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Call for questions: CHEESE (Patreon)

Published:
2025-05-30 23:08:57
Imported:
2026-06

Content

CHEESE! YES!

Next week I'm interviewing a literal Certified Cheese Professional (CCP), a cheesemonger who has "demonstrated the knowledge and competencies necessary to work effectively within all domains of the cheese industry" including production, retail, distribution and education. She has an MA in Gastronomy, she's on the board of the Cheese Culture Coalition and Saveur Magazine called her one of "America's Greatest Women Cheese Professionals." Leave all your cheese questions in the comments!

Deadline: Monday, June 2 at 5pm PST

Comments

wicker bitch

OH MY GOD MY LITTLE WISCONSIN HEART IS SO HAPPY

Tessa Lew

Why is cheese so delicious?!?😋

Kyhlykat

Ask about the Rouge Blue Cheese from southern Oregon please!

Steve T

Ooh great, I’m looking forward to this one. My question is - what is the oldest cheese that’s still available and has it changed much over time?

Tinnedfishfanatic

Cheese myths!! Please please! Bust the myths of the glorious cheese

Nicky G

What is your current favorite cheese? (Ali and guest expert!)

wicker bitch

Please talk about Swiss cheese, why is that the only one that gets those big air pockets? And why did we get the color so wrong? There's no bright yellow holey cheese, where did that come from?

Zed Shirogane

How do we know what are good molds versus bad molds when it comes to aging cheeses?

Chris Lipford

As an expert, what is objectively the worst cheese ever created? (Kraft Singles and canned “Easy Cheese” are disqualified!) Also what’s the best?

CasualCatLady

Why does it make my tummy hurt 😭 JK, what does mold do for cheese and why is it ok to eat that mold?

Amesia Doles

Ok. I just became aware that Monterey Jack was actually invented in Pacifica!! Which made me think there have been other scandalous cheese moments. Is there a history of cheese invention theft? Justice for Pacifica Jack!!

Nicole S

When was it first made/discovered?

Mike Matteson (Inkdependence)

What can you tell us about the government’s massive cheese caves? Is it all one type? Is it fancy cheese or “American” cheese? Where does it all go?

Daniella Napolitano

Why can some cheese age and other cheese can’t? Can you age cheese at home? Can any milk be made into cheese? Where does the “mice like cheese” thing come from?

Anna Elizabeth

CHEESE CAVES! how can i get my hands on some of this cave cheese the US government is supposedly hoarding?

Kadence

First question! Why does cheese hate me when I love it so much (I’m lactose intolerant)

Sarah king

Why can I eat cheese in Europe and not fart tons and tons but in America it makes me feel like a chubby baby that needs to toot but can’t

taylor

Can you explain what happens in the aging process? I love, love, LOVE a super aged cheddar for the crumbly-ness and the crystal formation that occurs, as well as the flavor change. Thanks from Wisconsin, the cheesiest state of all 🧀

Eating Spaghetti in Bed

Sincerely not trying to be a bummer, but the reason I’ve cut dairy out is for humane reasons. I’ve been searching for a dairy that prioritizes wellbeing. Is there any way to enjoy cheese without causing adversity for the pretty giant fur puppies? If so I’m back in because I miss the crap out of it!

Sarah king

How do they make hard vs soft cheese??

Allison D

How does one become a cheesemonger??

Person

Hi! First time question asker and vegan here, dying to know about the status of lab grown cheese? I haven’t heard about this in a long time but was stoked about the ethical and sustainable aspect of this when I first heard of it. Is this still going to be a thing someday?

Sarah king

The mold on blue cheese?! And all those stanky cheeses

Michael Neumann

Why them crystals in my aged Gouda?! Do these only form in aged cheese and are they a good thing?

Chris Lipford

What is the oldest cheese ever found and then consumed?

Josephine Murdoch

Do we know who the first people who ate cheese were and where they lived? I literally think about this all the time. (First time question asker I think!)

Kyhlykat

What’s the best kind of commercial cheese to get? Like quality and taste wise

Joy Kotheimer

🧀YASSS!!! (I friggin love cheese) Is there evidence that cheese is more likely to influence weird dreams/more likely to remember dreams? Also I proudly display my love for cheese in a new tattoo of a raccoon holding cheese and popcorn triumphantly ❤️🧀🦝🍿

Mike Matteson (Inkdependence)

Cheese is probably one of my favorite foods, and I never know how to pair it. What’s a reasonably cool thing to put on my cheese plate next to a bunch of green olives and crackers?

Emily Krieger

Why do I love it so much? Is it the salt + fat?? CHEEEEEEESE!!!!

Tina B.

Is cheese actually unhealthy? Or are there any types of cheese that, when consumed in moderation, are actually good for our health?

Pavka34

Have you read the Becky Chambers’s series that starts with “A Long Journey to a Small Angry Planet”? If so what do you think of the non-human (can’t call them aliens) view on cheese?

Fiona Dolphin

Why does moldy cheese not make people sick? Also, just why? Why do people enjoy moldy cheese? 🤢

Damsel Cosplay

I'm lactose intolerant, but some cheeses are more tolerable/easier on my stomach. WHY??

Sikwani Dana

I recently developed lactose intolerant 😭 what are *actually good* alternatives?

Diana Teeter

I have questions about blue cheese vs moldy cheese. Why is one good to eat and they other yuck? Is it a specific introduced mold in the aging process that makes blue cheese a blue cheese and not a spoiled cheese? Also is something like a moldy cheddar dangerous to eat or does it just taste bad?

Jen

Is blue cheese really mold? Does that mean other moldy things are ok to eat too?

Elta Sparks

Can you ask about the whole government cheese and pizza restaurant story? Is it film flam?

Mark Condon

I’m vegan, and I have noted that the quality of vegan “cheeses” has improved in recent years. However, I still have not found a vegan substitute for a crumbly, sharp, aged cheddar. Will this ever happen? If not, why not? If it’s possible, WHENNNNNN???? Thanks!

Pavka34

Why do I like it so much?

Ann Eby

Why do we love to eat it even though it can be so so stinky?

Emily Krieger

What animals were we making cheese from first? And can you talk more about water buffalo mozz??

Andrea Burnett

I read in a recent memoir (Lara Love Hardin's "The Many Lives of Mama Love") that cheese contains mild opiates that make it addictive, triggering the same brain receptors as heroin and morphine. Can she share more about this? And are there certain cheeses that have more of these "opiates" than others? So excited about this interview!!

Chris Moore

Is it possible to become addicted to cheese 😬😉🧀🧀🧀

Jennifer Lemon

Is the difference between different cheeses mostly due to the microorganisms that happened to be present in say Cheddar, England vs the Emme Valley in Switzerland?

Pavka34

I remember reading that the genetic ability to eat cheese (or the milk of another animal) as an adult was developed by by humans multiple times in different places. Sorry, the question would be is this true?

Scott Sheldon

Why is it that I want to vomit when I smell vomit which has butyric acid in it, but parmesan that has tons of butyric acid is my favorite cheese?

Alessia

why the heck am I intolerant to this divine delicious treat?!

Timmy H.

How much are the cheese caves in the US worth?

Scott Sheldon

We GOTTA talk about the cheese rolling down the hill thing

Marisa

Cheeses made from Lactose free milk or hard aged cheeses are easier to eat than soft cheeses! 🧀

Heather Dykes

Why is mold in cheese good to some people? Is it just an acquired taste? Or am I just weird hating blue cheese lol

Adam Foote

As my lactose intolerance progresses I should try to eat less cheese, but it's too delicious! What are some cheeses with less lactose that I can eat as much of as I want?

Jade Greene

First time question asker here, I'm lactose intolerant but can't stop myself from eating cheese. Why is it so addictive!? Also, bonus question, is it possible to be allergic to the penicillium in blue cheese and other moldy cheese? I'm allergic to penicillins and blue cheese exacerbated some hives once so I was curious if that was just coincidence? Haven't tried it since then just in case. Was cheese first discovered by accident? Do we know much about early cheeses?

Marisa

You gotta talk about the cheese wheel festival where they chase the cheese wheel down a hill!

Scott Sheldon

What was the first cheese? Did it come from cows, goats, or another mammal?

Empress of Smallwood

My husband always jokes that "cheese doesn't go bad, it just makes different cheese." Is there secretly any truth in there? Also, please talk about the government cheese caves!

Ashley Dewing

Does cheese curd squeakiness really indicate freshness?

Yngvi

What is the most complicated cheese to make?

Emma

How do you know youve got the right mold/bacteria/enzimes to make cheese and you dont just have a spoiled dairy loaf? What is the line between delicious and rancid dairy?!

Ettegoom

Why is cheese so good?

RJ Doidge

Are the “say cheese” jokes as annoying as I’m guessing they are?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Okay so a lot of cheese is supposed to be old and supposed to be moldy.. so is the fossilizing cheddar in my cheese drawer just like, getting better over time? How old is too old how moldy is too moldy what should I not be eating as the adventurous trash panda I am?

JillyDoogs

Why is cheese so addictive? So many different textures and flavors perhaps?

Meaghan Ratcliffe

why do i hate cheese? and why does it smell like farts?

Yngvi

What’s with this cheese that has insect larvae in it?

Bird Nerd

I love cheese wrapped in cheese then dipped in more cheese. I am alone among my friends in my love for Roquefort and have heard there are added health benefits due to the mold. Truth or flim-flam?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Are cheese and wine inextricably linked in their histories, their culture, their economics? Do tell.

Kelley Cato

Why do I like melted/warm cheese but can't stand the thought of cold cheese? Why is cold pizza/lasagna cheese okay? Is there science? ...or am I just a weirdo? It's okay if the answer to both of those things is yes.

Rosy Clark

First time question asker! My wife wants to know how she can make herself less lactose intolerant and if there are cheeses that are better for that.

Hailee Kirby

I've heard that there is a type of cheese with live maggots, is this true and is it tasty? What is the "grossest" cheese you've tried? And Is there any you wouldn't try?

Meredith Levine

Is cheese *actually* addictive? Is it safe to cut off the chunk of moldy cheese and eat the rest, or is the whole unit of cheese done for? What cheeses do you always have in your fridge?

Lindsey Burk

Why is parmesan a perfect cheese? And can we talk about the vegetarian/non-vegetarian of it all? (Shoutout to my parents' costco membership for feeding my parmesan addiction 1kg wedge at a time)

MagpieLaughs

Rinds: which ones can I eat? Putting Parmesan rinds in when making stock is tasty, but there’s often printing on them, is that okay?

Little Shoo

It’s my first time asking a question! 🥹 A bit off topic—are ‘cheese dreams’ really a thing? If so, what on earth is the mechanism of action??

