What is rennet cheese: composition and types of product

The content of the article

• Rennet cheese – what is it
• Structure
• Views
• What is the difference between soft rennet cheese and hard
• Benefit
• Harm
• Rennet cheese at home

Among a wide range of other cheese varieties, rennet deserves special attention. The technology of its production involves the use of a special method of milk processing, while the milk-clotting enzyme produced in the stomach of a newborn calf is added to the product. Rennet cheese is used for cooking various dishes and as an independent snack. It is added to side dishes, salads, appetizers, sauces and desserts..

Rennet cheese – what is it

In the food industry, rennet cheeses mean products during the preparation of which milk is processed in a special way with the help of rennet – an organic compound (enzyme) that is produced by the calf’s stomach. Rennet cheese is very important for cheese making, so every gram of it is very much appreciated. However, despite the fact that rennet is very expensive for cheese, a very small amount of substance is needed to make a large amount of rennet cheese.

Structure

Having understood what rennet cheese is, you should learn about the composition of the product and its energy value. 100 grams of the finished product contain 305 kcal, 22 g of protein and 23.4 g of fat (no carbohydrates). Since the abomasum for cheese is added only at the beginning of the preparation of the fermented milk product for its quick curdling, this substance is not included in the final composition. At the same time, rennet cheese necessarily contains only 2 components:

• warm water;
• milk.

Additionally, many other components can be added to the composition of the product, due to which the cheese will be tastier. So, manufacturers sometimes supplement recipes with such ingredients:

• greenery;
• spice;
• herbs;
• nuts
• dried fruits, etc..

Views

All types of cheeses listed below are united by a single manufacturing technology – quick curdling of milk using rennet. The main types of such products include:

1. Solid. Ripening occurs from 6 months to several years, and to achieve hardness it is necessary that the mass of pressure is very high. This type includes Parmesan, Edam, Cheddar, Dutch, Russian, Kostroma, Swiss.
2. Semi-solid. Ripen for several months and have holes of different sizes and shapes. Semi-soft cheeses include Maasdam, Emmental, Latvian.
3. Soft. They can be prepared immediately or with a ripening period. Tastes of cheese, however, will be different. This group includes Adyghe, Roquefort.
4. Brine. Salting, ripening and storage is carried out in a special salt liquid. Such rennet varieties have a layered and brittle structure. Examples – feta cheese, feta, suluguni, vats.
5. Fused. In the production, different combinations of cheeses, buttermilk, milk and butter are used. Rennet is prepared using melting salts and heat treatment.
6. With mold. During production, they use special food mold, the color of which is different. The taste of the finished cheeses is unusual, original, the smell is sometimes harsh.

What is the difference between soft rennet cheese and hard

The main difference between the products is the active course of the fermented milk process and the accumulation of a significant amount of lactic acid in soft varieties of rennet cheeses. Due to this, the product has a soft, delicate texture due to the high moisture content. The character of product ripening is also different: in soft cheese it is carried out in layers – from the edge inward. Unlike other varieties, soft ones contain a large percentage of soluble protein (up to 85%) and vitamins, so they have a higher nutritional value.

A feature of the technology for the production of soft cheese is the long coagulation of milk, while in the manufacture of a solid product this process is faster. In addition, when preparing soft rennet varieties, large cheese grains are used (the clot is not necessarily crushed), there is no strict heating and forced pressing of the product. Soft cheese products do not have a crust, their heads are not marked. Unlike hard, soft varieties contain an increased amount of moisture (about 50-65%) or salt – about 2.5-5%.

Benefit

Rennet cheeses quickly satisfy hunger, but this is not their only advantage. The benefit of the product lies in the following properties exerted on the body:

• normalizes blood pressure in people prone to hypertension;
• thanks to vitamin B it is useful for the nervous system, intestines;
• improves the condition of hair, teeth, nails;
• leads to normal intestinal microflora;
• improves vision, metabolic processes.

Harm

Only the consumption of an industrial, technologically improperly prepared product can have a negative effect on the body. All harm is provided by a high content of phosphate salts, which are added by manufacturers to any food products to increase their shelf life. By themselves, phosphates (E341, E339, E340) do not have pronounced toxicity, that is, with a single use, nothing terrible will happen to a person. Nevertheless, eating phosphate products regularly, negative processes will occur in the body.

Phosphates are universal salts commonly used by the food and chemical industries. Their salts are added to sausages, they are soaked in fish before freezing, etc. All this is aimed at increasing the shelf life of products and increasing their weight. Since the balance between phosphorus and calcium is crucial for the human body to maintain healthy bones and teeth, avoid the frequent use of phosphorus salts, which cause removal from calcium. As a result, the risk of developing osteoporosis and brittle bones is growing..

Rennet cheese at home

• Time: 6 hours.
• Servings Per Container: 12 Persons.
• Calorie content: 305 kcal / 100 g.
• Purpose: for breakfast, as an addition to snacks, casseroles, other dishes.
• Cuisine: Ukrainian.
• Difficulty: simple.

This product is simply prepared, has a wonderful creamy taste and is universal in use. It is served as a separate dish and serves as a component of salads, appetizers, casseroles, soups, desserts. The advantage of home-made products is the absence of preservatives and other harmful additives. To make rennet cheese at home, you need to purchase an enzyme that is sold in a pharmacy or large supermarket. This recipe is not suitable for vegetarians, since the composition includes a milk-clotting enzyme of animal origin.

Ingredients:

• pepsin – 0.04 g;
• milk (preferably homemade) – 4 l;
• water – 30 g;
• salt – 1 tbsp. l.

Cooking method:

1. Heat milk to a temperature of 32-35 degrees, it is important to control this indicator with a thermometer, because otherwise pepsin will not cause the desired reaction.
2. Dissolve pepsin in boiled water at room temperature, then pour into milk.
3. After half an hour, a clot will form from the milk, which will easily be separated from the walls of the pan. If the mass is still liquid, let the milk stand for another 15 minutes.
4. Cut the clot with a knife, forming 1-2 cm squares to release serum.
5. After that, let the mass rest for 10-15 minutes, during which time the serum will separate and the clot will sink. Drain the liquid, then transfer the mass to a perforated container (colander). Try not to crush the cheese grain too much, otherwise the cheese will not be tender.
6. After a couple of hours, the cheese can be turned over, allowing to stand for another 2 hours. It is important that all utensils used are clean and dry, then microbial reactions will normally occur in it..
7. After that, start the ambassador. Rub the cheese with salt, refrigerate, or dip the cheese mass in a brine prepared by dissolving the salt in boiled water. Leave the product overnight, after which it can be served.