Cheese

There are many types of cheese. Their different styles and flavors depend on the origin of the milk and whether it has been pasteurized. It also depends on the butterfat content, the species of bacteria and mold, and the processing including the length of aging. The different colors of cheese are made by adding annatto. Cheeses are eaten both on their own and cooked in various dishes. Most cheeses melt when heated.

For some cheeses, the milk is curdled by adding acids such as vinegar or lemon juice. Most cheeses are acidified to a lesser degree by bacteria, which turn milk sugars into lactic acid, then the addition of rennet completes the curdling. Vegetarian alternatives to rennet are available. Most of these are produced by fermentation of the fungus called Mucor miehei. However, others have been extracted from various species of the Cynara thistle family.

Cheese is important for its long life, and high content of fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus.

The origin of cheese

People have been making cheese since prehistory (before history was written down). There is no good evidence that shows when cheese was first made, but we know that cheese was eaten by the Sumerians in about 4000 BC.

How cheese is made

Cheese is usually made using milk. Cow, goat, and sheep's milk are most popular, although buffalo, camel, and even mare's milk can be used used. Cheese makers usually cook the milk in large pots and add salt and a substance from the stomach of young cows called rennet. This curdles the cheese, it makes it solid. There are special pots for making cheese. Often, these pots are called vats. Some makers do not add rennet and curdle it in other ways. One way which factories use is using bacteria. Other ingredients are added and the cheese is usually aged for a short time.

Types of cheese

There are many different ways to classify cheeses. Some ways include:

• How long the cheese was aged
• The texture of the cheese (hard or soft or softer)
• How the cheese was made
• What type of milk was used to make the cheese (what animal it came from)
• How much fat is in the cheese
• What color it is

There are also man-made foods that some people use instead of cheese. These are called Cheese analogues.

Different types of cheese include:

• Cream cheese
• Processed cheese
• Cheese Curd
• Blue cheese
• Swiss cheese
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan cheese
• Limburger cheese
• Brie
• Gouda
• Cheddar
• Edam
• Wensleydale
• Goat's milk cheese
• Super Adams Smelly Cheese
• Emmental cheese
• String Cheese
• Marble cheese

References

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Cheese