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Any basic tips or guidelines for how to tell if a delicious cheese actually should be exorbitantly expensive or if whole foods is just fooling us all?

Bonnie

Why is it so good

Shirley-Luz Enombo

One of my friends prefers hard cheese “with crystals in it” (like parmesan). Is there a real name for these crystals or any reasoning (umami?) to her preferences?

Lindsey Burk

What is their favourite ACCESSIBLE (aka easy to find in most stores) cheese?

Jballoon

Is Brie really going extinct? My wellbeing hinges on this.

Joy Kotheimer

Do you have a favorite history kerfuffle that involved cheese?? If there is a quote “a day without cheese is like a day without sunshine” I feel like some shit went down during dark times over cheese or lack thereof

Rowena Z

I'm curious to know the science behind why some cheeses can only be made with animal rennet and others with vegetable rennet!

Between Dumplings

Betcha a dollar I know the expert....also I wrote my first magazine piece for Culture: the Word on Cheese magazine! A favorite topic...! OK Q: do cheesemongers talk about Kokumi? I think many know about Umami but Kokumi is the sort of dairy analog and it's why something like a kimchi grilled cheese sando is so fab. Are there some cheeses with higher amounts? Do we still have vast stores of velveeta cheese from the dairy subsidy situation? As climate change impacts farming and dairy, will we see more goat cheeses in the market? What's a cheese you wish more people would try?

Maria Whamond

Why is vegan cheese so gross? Is there ever a hope for a plant based cheese that tastes similar to normal cheese?

Ettegoom

Also, how did we discover cheese? Like how did we get from milk, to cheese? Did someone find some yoghurt that had gone bad, and decided that it wouldn't hurt to try it? It seems like a very complex process with a lot of things that could go wrong, the intermediate steps in the discovery process intrigue me (like with soap, how did we discover that you could clean things with fat and ash?!?)

DeeDeeNoodle

Does my French heritage explain why cheese = life? Except blue cheese. No thanks. Also would love to hear your thoughts on vegan cheese!

FaeryJessa

Does pasteurization make a difference in cheese making?

zackever8

This is my question too! It feels like that gourmet coffee that’s harvested from monkey feces in terms of grossness

Zyz

My 10 year old sister asks what causes the different colours in different cheeses?

Jo Miller

Vegan cheese question, if allowed? How could commercially available vegan cheese be produced better? It mostly sucks, nothing like real cheese of course. But I’m wondering if there’s something in cheese that could be replicated? Thinking like how Impossible foods got the Heme involved to replicate a meat taste?

Maria Whamond

How mouldy is too mouldy for a cheese?

zackever8

I’ve been making paneer at home the last 2 years and I’m amazed how easy it is. What other kinds of cheeses can people make at home? What cheeses are best left to the professionals? Thank you!

Ettegoom

This! My partner gets so upset about mouldy things and will throw out anything with the slightest touch of mould, but will happily eat blue cheese. This seems very inconsistent to me, but she refuses to believe that bread with a single mould spot will be a safe as a piece of blue cheese.

ZZ

I've heard of an Australian cheese made with ants in it. What's the freakiest cheese? Is it delicious??

Ettegoom

I've literally just read this, and don't remember what their view of cheese is?!

Dad jokes crack me up

Exactly my question!! How did the whole rennet and milk and heat thing even start??

Greg Walloch

Why do some people like me love a really stinky Camembert while others think it's repulsive? This love/hate seems almost hardwired and biological, beyond just personal taste.

Aurora Cullen

What are possible solutions to the mold required to make Camembert/brie inbreeding and dying out

Greg Walloch

Is there really morphine in cheese? Is that why some of us are so obsessed with it?

Julia L

Lactose intolerant here…. Which cheeses are ACTUALLY safe to eat for us that are lactose free? I heard Brie has no lactose but I don’t trust it.

Greg Walloch

What do they think of novelty cheeses like the ones at Trader Joe's with apricots and chocolate mixed in? Blasphemy?

Lauren Allegra

Is it true that there’s an addictive chemical in cheese? Or do I just use that as an excuse to eat more?

samwambam

How much does cheese and the amount of milk it requires contribute to environmental issues such as climate change- second time question asker but forgot to say it last time

Dave Brewer

I love the apricot cheese.

Justin Bowen

My wife has a lot of anxiety. Not related to be married to me. She eats cheese to soothe her anxiety. Does cheese have any inherent properties that help with anxiety? If so, do only certain cheeses have those properties?

Dad jokes crack me up

What is it about squeaky cheese curd that makes me so happy??? And poutine!! So! Good! Why is DOP. Cheese so delish? The Parmesan, the Gorgonzola…. Did cheese originate in Holland or did they just do wonders with it?? Can all cheese be vacuum sealed and shipped?

Chrysalis Ashton

Is the blue in blue cheese mold? Why is it sometimes ok to eat cheese with mold in/on it? Or scrape the moldy bits off and eat the rest? Or is that really not ok?! 😂

Valerie Vanderlip

Tangentially to an earlier question about lactose intolerance, I find I can digest sheep’s milk cheese much easier than any cow’s milk dairy. Please help me understand why. Also, other than cow, goat and sheep’s milk cheese varieties, what other mammal milks have been used for cheese making? Are any worth searching out?

Joy Kotheimer

One of my favorite random questions: f*ck, marry, kill but with cheeses

Nathan Marion

As a lactose sensitive person, I am generally aware of the cheeses with very low to no lactose naturally. But what have they been doing to make dairy-based lactose free cheese taste so close to regular cheese now? In the past it used to taste so bad!

Nathan Marion

Is goat cheese actually lactose free? What are some lesser known lactose free cheeses that people don’t seem to know about?

Nathalie Jones

ALI OMG AHHH I have so many questions. Why do we like cheese so much? Is brie still going extinct? Is all cheese equally "bad" for you? (It's good for the soul so imho any health affects cancel out...) Is cheese in the historical/archeological record all over the globe or only in certain areas?

Ellen Storm

I’m sad about the way cows are treated. What are your thoughts on plant-based cheeses?

Sydonie S.

Cheese is literally the only reason I am not vegan. Will vegan cheese ever be delicious, melty, and consistent with dairy based cheese? Also, how do I get your job? As a chemist, I've always loved making food and cheesemaking in particular is something I want to get more into.

Emily Krieger

what is the most overrated cheese? most underrated? how do you feel about velveeta?

Greg Walloch

How did cheesy come to mean corny or cringe?

Dig

Cheese with maggots???? That's a thing?????? (And mites)(For weird bites)

RG

First time question(er)(er?): why does it seem like cheddar can be aged longer than other cheeses!?

Rachel Guthrie

What are the crystals in sharper/ harder cheeses? I love the nuttier taste of some sharp cheeses and always wondered if it comes from the crystals

Charlotte Parkinson

How does different lactose content work in all different cheeses? Some I can tolerate, some I can't. I just want all the cheese.

Laurel Sindewald

Is it true that the extra smelly cheeses like limburger were cultivated with some of the same microbes found on human feet? I can't decide if this is more cool or gross.

Dave Brewer

Best way to store cheese? Does it vary by hard/soft cheeses?

grass

ultimate cheese charcuterie board?

Jenna Congdon

Where and when in history did cheese start to be a thing? It's pretty odd if you think about it too hard- curdle milk, maybe add some mold, wait a while, and enjoy. Do we know which culture first invented cheese, and how they came up with the process?

Rachel Guthrie

My mom grew up in Tillamook, OR on a dairy farm! Thoughts about Tillamook cheese compared to other grocery store cheeses?

Capybara Gall

What are all of the different types of organisms used to make cheese? Is anything used outside mold and bacteria? And which types of mold and bacteria are used to make cheese?

Rachel Guthrie

How did people realize that moldy cheeses are safe to eat and sometimes delicious? I’m sure some people were wrong initially and got sick from cheeses that are too moldy

Laurel Sindewald

Cheese is sort of mold, so what happens if your cheese molds? Is it still safe to eat? Can you eat the mold or should you cut it off? Does it vary by the type of cheese?

Quincey Robisheaux

Why so good and why so yum if it also hurt my tum tum

Laurel Sindewald

Also does this have anything to do with how these cheeses originated?

Erin White

I tend to just cut mould off unless it's a really scary colour or the cheese has dried. Is... is this okay? Am I okay to do that? Cheese is mould so I'm good right?

Graceanne Read

Sometimes if I eat too much rich cheese or meat, I feel a little sweaty tingle under my eyes (kinda upper cheek area). What is that? Are the meat/cheese sweats real?

Erin White

Truth or flim-flam: parmesan cheese is chemically similar to vomit?

Rebecca Morrison

Why do different types of cheese have different levels of lactose (or is that flim flam)?

David

What kinds of cheese have live probiotics in them by the time we get them home? Are those probiotics beneficial?

David

What's the difference between rennet and vegetarian rennet, and why are different cheese made with each one?

David

How are raw milk cheeses looking on safety, expecially in light of research that found viable bird flu in 60 day aged raw cheese?

Reilly

What makes some types of cheese so bitter? Does it have to do with the specific enzymes used, or the aging time of the cheese?

Barbara M

Why are some cheeses creamy, like a brie, while others are stiff and crumbly, like a blue?

Erin Gunderson

Nut cheeses: For the dairy challenged, how close is it possible to get plant cheese to the dairy original with cultures and curing vs. additives?? Who is doing it best?

Taylor Wade

why are some rinds wax and some are actual cheese?

Alyssa Ranker

Where is the best cheese from and why is it Wisconsin? Sincerely, a humble Wisconsinite

Raja

Good question! I'd like to hear about this too please!

David

What is the American cheese that I grew up with? It was labeled a pasteurized processed cheese food product. What other near-cheeses are out there? How do they differ from actual cheese, and do they have any redeeming qualities?

Mara Schoner

Here's a weird one. When I lived in France there was a small company making cheese out of human breast milk. Is there still such a thing?

Raja

In how many languages do you know the word for cheese? (Raja rhymes with papaya)

David

I've had homemade cheese sauce for Mac n cheese that tasted very grainy; do people like that? What should be changed for a smoother sauce?

Clur 🌱

My mom says that cheese was discovered when someone stored milk in a wine skin and something in the wine skin turned it into cheese. When and how did humans discover cheese? Was it multiple places separately or one single origin point? P.S. my dad says "ask it how I can become a Big Cheese"

choirqueer

I would love to know why it's so hard to find vegan cheese with any protein content? It's usually made from nuts, so it seems like it should be high protein, but for some reason the products I see in stores never have more than 1-2g per serving, whereas even the cheapest dairy cheese usually has way more protein. This might be more of a question for a vegan food ologist (?) than a cheeseologist, but if she knows the answer, I've been trying to figure this out for 20+ years!

