Colorado Reader: Udder-ly Amazing Colorado Dairy 2022-2023: Issue 2 | Page 6

Cheesemaking ! ( A Science , an Art , A Craft )

Cheesemaking is a science , an art , and a craft . Science is the tool to transform milk into cheese . Art accounts for the creative skills used in the development of new cheese flavors and varieties . Crafts represent activities requiring skill . Cheesemaking requires many skills .
Cheese is delicious and nutritious . It can be made from four basic ingredients : 1 . Milk 2 . Salt 3 . A good bacteria 4 . Rennet , an enzyme From there , cheesemakers can adjust the basic recipe in so many ways that there are nearly 2,000 varieties of cheese . Cheese varieties can be grouped into these eight categories : blue , hard , pasta filata , processed , semi-hard , semi-soft , soft and fresh , and soft-ripened .
All cheese is made from milk . In the United States , milk from cows is most common . However , many specialty cheeses are made from the milk of sheep , goats , water buffalo , and other mammals . Currently more than one-third of all milk produced each year in the United States is made into cheese .
The cheesemaking process uses science and chemistry to remove whey and liquid from milk to form a curd ( cheese ). Along with a vast array of cheese types , there are also a variety of cheese-making processes .
History of Cheese
According to ancient records passed down through the centuries , the making of cheese dates back more than 4,000 years . No one really knows who made the first cheese , but according to legend , it was made accidentally . An Arabian merchant put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep ’ s stomach as he set out on a day ’ s journey across the desert . The rennet in the lining of the pouch , combined with the heat of the sun , caused the milk to separate into curd and whey . That night he found that the whey satisfied his thirst and the curd ( the cheese ) had a delightful flavor that satisfied his hunger .
Make Your Own Cheese
To learn more about cheesemaking and to make your own mozzarella cheese in your classroom or at home , check out the “ Cheesemaking : From Liquid to Solid ” lesson in the online Curriculum Matrix at AgClassroom . org / Matrix / or scan the QR code . You will find the recipe , video instructions , and more on the science , art , and craft of cheesemaking !

Have you heard of Leprino Foods ?

Leprino Foods is a cheese processing and dairy nutrition products company . They are
Mike Leprino , Sr . making mozzarella the world ’ s largest mozzarella cheese . Photo credit : cheese maker ! The company
Leprino Foods . began in Denver , Colorado in 1950 when Mike Leprino , Sr . started making mozzarella cheese for his family ’ s corner grocery store . Today , Leprino Foods is still family-owned and their headquarters office is in Denver . They have manufacturing facilities in California , Colorado , Michigan , New Mexico , and New York . Leprino Foods cheese and dairy nutrition products are found in 55 + countries . The next time you enjoy a slice of pizza , most likely the mozzarella cheese on top of that pizza came from Leprino Foods and was made from milk from Colorado dairy farmers !
6 - Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom