Protein content
A 1 oz serving of american cheese contains 5.1 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 10% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 oz (28 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 5.1 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 18.1 g |
| Calories per serving | 102 kcal |
| Protein density | 20% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 10% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Dairy |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #170853 |
A typical 1 oz serving of american cheese contains 5.1 grams of protein (18.1 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 20% of the calories in american cheese come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 81 dairy foods in the database, american cheese ranks 68th by protein per serving, and 487th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against yogurt (whole milk, plain), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.8 g less protein (yogurt (whole milk, plain) has 5.9 g per 1 container).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by weight at 28 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
A pasteurized process cheese, not a naturally ripened one.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170853 - "Cheese, pasteurized process, American, fortified with vitamin D" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
American cheese has 18.1 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 oz serving (28 g) provides 5.1 g.
Yes. American cheese is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
A 1 oz serving of american cheese contains 5.1 g of protein, about 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
American cheese is a moderate source of protein, and about 20% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against yogurt (whole milk, plain), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.8 g less protein (yogurt (whole milk, plain) has 5.9 g per 1 container).
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