Raja

Yes! And as a follow up, what's the best vegan cheese you've come across? Best as a hard cheese and best as a melty cheese. I've found excellent spreadable "cheeses" already.

Ara Victor

Oldest aged cheese? Biggest parmesan wheel? Freakiest cheese ?? Most inventive creation method??? im sure the maggot cheese will be the answer to at least one of these. Didnt they also find ancient cheese to eat with some fossilized bread and honey? When does cream stop being cream and start being cheese????

The One and Only Artie Schmutze

What's the oldest still edible cheese? What's the earliest record of cheese? What's the most expensive cheese? What's the rarest cheese? What cheese is the most complicated to make? Is there an objective metric or scale by which to measure cheese stinkiness akin to the scoville ratings for capsaicin? If so, what's the stinkiest cheese? Can you make cheese out of any milk? What's the weirdest animal milk used to make cheese? Alie, what's your favorite cheese? And what's the origin of calling something "cheesy" (and why do cheesy and corny mean the same thing? How about cut the cheese? Why do they say the moon is made of green cheese? And last but not least, if the moon WAS made of green cheese, would you eat it?

Mallory Avery

Why isn’t American cheese considered cheese? Or is it really not cheese?

Ara Victor

I'm from the east coast and I recently moved to the midwest. The most bizarre experience Ive had thus far was at a county fair when I innocently asked "cheese curds?? what the hell is that??" and everyone reacting as if I had broken every known social code. and why are the curds so squeaky? Much for me to learn

Raja

I decreased my dairy intake for this reason (and have now almost cut out cheese because of cholesterol reasons... it's so darn hard for me, but harder for the non-human animals, of course!) and would love to know more about humane practices for cheese dairy production too.

heather bishop

Something so delicious feels naughty, please tell me there are some antioxidants in some cheese somewhere.

Ara Victor

My partner has had a lot of success with goat and sheep's cheese!

Alanna Richman

Does cheese have addictive chemicals? I think I am addicted…

Logan Murray

What’s the difference in processes that give you hard and soft cheeses?

Drtymgrty

Are there cheeses made from any non-domesticated animals? What unique cheeses are there as far as that goes?

Gigi Owen

Why does parmesan often taste like stinky feet and why do people want to eat that?

Jazzercize

FTQA: what makes cheese “stinky”?

Lauren Cooper

Okay I gotta ask. Can you make cheese from any milk? Such as...human milk?

Jazzercize

FTQA: does cheese need to be refrigerated?

Lauren Cooper

Why does vegan cheese still suck so much?

Jordan Smith

What is the longest you can age cheese? There is 12mo, 24mo etc. And is there a point where the aging process no longer makes a difference?

Lauren Cooper

Why are cheese curds the perfect cheese? What makes them squeak?

Leanna Shuster

OMG OMG OMG so excited! I need to gather myself so I can come up with some actually valid questions!

Kendall

How did government milk subsidies shape the cheese industry in the US and what would the cheese landscape look like without them?

Jordan Smith

What's the rarest type cheese, the most expensive cheese, the 'best' cheese?

Lee Wang

Is there any hope for vegans? I'm lacto-vegetarian and one of the biggest reasons I haven't gone vegan is because of CHEEZE.

Andy Pepper

All right. Once and for all, could they tell us: by any definition, is Velveeta cheese???

Erin White

Excuse me what? This better not be happening

Andy Pepper

And how safe is raw milk cheese *really*?

Bel Jensen-Hill

Just how broad is the range on what types of milk you can use to make cheese?

Erin White

I would love to know why some brie has that ammonia/catbox taste to the rind. What's up with that?

Doug Paice

We had a family joke "butter is just cheese with a really low melting point", why is butter not cheese... Or is it?

Sean O'Shea

Tell me something about cheese curds

Nik Smith

How did cheese even become a thing? Who figured out you can eat old moldy curdled milk? (And I say that as an astute cheese lover)

Dave Brewer

The crystals are delicious

Sean O'Shea

When did humans start making cheeses?

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

Hello! Could you please have the guest explain the difference between a diary allergy and being lactose intolerant for those who don’t know. I have a diary allergy but physicians think that I’m lactose intolerant all the time. Also, how is the mold in blue cheese safe? Is there a way to tell when it becomes the bad mold we avoid eating? Should it freak us out that we’re eating mold in the cheese opposed to the mold in the rind?

Storm

why does it taste so damn good?!

Dave Brewer

Did Wallace and Grommit have any impact on the cheese industry?

Storm

is there something healthy/nutritional about cheese or is it just tasty?

Storm

why does swiss cheese have holes!

Storm

i wonder this too! like no way you’d catch me trying moldy solid milk unless someone has

Fran

I call them flavor crystals!

Storm

when did humans start making cheese?

Storm

why is goats milk cheese so different to cows milk cheese?

Kyhlykat

Could you ask about the Olympic silver medalist giorgia villa who is sponsored by cheese ???

Dani Kirby

Why does fresh cheese (ie cheese curds) squeak?

Dawn and Eric Easton

Why don’t goat or sheep’s milk cheeses bother me, but cow’s milk does?

Storm

from my mum (who used to each cheese daily haha) why does it taste so good?

Fran

I had Roquefort in France and OMG it was amaaaaaaazing. HOW?

Kelsey Romero

Why do my eyelids sweat after eating cheese? This literally only happens after I eat cheese. Am I a weirdo? Is this a thing?

Ara Victor

wait. hold on. can you make cheese from human breast milk? or from cockroach "milk"? is there truly even a limit to what can and cannot be cheese?

Tracy Woodard

Unpasteurized cheese is so tasty and has beautiful colored molds, how do we support raw milk cheese producers without also supporting dairy deregulation that could lead to infectious diseases like undulant fever?

Rayna

How do they feel about vegan cheese? I haven’t had real cheese in many years, so I have lost my ability to tell which vegan cheeses taste the closest to real cheese. What is the expert’s opinion? Which brand is their favorite? 🎤

Fran

almonds, salami, fig jam, prosciutto, walnuts, honey...

KayQuimi

Why does a tiny spot of mold make the whole block of cheese taste bad? And why can I taste it but my mom thinks it tastes fine?

Ara Victor

yes yes yes we must think bigger

Lisa Gorman

Why do cheeses vary so much in terms of lactose content?

Lisa Gorman

Is cottage cheese just cheese that's only half formed? Is it actually cheese or its own thing?

jason freer

What cheese should I use for the best Grilled cheese sandwich? Also, dipping grilled cheese in ketchup should be punishable correct?

Fran

In Switzerland I learned that you should always have either wine or tea with cheese so you don't get a "cheese baby" (i.e. bloated tum). Of course I follow this rule as much as possible as I love both tea and wine. But is it true? Why? and are there other beverages that act the same way when you consume them along with cheese?

Tori Baggot

My husband, Seth asks the one with the maggots, why?

Dani Kirby

Can the ologist talk about raclette? How in the world did someone decide a rotating broiler was the best way to cook and serve it? I love cheese as a meal like this but how did we get here?

Lindsey Bartholomew

What is responsible for the different textures of cheese? Why are some meltable, while others are crumbly or stringy? Considering all the different ingredients and processes used to create all the diverse cheeses we love, what sets cheese apart from other dairy products?

Lisa Gorman

I just visited a wolf sanctuary where they said that literally all of the wolves' favorite treat was sharp cheddar cheese. Why do all meat eating animals seem to love cheese when they would never normally encounter it? Is there something that's just irresistible about the combo of fat, protein and salt?

Dr. Lina Carpenter

What's up with cheese mites? Do they like some cheeses more than others? Are they something that came in the package with the cheese, or do they get onto my cheese some other way? What do they do to the flavor of cheese? If I'm not supposed to eat the moldy cheese in my fridge, why is blue cheese okay? And how the hell can cheese makers be sure they're using the "right" mold instead of poisoning their customers? Are cheese molds the dairyman's sourdough starters? I'm half-Japanese and have some lactose intolerance -- but my mom (my Japanese side) has very little sensitivity to lactose, though my grandmother had lactose intolerance. What's up with that? And why is lactose intolerance supposedly more common in Asian populations? Also -- how on earth did Japan end up with so many (irresistible) cream-based sweets/foods if there are more individuals with lactose intolerance? When did cheese really "take off" and become a thing? Was this something that people were quick to buy into? What nation/group first got "serious" about cheese and became known for their quality/variety?

Tori Baggot

I ask what is the first record of cheese? Who made that first mistake with milk? Do we know? What would it have looked like?

Bonnie M Rutherford

I have read somewhere that the reason that swiss cheese doesn't have as many holes now as it used to have when I was very young is because dairies are cleaner now and there's not bits of hay and straw in the milk that used to create more holes. Is this true?

Bonnie M Rutherford

Does microbial rent it make as good as cheese as animal renet? Or is there any real difference?

Chris Curious

What are the oldest styles of cheese?

Bonnie M Rutherford

Why do milk sometimes give me that problems but most cheese doesn't?

Lizzy Martinez

I am currently eating cheese and I am curious why cheese and wine are such an ideal pairing.

Yuri

Does aged cheese have probiotics, and do they make it to the gut? Any studies on cheese delivery of probiotics and the impact on heath? (Yuri - beauty without the b)

Kate Palermo

Can you share a bit about rennet, specifically when microbial rennet was introduced as an alternative to baby ruminant belly? ALSO how the first person ever to use rennet as a coagulant discovered it?!

Hendrix

Swiss cheese - what’s up with the baby Swiss vs regular Swiss?

Dylan V

Omg idk where you are but if you're in Madison, WI can we please hang out?!

Nicole Robb

FTQA: What’s with orange cheese? Also is there really a vault full of cheeses under the United States? Aaaalso what’s the most expensive cheese in the world and why?

Shivani Rajan Hetschel

I once heard a story that cheese was “invented” by milk being sloshed in a canteen on camelback into curds, and the rider was stoked on this new solid milk. Is this true?

Aaron Wood

Are cheeses from pasteurized milk _actually_ safer? Europe has tons of cheese that isn’t, and we can’t have it here in the US because the FDA won’t let us, but how much safer is it, really?

Dylan V

My question is what determines the texture of cheese? Brie is aged but soft, and parmesian is aged but hard. Goat cheese is kind of crumbly. Is it the microbes? Or is it a combination of microbes plus aging?

Anjali Himali

What is her favorite cheese!!! Is there a BEST cheese?

Laureanna

First time question asker! Most people I know here in Wisconsin have a dedicated “cheese drawer” in our fridges. Is this not a thing in other parts of our country or the world? Is it because Wisconsin just has that many great cheeses?

