Abstract: Pasta filata cheese, such as mozzarella and provolone, is molded and chilled by delivering the warm, plastic cheese through a cheese inlet port into a plurality of molds at an inlet station. A fluid, such as chilled water, is circulated around the molds to cool the pasta filata cheese therein. After cooling to some degree, force is applied to the upper surface of the cheese in each mold to prevent a depression from forming in that surface. Thereafter upon cooling for a desired amount, the pasta filata cheese is ejected from the plurality of molds at an outlet station.

Abstract: A method of producing shredded cheese according to the present invention comprises producing cheese in a mixer; forming the cheese into cubes, the cubes being sized for shredding in a shredder; salting the cubes in a brine solution; and shredding the cubes in the shredder. The cheese may be cubed in a cubing device according to the present invention, which comprises an extrusion transfer tube connected to an infeed line. The extrusion transfer tube has an output end, where the cheese exits in the form of a log. A trim knife disposed at the output end of the extrusion transfer tube squares the log, and a cross-cut knife disposed adjacent to the trim knife cuts the log into cubes.