Disclosed herein are melt-restricted, natural cheeses, and methods of providing melt-restricted, natural cheeses.

A method to produce cheese chips, consisting in provides that cut cheese slices are frozen and then raised by means of rapid water evaporation due to the application of microwave and vacuum drying. The freezing step is preceded by drying and cooling, and the raised cheese chips containing cheese and flavourings are characterised in that their density does not exceed 0.46 g/cm.sup.3, the porosity does exceed 40%, and the crunchiness does exceed 4.

The present invention relates to food compositions that are suitable dairy-free substitutes for sweetened condensed milk, processes for making such food compositions, and uses thereof.