Kate Radford

CHEESE. PROTEIN. CRYSTALS. Please tell me everything. I’m a structural biologist, and (1) protein crystals are gorgeous and awesome and (2) they form in hard cheeses! How big can they get?? What’s the hydration of crystal-forming cheeses? How long do you need to age a cheese to get crystals? I have to know everything.

Anjali Himali

How is something moldy like blue cheese still edible?

Laura Fitzgerald

Is it true that cheese can be just as addictive as drugs? Or that it sends the same sort of signals to your brain that drugs do? How many different kinds of cheese are there? Cheese caves in the U.S. being actual government cheese – what the heck is up with that? How far back in history does cheese go? Where and when was it “invented” so to speak? Do you have a favorite cheese or does it feel like picking a favorite child? What about a least favorite cheese? Why are some cheeses stinky? Like, why does raclette smell like feet? If mold is bad on bread, why good in cheese?

Erin

Why is cheese the most delicious food in the world?

Erin

Like, why are they squeaky?!

Erin

Please list your top 5 favorite cheeses to eat.

Pink Puppy

A double Gloucester cheese is traditionally used for cheese rolling, but what do you expect might happen with different types of cheese?

anon

If a block of cheese like cheddar or Parmesan gets that fuzzy mold on it, is it really okay to just cut off the mold and eat the cheese?

Alice Rubin

1) what's the best way to make a grilled cheese sandwich? 2) why doesn't my home made mac and cheese taste cheesy? Or why does sharp cheddar loose all it's flavor when I cook with it? 3) why do some melted cheeses have a nice pull while others separate and get an oily pool? 4) How are there so many varieties of cheeses when it's all basically fermented milk? 5) Most importantly, why is cheese the best food group?

Devon

Who made the first cheese? And how did it grow from there?

Alice Rubin

why did people think the moon was made of cheese? Is that just a Hollywood gag?

Valerie Bertha

As a severely lactose intolerant person who loves well aged cheddar, could you explain how lactose ages out over time and is there a process that removes lactose?

Maya

Is there a cheese that someone should never eat? Or a cheese that is a common allergen?

Jacob Stock

How does swiss cheese get it’s holes? Like girl, is it breathing???

Nicole S

My belly can’t do dairy. Will we ever find a way to make good cheese from something else?

Meagan Walker

Which is the best cheese for those of us who have lactose intolerance?

Meagan Walker

How does old cheddar get the salt crystals?

Meagan Walker

Where does the cheese to cheese product line lie? Are cheese strings or slices actual cheese?

Meagan Walker

How early did the photo prompt start?

Bookworm Erika

What happens to cheese when it ages?

Meagan Walker

Do you consider non-dairy cheese as cheese?

Meagan Walker

Whyyyy is so much cheddar orange?!?

Jenna pontious

From my friend Sara- Why does cottage cheese remain a widely loved form of cheese?

Meagan Walker

Do you use the same technique to make cheese from lactose free milk, or is it different?

Meagan Walker

Why was little miss Muffet eating curds and whey?

Lily

I just need Wisconsin to be talked about, and why fresh cheese curds are the best and WHAT MAKES THEM SQUEAK

Lily

How long have humans been making cheese?

Karleigh Dehlsen

How did humans decide to use rennet to make cheese?

Kently

THIS

Kently

I’ve heard that the little crystals aren’t actually salt, but something else. I want to say it was an amino something of somekind? I would LOVE a definitive answer on this.

mish the fish

can i make clothes out of cheesecloth?

Leanna Shuster

Blue cheese, mold good. Most cheese, mold bad. So what's the deal with blue cheeses? How old is the tradition of making them and how did people determine that these strains of mold were safe to consume?

mish the fish

why do some people smell like cheese?

Leanna Shuster

Are there parts of the globe where milks other than cow are most common for use in cheese making?

Leanna Shuster

It must be part of the contract you sign in order to sit on a tuffet!

Kently

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CRYSTALS!

Kently

What are the ideal temperatures for hard, semi-soft, and soft cheeses? To eat, that is. Does their flavor change substantially if you eat a cheese very far outside of its ideal temp?

Leanna Shuster

Why do only some cheeses improve with aging? What makes them special?

Debbie Gloom

Do you consider plant based cheese to be cheese or something else? Do you work with plant based or only dairy? (Yep I am a plant based eater but was not my whole life)

Kently

ALSO- how do I find the cheeses with the crystals? I love them, but it always feels like a stroke of luck when I get a block of cheese that contains the delicious crystals.

Kently

What’s the deal with sodium citrate and cheese texture? What’s happening here on a molecular level?

Stacy Graves

Why do some people LOVE cheese and others don’t. My partner’s like whatever about cheese but for me, the more’s better.

joshua.yyz

First-time question! Has there ever been a study to confirm (or disprove) the effect of pasteurization on the texture or taste of cheese? Is it real, or is it just potentially lethal hippie drek?

Stacy Graves

Also, why do some people just prefer cheese product slices to other cheese slices?

Olivia Myers

What are cheese crystals and why are they so tasty?

Rose

Can you share your favorite mold strains that are used in cheese production?

Olivia Myers

How do you know when a cheese has aged enough? Secondly, what makes a cheese a candidate for aging?

soopy

(First-time question asker) Can any mammal's milk be used to make cheese, or just some? What's the most surprising or uncommon "milk" (plant-based included) you've seen used to make cheese?

Caro Young

Why is cheese so delicious??

Caro Young

Is there an easy way to make cheese at home and how can I start doing that?

Caro Young

What is their opinion on vegan cheese? I personally think it’s ok but not nearly as delicious as the real thing

Caro Young

What’s the history of cheese making?

Josh

First time question asker. Is cheese more susceptible to mould growth because specific moulds are used in the creation process?

Josh

Do you eat string cheese by pulling it into strings or eat it like a savage?

Josh

What are some cheese no-no’s? And what is the best way to store cheese?

Sylvia

Is cheese addiction a thing? Because while my digestive system isn’t a fan, I can’t (and won’t?) stop eating cheese. Ever.

Brian Scott

Taking a cheese making class with my daughter is on my (very short) bucket list. Suggestions?

Person

Aw no, the way dairy is produced is perhaps the most horrific, do reconsider! Homemade cheeze rocks!

Dr. Primo Delicata, retired organ grinder

1. Cheese as an appetizer vs dessert? Pros and cons? Please discuss. 2. Was Roquefort really discovered by a distracted French lover who left his bread and cheese in a cave?

SarahN

Wow! So many interesting questions! Texan here (this is kinda silly) but I just like to know what cheese mongers think of Tex-mex queso. It’s a way of life for us! And it’s usually made with processed cheese (looking at you elusive land o lakes extra melt that you can only get as a buyer for a restaurant). But other than that I rarely eat “processed cheese”. Actually, now that I think about it. What is the deal with “processed cheese”?

Eating dog hair for a living

How was cheese first discovered? Where was it discovered? Was it called cheese since forever? Why in the flying fucking hell is there blue cheese? Is Velveeta really considered cheese?

Jeanette-o-saur

So, I have a friend with an exercise- induced cheese allergy. It only flares up if she exercises shortly after eating the pizza/other cheesy food. Is this a unique situation or are cheese allergies more likely to be exacerbated by activities/environment?

Dr. Primo Delicata, retired organ grinder

Stinky cheese. I love it. My wife, not so much. What’s up with cheese that smells like a hockey glove at the end of a long season? Are supertasters less likely to fall in love with an aged cheese with a mature aroma?

Olivier Calas

The French in me wants to tip my hat to American cheese makers who have come up with wonderful creations in the past 15 years or so. Cheeses from non-pasteurized milk remain my fave but the US has come a long long way!

Alyssa

First time question asker! I heard somewhere that cheese has an effect similar to opioids, is it true and how?

Malorie Albee

Why do cheeses melt differently? Why do some not melt at all (halloumi)?

Malorie Albee

What properties of different animals’ milk makes them suitable for different types of cheeses? (Does that make sense, like why cow’s milk for Gruyère and not a different kind of animals’ milk?)

Malorie Albee

What’s the weirdest type of animal the cheesemonger has tried a cheese from? Or what's the weirdest they've heard of?

Malorie Albee

Like I know fat content is probably important but I’d be interested to know what other factors go into that

Her Ladyship Jen

How are we supposed to know what rinds are tasty and critical to the flavor of the cheese and which to peel off? Red wax rinds on Gouda are pretty obvious, but what about Manchego? And drunken goat cheeses? Is there a quick test to know if it's tasty rind or packaging rind?

Malorie Albee

What's the best cheese to just sit and eat a whole block of in one sitting? Why is goat cheese so delicious? Is it something about goats' diets? What is spray cheese?

Her Ladyship Jen

This. Inquiring minds need an expert ruling here.

Wandering Wyatt

I second this. I just always chalk it up to fat plus salt = delicious. I would have a serious crisis if I was told I couldn’t eat cheese anymore.

Her Ladyship Jen

I love this question and am now on pins and needles wondering about it.

Jordan Irons

What makes the good cheese crunchy/crispy?

Malorie Albee

Have they chased a wheel of cheese down a hill? If not, would they? Are there other strange traditions involving cheese like this?

Jordan Irons

Can I cut the mold off of cheese but still eat the rest?

Kayla

That’s where it keeps its secrets

Andrew McVay

Yes, and how about human-milk cheese 😉

Kayla

What’s the weirdest cheese you’ve ever tried?

londennoelle

What is the benefit of processing cheese in caves? Are they really caves or just basements? Also why does “government cheese” exist?

Her Ladyship Jen

Seconding this question. And wondering if we would have less orange "cheese" as a result. Is it like corn where the subsidies created a whole market of alternate uses not seen elsewhere in the world? Is that why Velveeta is a thing?

Kayla

What’s the deal with halloumi? Why is won’t it melt?

londennoelle

Platypus milk? Too outrageous? Does the milk have to have a certain fat content to be turned into cheese successfully?

Her Ladyship Jen

Well, now I'm wondering where "Big Cheese" comes from.

AbbitoBurrito

Thoughts on vegan 'cheese'? I was vegan for 7 years and convinced myself it was delicious. I don't like how processed vegan cheese is, but regular dairy hurts my tummy :(

Her Ladyship Jen

I'm not sure I wanted to know that this was a potential point of discussion.

londennoelle

Why are some cheeses naturally lactose free?

Andrew McVay

In my mind, “cheese” Is separating fat and protein from water to make a tasty semi-solid. That’s why I’ve always called tofu “bean cheese” (legume-cheese doesn’t sound as good). From a cheese monger’s POV is cheese strictly defined as a dairy food?

