Cheese pull
Cheese pulls are the stretching of melted cheese. They are considered to appear appetizing and have been featured in food advertisements and social media.[1][2][3]
Background
A number of studies have been conducted to determine how stretchy and thick various cheese varieties are at various temperatures.[4][5][6] Cheddar and mozzarella have been described as two of the best cheeses for cheese pulls.[6] Various brands and restaurants have been compared by the perceived quality of their cheese pulls.[7][8] The food additive sodium citrate has been suggested as a method for making melted cheese stretchier.[9]
Various organizations have tracked world records for the longest measured cheese pull. One such record was recorded by RecordSetter in 2016, when Carlo Alberto Orecchia achieved a 41.5 inches (105 cm) cheese pull with a pizza slice.[6] In 2023, the Doritos corporation used a helicopter to achieve a 49 feet (15 m)-cheese pull; the stunt involved a 265 pounds (120 kg) blend of cheddar and mozzarella and a 4 feet (1.2 m)-wide nacho.[10]
Social media
A 2023 article claimed that the hashtag "#cheesepull" had hundreds of thousands of uses across various social media platforms.[6] A number of journalists have criticized the concept as unappetizing or misleading about the taste or quality of the dish.[1][2]
Social media "cheese pulls" have been credited in reviving the popularity of restaurant chains such as Raising Cane's, Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory, and Chili's.[11] In 2024, Chili's "Triple Dipper" appetizer, specifically the large fried mozzarella stick that's included, made up 10% of restaurant sales. The sales increased to 15% in 2025, according to NPR, and was credited fully to popularity of videos shared on social media by Chili's Chief Marketing Officer.[11] The chain released merchandise and a Halloween costume inspired by the trend.[12]
In 2025, Jimmy Johns used the term while marketing their pizza sandwiches with the phrase, "handheld, toasted and with cheese pulls you can take on the go."[13]
References
- ^ a b Bryan, Chloe (2019-07-23). "It's time to retire the cheese pull". Mashable. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b Makalintal, Bettina (2019-01-09). "Actually, Cheese Pulls Are a Scam". VICE. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "No, Pizza Chains Are Not Using Glue To Make Cheese Pulls Look Stretchier". Delish. 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Fife, R. L.; McMahon, D. J.; Oberg, C. J. (2002-12-01). "Test for Measuring the Stretchability of Melted Cheese1". Journal of Dairy Science. 85 (12): 3539–3545. doi:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(02)74444-5. ISSN 0022-0302. PMID 12512629.
- ^ Venugopal, V.; and Muthukumarappan, K. (2003-01-03). "Rheological Properties of Cheddar Cheese During Heating and Cooling". International Journal of Food Properties. 6 (1): 99–114. doi:10.1081/JFP-120016627. ISSN 1094-2912.
- ^ a b c d Neal, Alli (2023-08-03). "How To Get A Satisfyingly Gooey Cheese Pull Every Time". The Daily Meal. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Lin, Su-Jit. "We tried 10 brands of frozen mozzarella sticks to find the best ones". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ VanDooijeweert, Kara. "We respect the cheese pull. You should, too. Here are go-to spots in North Jersey". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Renee, Nika (2024-12-23). "Here's How A Cheese Pull Works". The Takeout. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Cost, Ben (2023-09-15). "World's highest cheese-pull as chopper lifts nacho 49 feet". Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b Diaz, Jaclyn (2025-12-17). "Is the viral cheese pull saving chain restaurants?". NPR. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ "How Chili's fried mozzarella achieved viral fame with its glorious cheese-pulls". Yahoo Life. 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ Cobe, Patricia (December 18, 2025). "The food and drink trends that defined 2025". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2025-12-19.