Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for producing cheese containing substantially all of the casein and whey proteins in milk. The cheese is produced by ultrafiltering and diafiltering milk to obtain a concentrate having a solids content desired in the cheese, increasing the ionic strength of the concentrate by adding a salt to prevent coagulation during fermenting, fermenting the concentrate without producing a coagulum, preheating the fermented concentrate and evaporating water from the concentrate to obtain cheese having substantially all the casein and whey proteins in milk. Preferably, ultrafiltering and diafiltering produce a concentrate having a concentration ratio of about 3:1 to 6:1, the salt is sodium chloride added in an amount of about 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight, fermenting is to a pH of about 4.9 to 5.5, preheating is to a temperature of about 60.degree.-100.degree. C., evaporating is continuous at below pressure and the cheese has a solids content of about 58-71 percent.

Abstract: Cheese containing substantially all the casein and whey protein present in milk is prepared by concentrating milk, increasing ionic strength of the concentrated milk, fermenting the concentrate with a lactic acid-producing bacteria and evaporating water from the fermented concentrate. By increasing the ionic strength, coagulation is prevented during fermentation to produce a liquid fermented concentrate that can be efficiently evaporated. Preferably, milk is concentrated by ultrafiltration and diafiltration to produce a retentate having a concentration ratio of about 3:1 to 6:1, ionic strength of the retentate is increased by adding sodium chloride in an amount of about 0.5 to 1.5%, the retentate is fermented to a pH of about 4.9 to 5.5 and the fermented retentate is continuously evaporated at below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Cheese curd suitable for conversion into natural hard cheese is prepared by ultrafiltering and diafiltering milk or a milk product to produce a retentate, ripening the retentate by fermenting with a cheese starter culture, coagulating the retentate to produce a coagulum, cutting, cooking and agitating the cut coagulum to produce curd, and separating the curd from whey. The retentate has a concentration Factor of 2-8 and contains 1.0-6.2% w/w lactose. Ripening the retentate produces a pH drop of 0.05-1.5 units. Cutting the a coagulum is at a time between 120% and 220% of coagulation time and cooking is at a temperature of 30.degree.-50.degree. C. Combined cooking and agitating operations take 20-120 minutes. Coagulation may be continuous, and a minor portion of the retentate may be separated, fermented with a cheese starter culture and mixed with the remaining retentate to produce a ripened retentate having a pH of 0.05-1.0 units lower than before ripening.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for use in the substantially continuous production of cheese from milk retentate (A) in which there is at least one, preferably several, coagulator tubes (I) having an inlet end and an outlet end. The retentate is admitted to the tube (I) from a feed system (E) via the inlet, forms a coagulum inside the tube and is discharged from the outlet whereupon it is cut or sliced into appropriately sized pieces, preferably small cubes by a blade assembly (K, L) mounted at or near the outlet. The feed system (E) comprises a distribution manifold for delivering retentate to the inlet or inlets via a valve (G) located between the manifold and tube(s) and a pump (F) for circulating the retentate in the feed system at such a rate that the feed system is substantially free of coagulum.