A piece of fresh cheese ready to eat with bread
Cheese is a dairy product that is made from milk curds . Curd, in turn, is a type of cream that is generated when milk curdles (becomes pasty) and is separated from the whey.
As the curd matures, cheese is produced. According to the origin and type of production, however, different types of cheese are obtained.
It is not refined or matured
Fresh cheese is one that is not refined or allowed to mature . It is a soft and moist cheese that retains most of the whey and whose curdling usually takes about 24 hours.
These characteristics make the conservation of fresh cheese somewhat complicated. Therefore, compared to other cheeses, it lasts much less.
As it does not go through a ripening process, fresh cheese is always made with pasteurized milk . On the other hand, it is common for certain seasonings to be added so that its taste is not bitter.
It should be noted that fresh cheese should not be confused with cream cheese . Cream cheese is spreadable, while fresh cheese, although soft, has a more solid consistency .
Uses of fresh cheese
It is important to highlight that fresh cheese has multiple uses in gastronomy . Empanadas, sandwiches and arepas can be filled with it, for example. It is also used to prepare cakes and pizzas.
Since it melts easily at high temperatures, fresh cheese is used on hamburgers, schnitzels and other foods that are served hot. In some regions, in fact, its use is daily and is part of the daily diet of many people.
As you can see, fresh cheese is a very tasty and versatile food, which can be used hot or cold, as a filling or on top of food, and even as part of a sauce. Not only is it very common on millions of tables every day, but it has been part of the gastronomy of some cultures for so long that it is almost obligatorily associated with certain recipes. Just as pizza cannot be imagined without cheese, for many people neither can burgers and other dishes mentioned above.
The versatility of fresh cheese can not only be seen in the ease with which we can combine it with other foods, but also in the convenience it gives us when using it. Let's start from its already mentioned application to accompany cold dishes, for which cooking is not necessary: it is removed from the packaging, cut and consumed. But it adapts perfectly to the oven (where it can be gratin and crispy), the saucepan (to use it in a sauce) or the microwave (the fastest option).
Almost all varieties of fresh cheese melt easily.
Fresh cheese in the world
In each country we can find different varieties of fresh cheese. In Germany, for example, there is the smoothie , with a mild flavor and creamy consistency, in addition to surpassing yogurt in protein proportion. Queijo branco is the Brazilian version, where it is also very popular.
Fresh cheese is the most used in Colombian cuisine, where it is called queso costeño . It can be salty and hard (this variety is usually grated ) or low in salt and soft. It is consumed both at breakfast and at other meals. In Mexico it is also known as curd and can include a mixture of goat and cow milk. While there are versions that melt without problem (such as Oaxaca ), others simply soften. Two popular recipes that include it are curd gorditas and curd tamales .