Cheese


Cheese is a dairy product because it is made from milk and there are hundreds of different varieties. Normally the milk comes from cows, sheep and goats. All of the different types of textures flavours and styles of cheese depend on the origin of the milk and whether it has been pasteurized and its butterfat content. Cheeses are can be eaten on their own or they can be added to different types of food and cooked.

The origin of cheese has predated recorded history. There is no factual evidence to prove where the first cheeses were made. It is speculated that it may have originated in Europe, Central Asia or in the Middle East. Scientists believe that cheese may have come about as a result of storing milk. The storing of the milk caused the milk itself to curd. The earliest archaeological evidence of cheese making has been dated back to the Egyptians. Mural drawings dating back to about 2000 BC show evidence of cheese making.

There is a complete process involved in making cheese. The main part of this process involves actually separating the cheese curds from the liquid whey. This is done by souring the milk and adding rennet. The cheese must then be acidified and this is done with addition of vinegar. Depending on the type of cheese the curdling process may be different. Some cheeses are acidified quickly and through the addition of vinegar only.

Curd processing is next. The cheese at this point resembles a moist gel. For some soft cheeses, they are almost complete at this point, but there are other that need to be cut into small cubes in order for the water to drain more quickly and easily. There are a number of techniques that can be use to add texture and flavour to the cheese. For example, in mozzarella cheese, the cheese is stretched and kneaded in hot water. This helps create the stringy, fibrous body. The addition of annatto gives cheese its yellowish color.

Some of the various categories of cheese include:



Age plays a factor in the type of cheese that is produced. Without having preservatives added, fresh cheeses can spoil in a matter of days.






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