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]

Cheese pizza at New Bethel Ordinary, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2022

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]