Editing Cheetos (section)

==Manufacturing==
{{Further|Cheese puffs}}
[[File:Fabryka PepsiCo w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim.jpg|thumb|Factory producing Cheetos in [[Tomaszów Mazowiecki]], Poland]]
Cheetos are manufactured by blending corn and water. The germ of the corn is removed to prevent spoiling; the germless corn is then ground into cornmeal. Because the cornmeal lacks the nutrients provided by the germs, it is enriched by adding nutrients in order to increase its nutritional value. (Enriched cornmeal is found in the following flavors: Crunchy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302044507/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Puffs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301230420/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Flamin' Hot Crunchy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Crunchy FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=21 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521170201/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Tonn |first1=Shara |date=24 May 2018 |title=Making Cheetos: It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/05/process-cheetos/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=21 Nov 2022}}</ref> Flamin' Hot Puffs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Puffs FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301230413/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Flamin' Hot Limon Crunchy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-flamin-hot-limon-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Crunchy FLAMIN' HOT® Limón Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301230418/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-flamin-hot-limon-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> XXTRA Flamin' Hot Crunchy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-xxtra-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Crunchy XXTRA FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301230416/https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-xxtra-flamin-hot-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Reduced Fat Flamin' Hot Puffs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-flamin-hot-reduced-fat-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Puffs FLAMIN' HOT® Reduced Fat Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720112417/http://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-flamin-hot-reduced-fat-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Reduced Fat Puffs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-reduced-fat-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Puffs Reduced Fat Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018005929/http://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-puffs-reduced-fat-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref> and Cheddar Jalapeño Crunchy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-cheddar-jalapeno-cheese-flavored-snacks|title=CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeño Cheese Flavored Snacks|website=www.fritolay.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=16 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016224424/http://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/cheetos/cheetos-crunchy-cheddar-jalapeno-cheese-flavored-snacks|url-status=live}}</ref>) The mixture is heated under pressure, and then extruded through a die. The texture of the snack is formed as a result of contact with hot air, causing steam in the mixture to expand and creating its characteristic texture. After oven-drying or frying, the product is then tumbled with the desired flavor components (the original Crunchy Cheetos are [[Frying|fried]]). The process takes approximately 19 minutes and each half hour an in-house lab team inspects and taste-tests each batch. At this point, the result of the inspection is determined by comparing each batch to product sent from Frito-Lay headquarters.<ref name=manufacturingwired>{{cite journal|last=Koerner|first=Brendan|title=Making Cheetos: It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy|journal=Wired Magazine|date=24 May 2010|volume=18|issue=6|url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/process_cheetos|access-date=30 June 2011|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714120908/http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/process_cheetos|url-status=live}}</ref> Other flavor and format variations such as Cheetos Puffs, Cheetos Paws, Cheetos Twists, Cheetos Balls, and Cheetos Whirls are all finished with a drying stage in large ovens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smiths.com.au/student/cheetos.htm |title=Cheetos Cheese Snacks&nbsp;— Smith's Snackfood Company |publisher=Smiths.com.au |access-date=26 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917071354/http://www.smiths.com.au/student/cheetos.htm |archive-date=17 September 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As of 2010, Frito-Lay has 14 fried-Cheetos plants in 11 states throughout the [[United States]].<ref name=manufacturingwired />