Malorie Albee

Are there any particularly interesting or intense methods for aging cheese? Extremes in terms of time spent aging or location/method for aging (I know some are aged in caves)?

Her Ladyship Jen

Why are there so many gross rumors about cheese? Cheese made from foot microbes, cheese maggots, cheese mites, roach milk cheese... Why cheese so icky, apparently?

Kayla

Any advice for tasting cheese like a professional? Are there special tricks or techniques that you can recommend (a la wine tasting)? My local specialty store will offer samples sometimes (yay!), but I’d like to be able to appreciate their complexities beyond just enjoying cheese.

Malorie Albee

What's the oldest evidence we have for cheese creation?

Ella

Why do I need just a little bit more cheese?

Allison Menard

Is it true that if you cut mold off of cheese, the rest of the cheese is safe to eat? I always feel icky about that.

Sinclair

Will fresh cheese get EVEN MORE expensive as bird flu sweeps through more farm animals?

Ani Gee

What is in cheese that makes it so addictive? Americans would rather be sick then go without our try vegan cheese if lactose intolerant.

Sylvia

Is it actually safe to cut the mold off of hard cheeses and continue to eat? If so, why isn’t it safe with soft cheeses?

Courtney van Stolk

Why is blue cheese so appealing and delicious to some people, while others find it disgusting?

Cynthia Cinnabar

Are some places better suited to cheesemaking than others? Like, climates or local bacteria populations or optimal trace minerals coming through in the milk, or whatever. If you could make cheese anywhere in the world that you wanted, where would you go?

Sallie McLees

FTQA: Why does everyone say Wisconsin cheese is the best cheese? Like their football team literally wears cheese on their head. Why don’t we rave about Oregon cheese? Are the cows in Wisconsin just cooler and cheesier than other cows??

Kate Noonan

What is the most expensive cheese and what makes it so expensive?

Katrina MacWhirter

I have a mast cell condition that causes me to be allergic to an increasing list of things in this world. I was shattered to discover, around 4 years ago, that dairy had reached that list. Cheese had been a lifelong love. All that to ask: Have you ever attempted to create a truly enjoyable non-dairy "cheez"? I do feel the industry has improved, even over the last few years, and melted, or mixed into a sandwich or salad, cheez can be pretty great to excellent. But still... I miss just slowly grazing on a plate of cheeses. (I realise you may only have experience with the myriad and mystical properties of dairy. It is totally okay to answer no and move on.)

Deli Dames

Has anyone died from cheese? (Injesting, being crushed by, anything!)

Deli Dames

What is the etymology of the word cheese?

Emma Kempson

Is it actually safe to eat moldy cheese? I’ve always been told I can just cut the mold off but I’ve always been skeptical.

Mie [me-ay]

is it true that brie is going extinct? please say no 😭

Mie [me-ay]

this is my first time hearing about this and as a casual tarot reader, i MUST know more!

Mie [me-ay]

what’s the oldest aged cheese that’s still safely edible?

Silvia Triverio

Some cheese mold is good and some is not? How to differentiate? In Italy we have cheese that is aged with the use of little larvae, it is not legal to sell it, but is it for a safety concern? What are the taste benefit brought by the larvae?

Silvia Triverio

Why sometimes cheese that was long kept in the fridge smells of ammonia? Is that dangerous to eat?

Gordon Haas

Here in southern Oregon, just 7 miles from my house, is Rogue Creamery, whose Rogue River Blue cheese was named the World Champion at the World Cheese Championships in Bergamo, Italy in 2019. Are there other small, high-quality cheese producers you recommend watching for?

Agegamon

What determines the color of certain cheeses? For example: cheddar vs gouda vs parmigiano vs feta?

Agegamon

What are some wild or unconventional things cheese is made from? When talking dairy cheese, is it all just "the same stuff" in terms of milk or are my horizons about to be expanded? And when talking non-dairy cheese (including vegan or non-dairy options) where does the sky become the limit?

Guido

Why have we made cheese with mold? Were we just unable to make a mold-free aged cheese? Does the "good" mold help keep the bad mold at bay?

Esther Eline

Why is Dutch cheese (Gouda!) so famous? Is it a historical, coincidence or is it really that special?

rebekah

Very long time listener, first time question asker here! What’s the deal with US cheddar and why is it so very not the same as UK cheddar? (English person with wholehearted love for mature English cheddar here)

Isis

How old is cheese production? How far does it date back?

Euan Munro

Another vote for this question

Dionne Needham

Best things to eat with cheese? Or more unusual but yummy. In NZ we do a thing called mousetraps, bread grilled, spread with marmite (a yeast extract spread which only people who've grown up with it tend to like), topped with cheese and grilled again so it's pretty crunchy.

Liz Smith

I am amazed at the flavors we can get with different processes apart from additives or mix-in ingredients. That is of great interest. I tried an ancient cheddar for the first time recently and thought it was amazing. I just love most cheese! I am also lactose intolerant, but can eat most cheeses all day long. The only one I can’t really eat is buffalo mozzarella. Generally I just cannot have cream, milk, or ice cream. On the other hand my good friend has to take lactase when eating the smallest bites of cheese or event yogurt. This makes no sense to me. Any idea why? Note: the tablets to take when eating dairy never work very well either. If I want ice cream like the Maple Creamy I just had in Vermont; good luck, it required about EIGHT tablets. Is this a cheese or a lactose question? It’s my first time, so cut me some slack. I’ll get better. Much love to you and Pod Mommy!

Zoë Scholtes

As a Dutch person; Dutch cheese is the best right?

Michael Breyette

What cheese does the world make & consume the most of? And (living in the US) why do I never hear about or know the names of any cheeses from Asia? Is cheese big in Asia?

Meg Michelle

First time question! How did we come to discover the process of cheese making? What’s the oldest record of people making cheese?

NoSoftSmiles

First time Q!! How can you tell if your cheese went bad especially when it's supposed to be a little blue or funky to begin with? Why does some brie taste like ammonia?

AussieColin

Cheeses have so many flavours that (obviously) were not in the original milk. For example, I love Jarlsberg for the 'nutty' taste. Does it taste that way because the cheesing process produces chemicals that really are the same as those in nuts, or are they just sufficiently similar that I get fooled into thinking it's 'nutty'?

AussieColin

Wow! Next you'll be advocating pineapple on pizza! :-D

Samwise Cheesepuff

love me some pineapple on pizza! i’ve never actually had cheese on apple pie but i’ve heard of it before and am intrigued

Rik

It was not until I moved to the east coast I found people doing cheese on apple pie. Who thought that wacky idea up!

Rik

Is there really addictive properties in cheese? If there is it explains much in my life 😀

Aoife Holmes

Ok maybe not specifically a cheese question but um... Lactose? What is it and what did I do to offend it?!

Waylo

How many varieties of cheese exist worldwide? Any idea how many varieties have been created historically? How many varieties of cheese does a certified cheese professional need to be familiar with?

Aoife Holmes

Is it safe to just cut the mouldy sides off my cheese block or do I have to get rid of it? It seems like such a waste when the middle looks fine atleast

Waylo

Are there any varieties that are in jeopardy due to environmental changes?

Aoife Holmes

Is cheese a worldwide food and if it was was it always so widespread across the world?

Maria Fesz

Omg yes I second this question!!!

Maria Fesz

I think it has something to do with the amount of lactose or the way the cheese is made, but why can I house half a block of cheddar and feel fine, but two bites of Brie makes my insides sad??

Joel Ingersoll

When you purchase pre-sliced cheese at the store, who decides that certain cheeses get little slices of paper between them and others don't and why?

fullmetalknee

Is cheese actually addictive? Please talk about the cheese caves and the socioeconomic context around them and their cheese!

Penny Kirkman

How did someone come up with the idea of adding mold to cheese to make blue cheese?

James Nance

Is getting "cheese drunk" a thing? I'm thinking of one of my favorite quotes from Scrubs :)

Kelli Brockington

Why is cheese so ding dang delicious??? Stinky or mild - i want it all!!!

Alison Gussack

1. What is the best way to store cheese? 2. What is the rarest/most expensive cheese and why? 3. Is cheese bad for you? (Of course it’s not) 4. When and how was the first cheese made/discovered? I have heard it was in Mongolia by nomadic tribes carrying mare’s or goat’s milk in stomach “flasks”

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

Cheese is such a confounding food to me, some are so delicious and some are revolting (to me!) We age cheese for years and it’s totally fine to eat. Mold = bad, but SOME cheese mold = good — WHY? lol. Why is blue cheese totes fine to eat but the bag of moldy cheese that was forgotten about at the bottom of my cheese drawer a biohazard? Also everyone totally uses the skinny drawer in the fridge for cheese right? People that don’t have a cheese drawer are the outliers, yes? 😂 We love salty cheese like Parmesan and Feta, but I also really enjoy goat cheese - how is it so sweet? Does it have to do with the proteins in cows vs goats milk? Can you make cows milk cheese sweet by adding/subtracting ingredients? Other thoughts I want to mention…cheese making videos are SO satisfying (I’m looking at you Unwrapped and How It’s Made!) Pineapple and feta (together) are EPIC pizza toppings and you with thank me later for it.

Alison Gussack

Is stinking bishop cheese any good? (From Mr)

HazHydro

We were just talking cheese in our weekly family call because my sister has dairy goats and makes all sorts of cheese. Her question is "why is mozzarella yield lower with goat milk vs cow? My question is what kind of goat cheese can safely be shipped from Colorado to North Carolina? Inquiring taste buds want to know!

LlamaLlama

What's the greatest innovation in cheese, and what's up and coming in the cheese world (type/flavor/technology)? What's the best way to store a block of cheese, and if it gets moldy can I cut that bit off and eat the rest?

Emma Weaver

Can you have certain kinds of cheese if you’re lactose intolerant? What is the biological impact of cheese on my body?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

This! When I’m feeling too anxious to sleep I eat a few pieces of cheese and feel better! What’s up with that? ::sings:: “working on my night cheese…”

daniel schmaniel

what lunatic came up with cheese and peanut butter crackers, who approved the mad idea, and why are they so damn good?

Bennett Vanderbosch

What's your preferred cheese for different cheese-forward foods? Grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and so on

Sandra Hendricks

I do just cut the mould off. Haven’t died yet

Abby Grieb

I love sharp cheddar… but what makes it and other similar cheeses “sharp”? And why is it so much better than mild cheddar

Ella Pullman

First time question! 1. Can you explain why cheese should be eliminated if you have candida in your stomach? 2. Why does dairy affect your skin?

Jeremy Green

I know there’s goat milk cheese but how do I find goat milk for consumption?

