Abstract: A calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is preferably a sodium salt of an organic acid, and is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor can be identified in a solubility model as being effective in preventing calcium lactate crystal formation by having no or essentially no visually observable crystals and a minimal reduction (less than 5.0%, and more preferably less than 1.0%) in the calcium and lactate content of a calcium L-lactate pentahydrate solubility solution after 14 days of storage at 7° C. The amount of calcium lactate crystal inhibitor salt is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% calcium lactate crystal inhibitor in a cheddar cheese.

Abstract: Sodium gluconate is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The sodium gluconate is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The amount of sodium gluconate is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% gluconate in the cheese. The amount of sodium gluconate added for other cheeses can be based upon the lactate content and salt retention of the cheese.

Abstract: A calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is preferably a sodium salt of an organic acid, and is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor can be identified in a solubility model as being effective in preventing calcium lactate crystal formation by having no or essentially no visually observable crystals and a minimal reduction (less than 5.0%, and more preferably less than 1.0%) in the calcium and lactate content of a calcium L-lactate pentahydrate solubility solution after 14 days of storage at 7° C. The amount of calcium lactate crystal inhibitor salt is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% calcium lactate crystal inhibitor in a cheddar cheese.

Abstract: A process improves the quality of recombined curd, milled cheese curds and/or cheese components by reducing voids and apparent lines of fracture in the recombined cheese, without the necessity of adding such volumes or types of materials into the product as would affect other aspects of quality such as taste. The process comprises combining segments of curds or cheese with a selected quantity of transglutaminase that coats surfaces of curd or cheese segments to be combined. The curds may be milled cheese curds, and may be taken directly off-line in the manufacturing process 9 with or without cooling), and then combined with the transglutaminase, then fed into a form. The segments with the transglutaminase are stored at a temperature (and pressure) and for a time sufficient to fuse, bond, lessen, repair or reverse the apparent lines and voids between interfaces where the segments are in contact with each other.

Abstract: Sodium gluconate is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The sodium gluconate is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The amount of sodium gluconate is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% gluconate in the cheese. The amount of sodium gluconate added for other cheeses can be based upon the lactate content and salt retention of the cheese.

Abstract: A process improves the quality of recombined curd, milled cheese curds and/or cheese components by reducing voids and apparent lines of fracture in the recombined cheese, without the necessity of adding such volumes or types of materials into the product as would affect other aspects of quality such as taste. The process comprises combining segments of curds or cheese with a selected quantity of transglutaminase that coats surfaces of curd or cheese segments to be combined. The curds may be milled cheese curds, and may be taken directly off-line in the manufacturing process 9 with or without cooling), and then combined with the transglutaminase, then fed into a form. The segments with the transglutaminase are stored at a temperature (and pressure) and for a time sufficient to fuse, bond, lessen, repair or reverse the apparent lines and voids between interfaces where the segments are in contact with each other.