Did you know? 10 cheesy fun facts

We are proud to handcraft fresh cheese curds and cheddar cheese every week in our creamery. A lot of attention is paid to the way we handle and process our milk into all of the cheesy goodness that we produce. From the farm to the finished product here’s a few fun cheese facts you can share over the appetizer table this holiday!

1. It takes ten pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.
2. To start the cheese making process, milk is heated. This activates bacteria (good ones!) and they feast on the lactose in the milk and turn it into lactic acid. Then we can test acid levels to know when it is time to move onto the next step.
3. There is more lactose in younger cheeses like curds or ricotta, then in aged cheeses like sharp cheddar or parmesan.
4. Caseins and whey protein in cheese can inhibit tooth decay and strengthen your teeth.
5. Cheese is a great source of Vitamin B12!
6. On average Americans eat 33 pounds of cheese a year… that seems low. I’m sure our staff consumes twice that much!
7. When cheese is cold, the fat molecules get smaller and hang on to the molecules that give cheese it’s smell. This makes cold cheese less flavorful and is why you want to set many of your cheese out to warm to room temperature for the best eating experience.
8. Mozzarella is the most popular cheese in the USA, probably because we eat so much pizza.
9. Cheese curds squeak because the elastic protein strands in the cheese rub against the enamel of your teeth.
10. Most cheese is made with just three ingredients: milk, salt, and a coagulant (vinegar, rennet, or bacteria). I think it is amazing that so many types of cheese are produced from the same three ingredients!
    

So there you have it. When you set up your beautiful cheese board at your next party you'll have some amazing cheese facts to share with your guests while you enjoy your cheese!