Behold the Power of Cheese Jonathan Deutsch CS322 Prof. Austin Lee

What makes cheese? Milk A “culture” A “coagulant” Salt

Cheese is Cultured Instead of going to the theatre to get its culture, cheese has bacteria added to it Louis Pasteur isolated the Streptococcus lactis bacterium which was used as the first cheese starter culture Buttermilk bacterium:

What’s a coagulant? A bacteria or enzyme that helps to change “liquid” cheese to a solid state Originally found in plants Butterworts, artichokes, etc. Also found in the fourth stomach of “milk-fed” cows In 16th Century Scotland, farmers would clean the fourth stomach carefully and hang it to dry for a day, then soak it in a salt solution and add it directly to cheese

Salt in cheese? Mmm…mmm… Amount depends on type of cheese Hard pressed: Added to stop acid production from bacteria Brine-salted cheese: Cheese is added to a salt/water bath strong enough to float the cheese, causing it to absorb the salt Soft cheese: Helps add a rind to cheese

Popularity of Cheese Americans LOVE cheese In 1906 the average cheese consumption was: Five pounds per person per year In 2000 the average cheese consumption was: THIRTY pounds per person per year

Types of Cheeses English Cheeses French Cheeses Cheddar – white to pale yellow Double Gloucester – creamy yellow color French Cheeses Brie – “The Queen of the Cheeses” Camembert – soft, white-mold cheese Munster – dark yellow, strong flavor Roquefort – blue-mold

Types of Cheeses German Cheeses Dutch Cheeses Italian Cheese Limburger – smelly, white cheese Dutch Cheeses Edam – semisoft-hard cheese Gouda – like Edam, but sweet and nutty Italian Cheese Mozzarella – pure white, made from water buffalo & cow’s milk Swiss Cheese Gruyere – smaller holes than typical Swiss cheese, used in fondues

What did you learn? What is the name of the bacteria used to culture cheese? Streptococcus lactis What ingredients are used to make cheese? Milk, culture, coagulant, salt How many pounds of cheese does the average America eat? Thirty pounds per year What is the “Queen of the Cheeses”? French Brie

Cheese Racing A game invented in the United Kingdom in answer to this question: What happens when you throw a piece of individually wrapped cheese on a BBQ grill without removing the plastic? The Answer: The plastic apparently does not melt although the cheese does. The plastic wrapper inflates and finally pops, after the cheese inside has completely incinerated.

Resources iGourment.com - Types of Cheese USDA - American Cheese Consumption History of Cheese Cheese Racing How to Make Cheese

BEHOLD THE POWER OF CHEESE!