Provel is a processed cheese unique to St. Louis, a blend of cheddar, Swiss and provolone with a low melting point that turns gooey and buttery rather than stringy. It defines local pizza.
Developed in the mid-20th century for the St. Louis market, Provel was engineered to melt smoothly and not stretch into strings, which suited the city's cracker-crust, square-cut pizza. It is sold almost exclusively in the St. Louis area and is the ingredient that most divides locals and outsiders. Beyond pizza, it tops the Gerber sandwich and turns up wherever a melty, mild cheese is wanted in the regional kitchen.
1 editor pick for Provel in St. Louis, ranked by editorial score. All St. Louis signature dishes · Provel across every city.