What Is Cheese?
Getting to Know Cheese
Few foods are as satisfying – or as familiar – as cheese. One of the world’s oldest foods, cheese is enjoyed by people around the globe, a culinary delight common to all cultures and geographies. Here, you’ll learn more about the science and the art of cheese – and how to make each and every cheese experience a great one!
How Cheese is Made
Most people would agree that cheesemaking is both a science and an art. The basic steps in the production process itself are similar for most cheese types, but there are many factors, including milk quality, environment, and decision-making on the part of the cheesemaker, that will greatly affect the flavor, texture and quality of each cheese. The six basic steps in making cheese are:
- Starter cultures are added to raw or pasteurized milk to begin acidification or "sour" the milk.
- Animal or vegetable rennet is added, curdling the milk. The resulting solids, or curds, have the consistency of custard.
- The curds are cut with knives called harps, releasing a liquid known as whey.
- The whey is drained to varying degrees, depending on the desired consistency of the finished cheese.
- The curds are placed into molds and drained further. For hard cheeses, the curds are pressed under weights.
- Un-aged, or “fresh,” cheese will then be packaged and shipped to market, ready to eat. Other cheeses are aged and tended to for a period of time that ranges from days to years.
Shopping for Cheese
As new cheese sources and varieties multiply, finding the perfect cheese for your needs can be challenging – and time-consuming. By following a few simple principles of cheese selection, your shopping experience will be both fun and rewarding, and is a great way to expand your knowledge about all the flavors and textures available to you.
The right cheese selection will depend primarily on what you plan to use the cheese for. Is it an informal family snack or the centerpiece for formal entertaining? How many people will be served the cheese? What time of day will it be served – and in what season of the year? Equally important, what flavors and textures are most pleasing to you and your guests? What other foods and drinks will be served? While you don’t need to know the answer to every question before you go shopping, having a general idea of the context and circumstances in which you will present the cheese will help guide your decision about which ones are most appropriate. In the section below, you’ll find more information about the many flavors, textures and varieties of cheeses.
Eight styles of cheese
Like most things, your enjoyment of cheese will be greatly enhanced by how much you know about it. Now that you have a better understanding of how cheese is made, it’s time to further define the differences in style, flavor and textures by separating cheese into eight distinct groups:
Fresh cheeses: Mild, milky and tangy, this group includes traditional ricotta and mozzarella
Semi-soft cheeses: Milky, tangy and sweet, these include Colby, Havarti and Port-Salut
Soft-ripened cheeses: Buttery and creamy, these mild to medium-strong cheese include the popular Brie and Camembert
Surface-ripened cheeses: Creamy, earthy and tangy, these cheeses are mild to medium-strong and include varieties such as LaTur and Le Chevrot
Semi-hard cheeses: Buttery, earthy, nutty and fruity, these medium-strong cheeses include such favorites as cheddar, Fontina, Gouda and Gruyere
Hard cheeses: Salty, sweet, nutty, and sharp, the medium-strong to very strong cheeses include Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago
Blue-veined cheeses: Delightfully earthy, salty and pungent, blue-veined cheeses are medium-strong to very strong and include Gorgonzola and Stilton
Washed-rind cheeses: Savory, nutty and salty, these strong to very strong cheeses include Muenster and Taleggio
Entertaining with Cheese
The whole world loves cheese, which is why it’s an ideal choice for home entertaining. To create the perfect appetizer cheese buffet, select four to six different cheeses with varying shapes flavors, textures and colors – and encourage your guests to sample them all! Allow 1 to 2 ounces of cheese per person, providing a mix of mild and pungent flavors, smooth and crumbly textures and color tones that range from creamy white to vibrant orange. Be sure to pair your cheeses with plenty of good-quality plain crackers or bread – and consider adding fruits and nuts to your cheese board or serving platter to provide complementary flavors… and a festive garnish. Last but not least, identify each cheese with a simple sign designating its name and place of origin – a fun and educational touch your guests will appreciate.
Artisanal Cheese
It goes without saying that the quality of cheese, like other foods, can vary greatly. Cheese quality is influenced by the quality of its raw ingredients as well as the production process itself – and some of the world’s finest cheeses are known as “artisanal.” These hand-crafted cheeses are often produced in limited quantities using traditional, time-honored methods. Created under the watchful eye of Master Cheesemakers, they are noteworthy for their rich flavors and extraordinary textures.
Created in Wisconsin by third-generation cheesemakers, each of our Sartori Reserve artisanal cheeses reflect the care and commitment Sartori is known for. Utilizing the rich farmland and plentiful milk supply of the surrounding area, our network of patron family farmers are dedicated to supplying the highest quality milk possible. Our team of Master Cheesemakers remains involved in all aspects of the cheesemaking process, while our culinary specialists focus on the development of innovative signature cheeses. Each cheese in the Sartori Reserve family has been consistently recognized with awards and accolades in cheese competitions and industry publications across the country.