How is cheese made?

Cheese is made by nudging milk's proteins and fat to gather into curds, then draining away the watery whey. Cheesemakers add helpful bacteria for tang and rennet to set the milk, then cut, drain, press, salt, and sometimes age the curds until they become cheese.

The fun part is how much the waiting changes things. A fresh cheese can be soft and gentle, while an older wheel grows firmer and stronger-tasting. Blue veins, soft rinds, holes, and stretch all come from different helpers and different amounts of time.