cheese, milk or sour cream. Never use the light or reduced fat versions unless the recipe is specifically calibrated to take that into account. Fat content makes a big difference.

 

[mmntech]

Here it's either Philly or Lactancia. Usually get the latter because it's cheaper but pretty much identical to Kraft's.

 

[Howard]

Interesting. I was not aware that other cream cheese manufacturers had caught up. For a while, Philly couldn't be beat.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Try goat cheese on a bagel. It is the shit... seriously.

 

[kinev]

Try goat cheese on a bagel. It is the shit... seriously.

Well then, you're eating the wrong stuff coming out of the goat.

:awe:

 

[DrPizza]

Try goat cheese on a bagel. It is the shit... seriously.

Which means what? As opposed to cow cheese?

 

[jlee]

I make a lot of cheesecake and can't tell the difference between Philly and the store brand. Even eating them smeared on a plain bagel they're identical. The important thing when baking is to use the regular version of any dairy products like cream cheese, milk or sour cream. Never use the light or reduced fat versions unless the recipe is specifically calibrated to take that into account. Fat content makes a big difference.

Philly is much more creamy. If I buy store brand stuff (Fry's/Kroger), it's stiff.

 

[NetWareHead]

Anyway, as a bagel-addicted northeasterner, for my money there are only two kinds of cream cheese: Philly (Kraft), and Temptee. Also, the smaller packages taste much better. In other words, don't save money on the five pound brick, imo.

Temptee is my favorite cream cheese although many like Philly. I grew up in northern NJ and am addicted to bagels like anyone from the tri-state area should be. IMO philly is for cheese cakes and baking needs, it is slightly sweet yet neutral. Temptee is my favorite because it has a slightly acidic twang to it, much like sour cream. Temptee is also whipped cream cheese so its easier to spread when cold. Philly is a much harder cream cheese.

 

[SAWYER]

I like croissants way better than any bagel I have had

 

[JM Aggie08]

Philly or HEB. Or GTFO.

 

[JM Aggie08]

I like croissants way better than any bagel I have had

You should try an everything bagel + chive cream cheese. Just thinking about it causes my eyes to roll into the back of my head.

 

[smackababy]

You should try an everything bagel + chive cream cheese. Just thinking about it causes my eyes to roll into the back of my head.

Certainly not. The only way to ruin a bagel is to have a bunch of crap crammed into it and then smeared with a bunch of flavored cheese garbage.

Plain bagels with a light spread of normal cream cheese (or goat cheese) is the only acceptable way to go IMO.

But, then again, my favorite doughnut is plain and then glazed.

 

[mvbighead]

Normally I would say store brand is similar to philly, but on the flavored types, Philly just does it better. My wife would get the garden vegetable (which is actually better than it sounds), and the store brand of that usually has some pretty firm chunks of whatever whereas the Philly stuff is very smooth.

I'll buy Philly if the price difference is marginal, but when the other is on a big sale, I don't see enough difference to spend $1 more for the same quantity.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Certainly not. The only way to ruin a bagel is to have a bunch of crap crammed into it and then smeared with a bunch of flavored cheese garbage.

Plain bagels with a light spread of normal cream cheese (or goat cheese) is the only acceptable way to go IMO.

But, then again, my favorite doughnut is plain and then glazed.

To each their own, you bland son of a bitch!

 

[smackababy]

To each their own, you bland son of a bitch!

Good bread is not bland. In fact, good bread is superior to any kind of garbage you put on top of it. For instance, if the dough of your pizza is merely the vessel for the toppings, your pizza is bad.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Good bread is not bland. In fact, good bread is superior to any kind of garbage you put on top of it. For instance, if the dough of your pizza is merely the vessel for the toppings, your pizza is bad.

I live in Texas, where Einstein Bros is, by in large, our only option for bagels. I'm forced to drown out their lack of flavor.

 

[Mixolydian]

I prefer "whipped" cream cheese. so light and fluffy. ()🙂

 

[poofyhairguy]

I live in Texas, where Einstein Bros is, by in large, our only option for bagels. I'm forced to drown out their lack of flavor.

LOL you actually eat the bagels around here? I thought those places were to placate yankee transplants. Breakfast tacos bro.

 

[blackdogdeek]

You should try an everything bagel + chive cream cheese. Just thinking about it causes my eyes to roll into the back of my head.

I'm about to blow your mind:

1. toast the everything bagel
2. spread butter on it so it melts
3. then apply the cream cheese of your choice.

You're welcome.

 

[JM Aggie08]

LOL you actually eat the bagels around here? I thought those places were to placate yankee transplants. Breakfast tacos bro.

As a native San Antonian, my love for breakfast tacos (accompanied with a Big Red) runs deep. Sometimes I just crave bread in the morning :awe:

 

[Scarpozzi]

My wife prefers Philly. It costs like double what Kroger cream cheese does....so I bought it for her in the plastic tub (non whipped).... Then when we were running low, bought a tub of Kroger brand....washed out the Philly tub and refilled it with the Kroger brand. I made a point to mention how much better Philly tasted when she was eating it...and she agreed. 🙂

But yeah....there is a difference and you can tell. Philly is creamier in texture and the Kroger brand almost appears whiter in color and is a stiffer product. In the tub, you can mix it around with a spoon and make it a little creamier through mixing. It helps a little.