Julie Harral

Just how moldy can I let it get at the bottom of the cheese drawer before I should think about not popping it into my gob. And also, my spidey senses tell me that cutting mold off of a hard cheese and eating it is less of a concern than consuming the soft cheese that now smells like a sweat sock. Although some of them smell like a sweat sock from the get go. What's up with that?

Kieran H

How are cheeses that are meant to be moldy okay to eat?! I thought that mold was a no-no!

Melody B

First time question asker!! How did the word “monger” evolve/come into being? How is string cheese produced? Just, how does that work? And does the mass production of cheese reduce its nutritional value as compared to the smaller artisan cheese makers.

Lunarcrumpet

Is the moon really made of cheese?

Kieran H

What is the oldest type of cheese? And on the flip side, what is the newest?

Dani C

Can cheeses go “extinct”?

Kieran H

Why does cheese go well with fruit? What’s the science behind that?

Kieran H

Opinions on American “cheese”?

Shante

Why is cheese so delicious? (Ftqa)

Holly Jones

Can you make cheese from any sort of milk, suggesting the nasty hypothetical existence of dog cheese, cat cheese, or human cheese? Are there any examples of this being done? (ftqa)

Spencer Parks

This will immediately become one of your most popular episodes.

e-rennebee

first time question!! how come people with lactose intolerance can eat some kinds of cheese and not others? i know it’s to do with the lactose content, but what happens in the cheese making process that changes the amount of lactose?

Iris Hutchings

What is it about cheese that makes it ok to set out without refrigeration for hours? Are there differences in how long you can set it out based on the type of cheese?

Rhiannon Humeny

What is it that makes cheese so ooey-gooey when it melts? And then crunchity-crispity when it heats beyond that?

Angie Matthewson

My middle schooler wants to know - how was cheese invented?

Iris Hutchings

Agreed! And to add, what MAKES that sharp taste and why is it impossible to find Mac and cheese that doesn't have it? (I've had to find and finagle a recipe so mine will, because I want my Mac & cheese to taste like I'm biting into a brick of mature UK sharp cheddar!)

Meagan Walker

Yes! Why the squeak? Fresh steamed green beans also squeak.

Piper Warnick

What is your favorite cheese made within the US? And because I'm biased toward my state, do you have a favorite wisconsin-made cheese?

Emily Totero

How the heck did humans figure out how to make cheese? How did early cheese making evolve to modern methods? And also how do we get such wildly varying types of cheese—is it all environment and aging process or are there differences in the initial creating of curds and whey as well?

Hope

thoughts on the cheese on those mummies in China??? what was it and why was it in their necks and would it have tasted good? also please tell us about the cheese caves!

Sean Earl

My wife is Thai and loves cheese and has no problem with it health-wise, though we lived in Asia for 20 years and were told most Asians are lactose intolerant. Any truth to that?

positivelaser

Hey first time question asker here, what's the deal with the cheese with the vegetable ash in it? Why is it there? Does it affect the flavour for people because I never notice it.

Britney J.

What is a rind, and why can you eat some but not others?

Jordan

Samuel Pepys buried his Parmesan cheese to protect it from the Great Fire of London in 1666 and it doesn’t seem like it was ever recovered. Would it be edible if someone were to find it today? How would 17th century Parmesan cheese compare to the modern version?

Jordan

What causes cheese pull? Like when you pull a grilled cheese sandwich apart and have to wrap the stretchy cheese around the sandwich four times. Is it a good thing?

Megan Bakan (pronounced BACK IN)

Megan B first time question asker. My spouse says eating cheese before bed leads to more vivid dreams. Is this true? If so, why?

RoadLesTravelled

Despite the wide variety of cheeses, are the enzymes all the same?

Karin Dicker

Karin Dicker first time question asker: I have a tiny business in Ireland called Mini’s Chilli Cheese. I mix cheddar with Jalapeño peppers. I know that the molecule casein in cheese interacts with the capsaicin in the peppers but how? I live for Ologies, I just petted my first tiny spider after decades of being afraid!!! (Tiny spider wasn’t thrilled) Life changing podcast!

Alex Minor

Do they know about cheese being used as collateral for loans?

Alex Minor

Why do I keep going back despite it killing my insides? Why does it kill my insides? Why do some kill my insides always, and others may not at all? Why do I keep playing cheese roulette? 😂

Felicia Tingsborg

All my friends like feta, then in the next breath they say they don't like sheep or goat cheese "it's too funky". What is the magic in their milk that makes it hard for some to stand? What is it in the process of making feta that makes it more palpatable?

Kai Pie

First time question asker! Is there any correlation between eating cheese and having vivid dreams? For as long as I can remember, eating cheese right before bed has produced a very action-packed dreamscape for me. Am I the only one??

Kayla

I’d love to know what the ologist knows about the federal cheese caves! Are they still active?

Sadie Vipond

I've heard about this cheese that is illegal to eat in France because it's too strong, but despite this people try to get and eat it for the experience. Is this true??

Sadie Vipond

Is boursin actually a cheese? I love it but it doesn't seem like I can call it my favourite cheese.

Sadie Vipond

Moon is made of cheese opinions?

Sadie Vipond

Evolution of lactose intolerance?

Sadie Vipond

Animal cruelty in the cheese production world?

Sarah

Why does it frequently go with wine?

Sarah

Why does sheep cheese have less casein than cow cheese?

Sarah

What country produces the most cheese per capita, and what kind of cheese is most eaten world-wide?

Jess Suttner

Is there a max length for cheese to mature? What’s the longest known maturity?

Pavka34

How far is Velveeta from actual cheese?

Pavka34

It’s in one of the later books in the series, but the non-humans are discussing humans and our disgusting eating habits. Key among them is cheese, which they describe in a wonderfully unappetizing way.

Tina Witt

First time question asker, but long time ologies fan here. My mom would always just cut the mold off a block of cheese and continue to feed the remainder of "now renewed cheese" block to myself and my siblings. So of course now I do the same with my cheese blocks. My teenagers caught me "trimming the mold" and freaked out that I had the nerve to now declare the cheese block ready to eat. How crazy is this practice? Isn't cheese a type of "mold" anyway? Thanks, This curious 80's kid.

Itsok

WHY is European Cheese so much better than North American cheese?? Also, I remember eating a cheese in Germany that was almost meaty and you had to fry it to eat it, are you familiar with that? I tried all the smelly and weird cheeses I could while there!

Caitlin Tyndale

My friends and I MUST know more about the government cheese caves!!

Teresa Gleason

So, all those different flavors that are in cheeses, where do they come from? Is it something that cheese makers add? Is it wild yeasts that invade the cheese? Is it milk from different kinds of cows, goats or sheep?

Ariel Emby

First time question asker, obsessive listener! How do you "design" a new cheese variety - is it more art, science, or happy accident? Why do some people like funkier cheeses, like blue, but others hate them? Is it just exposure as a kid? Something specific about their palate? Why do different countries/cultures have such different cheese preference/traditions? Is there any truth to the argument that cheese is good for us health wise?

Ariel Emby

Is there an ethical way to eat cheese, or does all dairy production harm animals?

glen oliff

Why is cheese so good? I mean, really good. (c'mon alie you _know_ you want to read this one)

Samuel Pate

Hey Alie! Why do humans (or other animals) enjoy or even crave very stinky artisanal cheese varieties? Some cheeses are odorous and repugnant to smell but, once the tongue touches the cheese our taste buds explode in happiness. What’s up with that? Samuel Pate

HaardPass

How did Wisconsin become the cheese capital of the US? As a Wisconsinite i can attest that cheese is a huge deal here and not just a foam hat to wear on game days.

SoManyQuestions

What’s the proper cheese for a Philly cheesesteak?

SoManyQuestions

Also how regionally distinct are cheeses? I live in an area that adores “cooper sharp” but when I lived in DC it was unheard of - is this just brand ranges or something more interesting? Are cheeses like wines in being able to distinguish region from taste?

EmiTheStrangest

What culture was the first to figure out cheese, did different cultures “invent” cheese independently? What types of milk were used first from which animals? We keep cheese in the fridge - how did we keep cheese before? When was SLICED cheese a thing? I heard we (Americans) put carrot juice in cheese to make it more orange to look like a certain cheese - WHAT was that about??? If you ask any of my questions I’ll be overjoyed, I’m so excited for this episode

Clemens V

How big can Camemberts reasonably get before collapsing due to their own weight?

Michael Timbrook

I have a cheesemonger friend! I just subscribed to the Patreon and to see this was 🤯 I really just wanna know questions to ask her that will get her excited!

Alicia Henning

So many questions... cheese cravings. Why are they so strong? How do I resist? I am lactose intolerant, so cue any question related to that, as well.

roni 💥

not a question but the fact that there is a board for the cheese culture coalition and it isn’t called the “cheese board” is a travesty.

Kim Greiner

Is American cheese really cheese?

Cindie Flaig

I need to know this, too! And is there a way to tell with an unfamiliar cheese? Or someplace to look that information up?

Kittens8myhomework

Some cheese makes me cough almost instantly as I take a bite. I also happen to be lactose intolerant. Not all cheese has this effect on me, in fact, most doesn't. But I've always wondered, is this my body's way of trying to tell me to be careful? Or is it most likely due to an additive or the manufacturing process? Note, the one cheese that always makes me cough is Babybel, original (Idk if that helps).

Cindie Flaig

And how about "American cheese"?

Spencer Aldridge

Hi there! Just one question: What's up with casu fràzigu?! Sounds not only nasty but also like it has tons of health risks and controversy! Thank you very much!

Mariah Wenzel

What's up with rennet? As a vegetarian, it kind of freaks me out. Can it be used sustainably? Are there reasonable alternatives?

Cindie Flaig

Are new cheese varieties still being invented (and I don't mean just by adding apricots or espresso granules -- though, don't get me wrong, these definitely have their place!) If so, what are the newest varieties you know of? If not, what were the last cheeses added to the cheese pantheon, and where and when?

Chelsea and her dog Charlie

When making a cheese plate, what’s the “right” way to pick cheese options for inclusion?

Cyntia B

Do we know when cheese started to be made in different parts of the world? Are there places which don't traditionally make cheese? What are the strangest ingredients which make their way into cheese? I know of the maggots, ash, but surely there are other strange things we put in there.

Mya Dosch

(first-time question asker and WI cheesehead!!) I just ate a delightful piece of aged gouda and wondered: what makes those magical little crystals form in aged cheeses? And why are they the most delicious?

julia_n_budbud

Is there a such a thing as real cheese and fake cheese? Ie. are kraft singles actually cheese in the same way that cheddar is?

Derek Breid

FTQA here: I'm curious about the factors that made Europe such a hotbed for cheesecraft. Like, why does every village in Europe seem to have its own variety of cheese?

