A long time ago, in a dairy far, far away
Where was the first milk originally produced?
No one really knows for sure. Archaeologists have found evidence of cheese dating back to at least 6000 BCE in Mesopotamia.
What are the four basic ingredients used to make simple cheese?
Milk, salt, starter (either acid or rennet)
What country does cheddar cheese come from?
England. Cheddar is named after the village in Somerset, England where it was originally cured at a cave called Wookey Hole.
What type of animals give milk?
All female mammals. Not all milk is used in cheese production, but cow is the most common in the US.
What is the most popular cheese dish in the United States?
Who were the first to make aged cheese for long storage?
The Romans. The romans were obsessed with cheese, and had special cheese-making room in their kitchen called a careale. This was originally used to make soft fresh cheeses. Later, they started to store cheese in caves in the age before refrigeration.
What material is often used to seal and protect cheese for aging and storage?
Wax. Cheeses are often dipped or brushed with a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline wax to prevent mold growth and retain moisture during aging.
What type of cheese "squeaks" against your teeth when you eat it?
Fresh cheese curds. This is a common treat in Wisconsin, but it only works when the curds are very fresh!
Chevre
Goat
What company sells the most macaroni and cheese worldwide?
Kraft. Kraft Dinner (aka Kraft Mac & Cheese, or just Mac and Cheese) was first produced in 1936 as a cheap, fast, shelf-stable meal during the Great Depression.
Who is credited with bringing macaroni to the US?
Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson discovered pasta in France and Italy, bringing a pasta machine back to the US. His enslaved chef, James Hemings, likely perfected the recipe, serving a "macaroni pie" at a 1802 state dinner.
How many pounds of milk does it take to make one pound of cheese?
Ten pounds
Which country is the largest cheese consumer, and what is their local type of cheese?
Greece. The average Greek person eats about 60pounds of cheese per year, including about 45 pounds of the local cheese, feta.
Manchego
Sheep
What is the most popular type of cheese worldwide?
Mozzarella. In the US, at least, this is most likely due to its use in pizza.
When and where was cheese first mass produced?
Switzerland. The first commercial cheese factory was established in Switzerland in 1815, although the first "modern" factory using assembly-line style mass production was built in New York in 1851.
What creates the holes in swiss cheese?
Carbon dioxide. Bacteria used in the cheese making process emit carbon dioxide, which forms little air pockets as the cheese hardens.
Which of these Mexican cheeses is known for its mild taste and excellent melting power?
a) cotija; b) queso fresco; c) panela; d) Oaxaca
Oaxaca. Cotija is salty and crumbly. Queso fresco is mild, soft, and moist. Panela is firm and does not melt well.
Mozzarella di Bufala
Buffalo
How big is the world's largest cheese? (Estimate to the nearest 1000 pounds.)
34,591 pounds. This block of cheddar was made in Wisconsin in 1964 for the New York World's Fair. It measured 14.5 feet long, 6.5 feet wide, and 5.5 feet high.
Where does the English word "cheese" come from?
Latin roots. The word "cheese" originates from the Latin caseus, referring to the curdled and pressed milk product. It evolved through West Germanic (kasjus) to Old English cīese or cēse, eventually becoming the Middle English chese.
What culinary byproduct is made from the production of cheese?
Whey. The first step in cheesemaking is to separate the curds (milk solids) from the whey (liquids) through coagulation. The curds eventually become various types of cheese. Whey can be used in baking, cooking, smoothies, fermentation, gardening, or animal feed.
What type of cheese is eaten with live maggots?
Casu martzu. Literally translated as "rotten cheese", this Sardinian sheep's milk cheese is made with live insect larvae from the cheese fly to promote advanced fermentation. It is not legal to sell in the EU due to health concerns, but it is loved for its soft, creamy texture and strong, pungent flavor.
Caravane
Camel
How much cheese does the average American eat per year?
a) 12 pounds; b) 23 pounds; c) 47 pounds; d) 94 pounds
23 pounds. This averages to about 1 oz per day, which is slightly less than the recommended daily allowance.