How is Cheddar Cheese Made?

How is cheddar cheese made?

Cheddar is undoubtedly one of the world's favorite cheeses. Whether it's mild cheddar for mac and cheese or an extra sharp variety on a grilled cheese sandwich, cheddar never fails to deliver the pungent, earthy flavor we all know and love.

So, how is cheddar cheese made? And more importantly, why is it so dang good? In Wisconsin, our cheesemakers will tell you that it's a mix of excellent milk, expert technique, and a process called cheddaring that produces a bevy of award-winning Wisconsin cheddar cheese varieties.

To meet some of the champion cheddars made right here in the State of Cheese, just take a stroll around our website. You'll find lots of cheddar cheese recipes or you can pick up tips on an aged cheddar and merlot pairing or blue cheddar and zinfandel pairing. Or scroll down to learn how cheddar cheese is made in Wisconsin and around the world.

Cheddaring: how cheddar cheese is made

Cheddar cheese is named for Cheddar in Somerset, the area in England where the cheese originated around the 12th century.

Cheddar starts off like nearly every other cheese: cheesemakers add rennet to cow's milk to curdle it and then separate the solid curd from the liquid whey. But after the curd is heated, it goes through a process called cheddaring where the cheese is cut into slabs that are repeatedly stacked atop one another and turned. The cheddaring process removes more moisture, acidifies the curd, and gives the cheese its unique, elastic texture and pungent flavor. The curd is then pressed into molds and left to age. Mild cheddar cheese is generally aged 3 to 6 months, while sharp or extra sharp cheddar may be aged 6 months to 18 months or more.

How is cheddar cheese made in Wisconsin?

When you want to know how to make cheddar cheese that's among the best stuff on the planet, just ask a Wisconsin cheesemaker. We've been making cheddar cheese for 180 years – since before we were even a state – and today we make as much cheddar as they do in all the United Kingdom, the birthplace of this champion of cheeses.

We're always working to make a better cheddar – our cheesemakers are constantly perfecting old-world recipes and innovating new techniques. From aged cheddar to cheddar-jack and cheddar blue varieties, Wisconsin cheesemakers do more with cheddar than their English counterparts ever dreamed of. This is why we've won so many more awards for our cheddars and other cheeses than any other state or country.

So, next time you're looking for the best cheddar you can lay your hands on, just pick up a chunk with a Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge on the label. That way you know your cheddar cheese is made by the best cheesemakers in the world.