When you’re pulling out a wheel of cheese from the grocery store, you probably don’t stop to consider how it got there.
But, if you had, you might be surprised. Even the best cheeses out in the displays at the grocery store are actually quite a ways removed from the cheese manufacturing process.
While there are many types of cheeses in the producing world, they all follow a fairly similar process. We’ll take a look at what that looks like below. Read on!
Tools
Tools are an important part of the cheese manufacturing process. Cheesemakers use a variety of tools to make cheese, including cheesecloth, rennet, and starter culture.
These tools help to create a clean environment for cheese-making, and without them, the process would be much more difficult.
Add Milk
Milk is the main ingredient in cheese, and it is what gives the cheese its characteristic flavor and texture. The milk is first heated to a temperature that is ideal for adding the starter cheese cultures.
The starter culture is a mix of bacteria and fungi that help to give the cheese its flavor, texture, and color. After the milk has been heated, the culture is added, and the milk is allowed to cool.
Add Rennet
It’s added to milk to form curds. Rennet is an enzyme that helps to coagulate the milk proteins, which results in a firmer cheese.
The type of rennet used will determine the final texture of the cheese. After it’s added, the milk will leave to rest for a period of time, typically around half a minute. During this time, the rennet will work to form a solid mass of curd.
Add Taste
In practice, the cheese manufacturing process typically involves adding taste to milk in order to create cheese. It’s done in a number of ways, but the most common method is to add bacteria to milk, which then produces lactic acid.
This acid is then able to coagulate the milk proteins, leading to the formation of cheese. Other methods of adding taste to cheese include the addition of herbs, spices, or fruit.
Pressed and Drained
In the pressed and drained cheese manufacturing process, curds are first to cut into small pieces and then placed in a cheese press. The cheese press helps to expel whey from the curds and also gives the cheese its shape.
After the cheese has been pressed, it is then placed in a brine solution (salty water) which helps to preserve the cheese and give it a distinct flavor.
Aging
During the aging process, the cheese will undergo some changes. These changes will depend on the types of cheeses produced, as well as the desired flavor profile.
For example, some cheeses will be cloth-wrapped. And placed in a cool, dark place to promote the growth of mold. Others will be placed in a brine solution.
Learn More About Cheese Manufacturing Today
Cheese is truly a fascinating food. The cheese manufacturing process is a long and complicated one, but it’s worth it for the end result.
If you’re interested in learning more about the cheese-making process, there are many resources available online. After reading this article, You might get motivated to try your hand at making cheese at home.
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