Olivia

was there a time in history where moldy cheeses couldnt be digested by humans? did our stomachs just evolve to be able to eat hunks of mold without illness or death?

She Purple

I had The Best Cheese at a restaurant at Disneyland once. It was orange like a cheddar, it had salt crystals in it, and it also had blue veins like a bleu cheese. 1. What was that 2. How do I get more It’s been ten years and I still dream of that cheese.

Sophia A

Can we please talk about Reagan’s Cheese Caves…

Ronja Regen

WHY IS CHEESE SO DELICIOUS? Who can be mad at mice and rats frankly? And: can a rule to mold be applied that goes something like - tastes good - is good? Thanks Alie, i wish there were more of you so I could listen 5 times a week!

Isaac Annal

Can vegan cheese ever mimic real cheese?

Carley Cross

My level of excitement for this one is off the charts, Alie!! The level to which I love cheese is, well, maybe excessive. So, how much cheese is too much cheese? What was the first known culture to make cheese, and how long ago might that have been? What is the ologist's favorite cheese to put on a burger?

Felipe Jimenez

What’s the weirdest—but successful—pairing you’ve tried with cheese? I tried a couple of fun unexpected ones in a cheese bar in Amsterdam and would love to hear from the expert a recommendation that would surprise us!

Tall Floating Dog

Not a question, but I was president of my college's cheese club 😅🧀

Hannah E

FTQA: is there a limit to how long a cheese can be aged? What is the oldest known cheese (that may or may not have still been edible?)

Tom & Dee Dee

Are there commercial services for providing microbial cultures to cheese makers, and are these limited in the range of cultures available to making vegan non-daily cheeses?

Michael MacLeod

What is your opinion on the controversy that happened at the Good Food Awards competition in April 2024 when a vegan cheese made by Climax Foods won the blue cheese category but was then later disqualified for dubious reasons?

Michael MacLeod

Can you give us a brief overview of how humans might have accidentally discovered cheesemaking?

Marcy and Maeve

Absolutely blocked up with questions. What types of milk can be used to make cheese and how do their different compositions impact flavor and texture? What makes a cheese soft, medium, or hard? How does crystallization occur in cheese and why is it the best thing ever?

Alia Myers

How does an animal’s diet affect the quality/characteristics of their cheese?

Alia Myers

How did we “discover” cheese? Seems like a crazy thing to do

Alia Myers

Blue cheese …… Is that stuff Mold? Is it okay that we’re eating mold?

Alia Myers

Tell me about feta cheese textures

Alia Myers

Why are aged cheeses so delicious? What exactly does the aging process look like?

Alia Myers

How is Brie so creamy? Do we add anything to it ?

Alia Myers

As a Canadian I need to know … what exactly are cheese curds and how are they so ooey gooey?

Alia Myers

What is your favourite type of cheese? What’s the best cheese you’ve ever had?

Alia Myers

Why are charcuterie boards like crack?

Debbie Powers

First time question-asker, Wisconsinite, and cheese afficionado here! What are your best tips for pairing cheeses with nuts, jams, honeys, fruits, ect. Is there a book or resource you recommend, or a few tried and true combinations? Thanks in advance! For years I have been listening to the back catalogue of episodes, in order, and am almost caught up. I am so excited to make it to this episode!

Matthew Walcher

Why do some cheeses in the grocery store say it is some sort of style, like "Greek Style" instead of "feta"? What am I eating if they can't call it feta and is it less real or less healthy?

Leanna Shuster

Why and when did the word "cheesy" take on its non-food related meaning?

Chris Eff

Can any animal’s milk be used to make cheese or just the animals like goats and cows who produce milk outside of a mothering process? Like god help us, could there be bat cheese out there somewhere?

Samuel Schaar

First time question asker, fanatical ologies devotee, and literal dad who laughs out loud at every pod dad joke...does eating cheese come with any health benefits? From what I've seen it gets mixed reviews from health experts and presents challenges for the lactose intolerant, but I am wondering what, if any, benefits (i.e. vitamins, minerals, etc.) consuming cheese may provide?

Alex Eli

Why does cheese have such a strong specific smell?

GhoulNextDoor

Why do we use the types of milk we do for cheese making? Such as cow and goat and I’m sure some others I’m ignorant to. What makes a milk good for a cheese?

GhoulNextDoor

Are there really some cheeses that are lower in lactose and better for lactose intolerant people? If so why is there less?

Sarah Burkhalter

First time asker, Why is American cheese so good on burgers and so crappy everywhere else? Is it even real cheese?

Andrew Graetz

Is it true that cheese can literally be addictive?

Claire Gebben

First time question asker - why do some cheeses melt and become liquid like mozzarella and some hold their shape like halloumi?

Fuzzgoddess

What is the minimum requirement for something to be called cheese? Cheese comes in vastly different varieties, from cream cheese to stilton, and I wonder if there's some unifying quality that makes it all cheese.

Beck

First time question! What is the oldest specimen of cheese ever found? Did they eat it?

Jerry Brown

Is nut cheese that use the same bacteria as dairy cheese technically cheese?

Jerry Brown

First time/long time 🤓

Earl of Greymalkin

:D Both me and my cat are big cheese fans!! Very excited for this episode. 1) What are the core variables that generate the diversity of cheeses? How easy to replicate are they across locations/cheesemakers? What are a few cheeses that represent different areas of cheese diversity? 2) Is tofu a bean cheese?? 3) How does the cheese industry work from producers to seasonality to marketing to cheese competitions? 4) When was cheese invented? Did people just figure out it was a great way to make dairy solid for storage/portability, or is there more to it? 5) Is anyone innovating new cheese techniques these days? 6) If we want to try some of the rarer cheeses that are hard to get in stores, is there an internet resource to try? 7) Are there easier at-home cheeses you would recommend beginners try making? How do we not accidentally poison ourselves with weird microbes? 8) Are there particular microbes used in cheese? 9) Do cheese professionals do the Wallace and Gromit hands very often? 10) Does the US government really have a cave full of cheese somewhere? Is it getting better with age?

Olivia K

Nervous first time question asker who is an avid listener and got this Patreon sub as a recent gift (shout out to Alex M!)- how does cheese actually relate to “cheesy,” aka meaning inauthentic and corny (a food to describe another food?) In hindsight, this whole message is a bit cheesy, oops!

Casey

First time question asker here...not a groundbreaking one, but very curious to know what is her favorite cheese currently!? And Alie (love you so much) what about you?

Julie Dupre

How does one become a Certified Cheese Professional? Does having a cheese drawer in your fridge instead of a cold cuts drawer make you a CCP?

Stacie Dow

First time question asker! When I was in grad school I took a dairy class and we visited dairies around western PA. I was shocked at the differences - some allowing calves to stay with mum and some being immediately taken away. How do you see cheese becoming more or less sustainable in the future?

Savannah McGuire

Why is cheese so additive? I haven't met a cheese I didn't like!

Savannah McGuire

Why do some people not like cheese? My mom does not like the taste or smell of cheese even though she is not allergic.

Kirsten Love

I love cheese, but sometimes it feels like it started as a dare. Eat this smelly one! Now try this runny one! Especially the one with maggots in the rind.

Cindie Flaig

Me, again! Forgot to mention that I'm a first-time question asker! (Thought it absolutely VITAL that you know this!)

izzy bee

would love to know more about lactose intolerance. i know it’s based on a gene but how many people are intolerant? why? what does it cause to happen in your body (why the tummy aches 😂)?

Jordan

Do you have a cheese bucket list? If so, what is on it?

AnneVan

First time question asker! How far back (and to where) can we trace the history of cheese? What current cheese(s) might be closest to that type? It seems as though the expertise around cheese, wine, beer, and bread might be similar due to their dependence on microbiota. Do you think that applies?

Brittany Shafis

Do you know about the cheese caves in Missouri and the cheese castle in Wisconsin? What is the cutest/ funniest shaped hard cheese product you’ve seen? Have you seen a sculpture made of cheese? Love from Wisconsin 🐄🧀

Brittany Shafis

Why is poutine not a thing in the States?

Brittany Shafis

At a bar in Milwaukee I had a dark beer with a slice of cheddar as a beer garnish. I am a big fan of Brie and pear flatbread. Spreading cream cheese on a plate, topping with cocktail sauce/hot sauce, and then with crab meat, is a great dip too.

Cassidy Weber

My boyfriend is OBSESSED with cheese. I mean no bag of shredded Mexican blend is safe. Why? Are there specific qualities about cheeses that make them so addictive?

Jeremy Green

First timer question asker! Is there a cheese more expensive than parmigiana regiano? What makes some cheeses hard and others soft?

Sam Acker

(pronounced acre) I'm a Wisconsinite who loves cheese, but I also feel somewhat guilty consuming dairy products when I know how energy intensive of a process milk production is. What alternatives are there to support the dairy industry in other ways?

Sam Acker

(pronounced acre) I'm fascinated by the fact that ricotta is not technically cheese, as it's made from the whey, the byproduct of the cheese making process and is therefore not "cheese." Does our Ologist agree with this? Is this commonly agreed upon in the industry or a point of contention? Where do you draw the line between a cheese and something like ricotta? Thanks!

Tim Barth

What cheeses are best for someone who has a lactose or dairy intolerance, and why?

Tyler

Why do people like stinky cheeses?

Mouse Paxton

AW YES BABEY THIS MOUSE LOVES CHEESE Where did the idea that mice love cheese come from? I've actually heard that mice are not overly interested in it (myself excluded, I will destroy a cheese board). Why am I allergic to some blue cheeses but not others? Is the maggot cheese good enough to make it worth eating? I'll try most things but that's just too much for me. Is there a reason why cheese always seems to be made with milk from hooved animals (cows, goats, sheep)? Are there non-hooved animals we can make cheese with? Are there animals whose potential in creating cheeses are underrated/unexplored? What is the prettiest cheese you've come across? Any particularly rare or unusual cheeses you would recommend that people seek out?

Keely Chavez

Limburger. Hot mess of EW yet yum… not available in US, WHY?!

Keely Chavez

From Mrs. Georgi (George-e) Chavez: What is the most expensive cheese? Why is it so expensive? Is it good?

Keely Chavez

Some of us are addicted to cheese. Some of us aren’t? What’s wrong with those who aren’t? 😁

paige gray

Avid listener, first time question asker ¨̮ How in the heck did they even find out you can make cheese and eat it?

A softly boiled egg

I love cheese and dairy but feeling increasingly conflicted about its impact on the environment and the separation of calves from cows. Does the cheesemonger ever also worry about these concerns? Are there any awesome vegan cheeses they like?

