Cheese-making

Cheese-making is the process of producing cheese from milk. This process involves a number of steps, including acidification, coagulation, and aging. The specific steps and ingredients used can vary greatly depending on the type of cheese being made.

History

The practice of cheese-making can be traced back over 5,000 years to the ancient Egyptians. It was also a common practice in ancient Greece and Roman times. The process has evolved over time, with many modern cheese-making techniques being developed in the Middle Ages and during the Industrial Revolution.

Process

The first step in cheese-making is acidification, where bacteria are added to the milk to convert lactose into lactic acid. This helps to preserve the milk and gives the cheese its characteristic tangy flavor.

Next, rennet is added to the milk to cause it to coagulate. This forms curds, which are then cut into small pieces to allow the whey to separate from the curds.

The curds are then heated and stirred to further separate the whey. The curds are then pressed into molds to form the cheese.

The final step in cheese-making is aging, where the cheese is stored in a controlled environment for a period of time to develop its flavor and texture. The length of the aging process can vary from a few days to several years, depending on the type of cheese.

Types of Cheese

There are hundreds of different types of cheese, each with its own unique flavor, texture, and cheese-making process. Some of the most popular types of cheese include Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Brie.

See Also

• Dairy farming
• Milk
• Rennet
• Curd