A softly boiled egg

What non-cheese items do they recommend to add to a cheeseboard? (eg grapes and jams)

Jacob Morvay

How do I know if my cheese is still good to eat? If there is mold do you just cut it off or does is it like bread where you throw the whole thing away? Also - cheese is gods gift to us mere mortals.

Jovie D.

I second this question! Is there a humane way to eat cheese?

Geoffrey Bloomer

- how aging & environment effect flavor & texture of the final product wio adding anything beyond the basic milk, salt, bacterialcultures, & rennet - or, are non-cow cheeses actually lactose free (I get nothing but contradictory info when look into it) Yogurt (Cheese adjacent question?) -how the different bacteria used around the world changes flavor & consisterncy. Ex - Bulgarian style yogurt runnier & tangy - Greek style is thick with a dry tannin finish - Indian style is less thick than Greek but not as liquid as Bulgarian & tastes like cottage cheese 3. there was an artist that was making Brie with cultures from different parts of the human body. l'd like to hear a professionals view of the process & final product

Mark Condon

The amino acid tyrosine is a major component of the crystals. The word "tyrosine" is derived from the Greek "turos", which means "cheese". Sorry to geek out on this; I teach biology, and I love sharing these factoids with my classes! :)

Allison Menard

What is it about the chemistry of cheese that makes it easier for many people to digest in comparison to milk & cream?

Jordan

What is the environmental impact of cheese? Are there ways to find more sustainable/environmentally friendly cheese options?

CurtisDawg

Are there parts of the world that don't have cheese?

CurtisDawg

When did we start saying "cheese" when taking pictures?

rowantree

Omg hello! Fellow (amateur) cheesemonger here!! This is so so exciting! How do you think about the subtle flavor differences and learn to identify and describe them to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with cheese?

Rob Morgan

Is there a cheese that is relatively unknown that you think everyone should try at least once?

Shayla Borger

whats up with the cheese tax? Why does my cat love cheese so much? She loves cheese as well as cheese curls, cheez its, and goldfish (chips too). Yet she refuses to touch wet food and I even found one that was just chicken and cheese, but no. Since there is literally a term for it and a viral sound on tiktok, it's not just something that my cat does. So, what's up with the need for cheese?

Allison Menard

What is the ologist's favorite cheese? I would love to try it.

Charlie

What is the deal with american cheese? I’ve heard opinions that it’s not a real cheese flavor/the type we get in the store isn’t a real representation of what American cheese is, etc. How did American cheese come about, why is it called that, and does it count as “real” cheese?

Eileen Wang

1. What’s your proudest moment in cheese production? 2. What’s the most bizarre cheese combination (apple pie and cheddar cheese is common but not intuitive) you recommend? 3. How have more modern technologies impacted artisan cheese making? What’s your opinion on this? 4. Can you comment on the philosophical nature and emotional impact of making a food that takes years to age/make? If I overcook pasta it’s like whatever because it took 10 minutes, but cheese feels higher stakes. Is it emotional eating cheese that took several years to conceive and thoughtfully craft?

Han the Bee

What makes cheese higher or lower quality? When I shell out some extra cash for a block of cheese in the fancy cheese section of the supermarket what makes that cheese higher quality that what I can buy sliced or shredded in the dairy section?

Han the Bee

Why is Feta made from cows milk in the US but made of sheep's milk in Europe?

TB33

Let's settle this once and for all: is American cheese actually cheese? How about "parmesan" cheese in the green shaker can?

TB33

Has she tried Casu Martzu, aka "maggot cheese", and if so, what's the deal?

Samantha Reyes

What are some of the weirdest milks used to make cheese? Like, does whale cheese exist?

julia_loves_fun_facts

Is it true that Brie might go 'extinct' due to a fungal crisis? What about other cheeses? Could a lack of biodiversity throughout the cheesemaking process result in the loss of certain types of cheese?

Ami DuCre (Amy doo-kray)

Who invented cheese? Was it exclusively Europeans and then they spread it or did other cultures discover it independently? How was their cheese different from everyone else's cheese?

Stephen Moxley

Did someone actually leave milk in a cow-stomach-dried-and-turned-into-a-bag that wasn’t fully cleaned out and that’s how they discovered how to make cheese? Or is that just a myth???

Lauren R

Michael age 11 asks - How do you turn liquid milk into solid cheese?

Lauren R

Does cheese taste different based on the place it's from even if you use the same ingredients & process? I.e., Like sourdough tastes different in San Francisco than it does on the east coast because of the local environment/ microbes.

Lauren R

Please do 'splain what happens when cheese are: beer washed, ash dusted, bloomy, smoked, etc. Also how do I know which rinds are food & which are wrapper only? And, shout out to the *best* cheese makers (& humans!) at Boxcarr Handmade Cheese in Cedar Grove, North Carolina.

Madeliene Fox

FIRST TIME Q’er!! ::Whats the stinkiest cheese ever to be smelt?

Bradley Ladwig

I looooove the crystals that form when cheese ages. I'm a huge fan of Hook's 15 year cheddar (yay Wisconsin!), which has lots of crystalization. When I was lucky enough to try the Hook's 20 year cheddar there were substantially fewer crystals than the 15 year. The texture was obviously decadent but very creamy. What process would cause that reversal from crystal back to creamy?

redheadedscientist

What are your thoughts on vegetarian cheese (ie using non-animal sources of rennet)? I know it's not traditional in cases like Parmesan but are there noticeable taste differences? Similarly, will there ever be any good wholly plant-based cheeses?

Kristin 🦦

My family wants to say thanks for an episode about a food we all appreciate so, so much. I do want to find out if the expert knows if cheese-making is fairly ubiquitous globally or are there cultures that don’t have anything close.

Kristin 🦦

Oh, I grew up with that epitome of class, sweet pickles and cheddar on toothpicks as an hors d’oeuvre. My husband does the apples and cheese, though.

Magdalena Castillo

Why are so many cheeses named after Jack? Monterrey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack…

Magdalena Castillo

I love all the Jack cheeses but I live in Spain now and they’re not a thing around here…what are they exactly??

Eileen Wang

Is there such a thing as an “extinct” cheeses or cheese that you foresee becoming extinct in the near future? What cheese do you currently have in your fridge? What lesser known cheese should I be adding to my next charcuterie board Has there been a use case for AI in cheese making?

Cheryl

Yesss! I'm lactose intolerant and cheese doesn't irritate me anywhere near as if I was to have milk or cream

Sarah Morcom

1. Why is the smell of strong cheese delicious in a cheese context but a similar smell would remind me of expired food if it was associated with something elsewhere? 2. What are the biggest differences between countries/cultures in cheese taste? Is what we call brie or feta different around the world? P.S. I love cheese so much, it's my favourite food.

Madison Woofter

How was cheese discovered? Was it only one culture or multiple that created the first cheeses? Any idea what they tasted, smelled or looked like?

Tara Ward

Hope I can still get this in!! Questions from my kiddos (we are, all of us, Wards ☺️). Arthur: why is it good with mold in or on it? And from Will: why do the make it in round shapes? Does it taste better that way?

KristieAdventure

Q for my son Brennan: why do some cheeses have holes in them? Why are cheeses different colors? Is there a cheese that is easy enough I can make at home? If my mom will let me.

Brooke Legg

Why is it that milk and ice cream made from cow’s milk means tummy troubles but I’m able to eat cheeses of all varieties without issue? Is there something in the processing of cheese that makes it not as difficult to digest?

Sanctuary In Your Hand Journaling

Was cheese one of those accidental discoveries like champagne and penicillin where something unexpected happened that turned out to be really cool?

EnellaK

Hi Alie,

Daphne

What cheeses do you recommend starting with for entry level home cheese makers?

Steve Kelem

I hope this will make the cut... Are there cheeses that are better tolerated by lactose-intolerant individuals?

Clairebear

Cheese is good for you, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?

ilikeplantsmorethanpeople

why is it that the older I get the more I shit my pants when I eat cheese? Why is it worse with some cheeses? I've never actually been lactose intolerant but it's like my entire digestive system changed when I turned 30...which is also the age I started being able to buy my own fancy cheese and enjoy/appreciate charcuterie. Does the universe just hate me?

ilikeplantsmorethanpeople

why did the cheese I make at home turn hard as a rock when I tried to save it in the fridge?

Mindy Corcoran Turley

Why does “good” cheese have to smell like toe jam or some other body funk? I just can’t get past the smell and am therefore put into the “cheese simpleton” category. How does this not affect everyone? Do people sense (taste/smell) differently??

Tiara Muhr

Is it true that cheese effects opioid receptors in our brains and that's why we love it so much?

Kristina

Why can I no stop eating? And how does lactose age out of cheese?

Kristina

Yes! Who is jack?! I need to know

Blobfish guy

why is cheese so edicting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lichen

How does lactose magically disappear in mature cheeses? Also what are the crunchy crystally structures that show up in very mature cheeses?

Denise Sanders

I’ve heard people say that European cheese is better for you than US cheese especially for the gut and those with lactose issues. Is this true and why?

JillyDoogs

Could be the fat content. ☺️

JillyDoogs

Goat milk or sheep milk cheeses possibly helps.

Nancy Kay Clark

What exactly IS American Cheese? It certainly isn't cheese!

Sarah with an h

That's just being on the cusp of middle age. Buckle up, buttercup!

James Orsatti

Long time ago I read that the most rare and expensive cheese in the world is made from donkey milk. Is this true?!

Blobfish guy

what is the mostexpensive cheese ever sold

Mother Hen

Is it ok to scrape the mold from the surface of cheese and just eat what is underneath? (My late father used to tell us not to worry, that it was just like penicillin, so even if we ate it it wouldn’t make us sick - but then he’s the guy who had no trouble eating rotten bacon - RIP dad, I still love you immensely!) And Alie, I am a new member. I’ve been listening to you for over a year now. You are truly the best of the best of the best! I don’t know how you come up with your cute and funny little phrases. Brilliant! I share you with all my friends. Favourite episode ever is rodentology (kind of makes sense, as a secondary school science teacher in Canada for over 30 years). Thank you for having the guts to make this podcast happen!

Ranger France

Way too late to this chat, but any bets on who it may be? Only one that comes to mind is cheezytalkwithmadelyn on Tiktok since she is the only cheesemonger I know of. Either way, I am very excited as for the last 27 days my work lunch has consisted of various in season fruit, a store brand gluten free cracker, whatever dip i have on hand, and (the star of the show) two different new cheeses from my local HEB cheese counter.

Sara R Avrams

I listened to this ology twice. I'm the cheese lady in my neck of the woods. I learned SO much! I can teach cheesemaking with a lot more information now! Thanks.