A method for providing a naturally ripened, cylindrically shaped cheese of the hard or semi-hard type is provided. The method comprises: (i) forming a cylindrically shaped cheese from a curd by conventional means; (ii) applying a protective water-permeable coating layer onto the entire surface of the cheese, thereby obtaining a coated cheese; (iii) partially enclosing the coated cheese with a further coating of a water-impermeable material such that the convex, circumferential sides and the curved area are covered while leaving the flat bottom and top surfaces uncovered, thereby obtaining a partially enclosed coated cheese; and (iv) allowing the partially enclosed coated cheese to ripen. A naturally ripened, cylindrically shaped, coated cheese of the hard or semi-hard type obtainable by the method is also provided.

A method for providing a naturally ripened, cylindrically shaped cheese of the hard or semi-hard type is provided. The method comprises: (i) forming a cylindrically shaped cheese from a curd by conventional means; (ii) applying a protective water-permeable coating layer onto the entire surface of the cheese, thereby obtaining a coated cheese; (iii) partially enclosing the coated cheese with a further coating of a water-impermeable material such that the convex, circumferential sides and the curved area are covered while leaving the flat bottom and top surfaces uncovered, thereby obtaining a partially enclosed coated cheese; and (iv) allowing the partially enclosed coated cheese to ripen. A naturally ripened, cylindrically shaped, coated cheese of the hard or semi-hard type obtainable by the method is also provided.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

A method for smear-ripening a cheese is disclosed. The method includes a step of applying an envelope on a freshly brined cheese which is in direct physical contact with the surface of the cheese and which is permeable for metabolites produced by microorganisms and for microorganisms themselves and for components of the cheese and for gaseous elements, in particular surrounding air, followed by ripening the cheese within the envelope. A cheese obtained by the method is less susceptible to develop an off-odour after storage in a packaging material, in particular an air-tight packaging material, than a comparable cheese that was not produced according to the above method. Furthermore, such cheese typically contains a residual smear layer of not more than 10% of a comparable cheese.

Disclosed herein is an anticaking agent for cheese, comprising one or more dairy ingredients; and one or more non-dairy ingredients. When applied the anticaking agent is applied to a divided cheese, it has low visibility on the divided cheese, prevents caking of the divided cheese, and browns similarly to divided cheese without the anticaking agent when baked in an impinger oven at between 425° F. and 450° F. for 5 minutes. Also disclosed are food products containing an anticaking agent described herein, and methods for treating divided cheese for anticaking using an anticaking agent described herein.

Disclosed herein is an anticaking agent for cheese, comprising one or more dairy ingredients; and one or more non-dairy ingredients. When applied the anticaking agent is applied to a divided cheese, it has low visibility on the divided cheese, prevents caking of the divided cheese, and browns similarly to divided cheese without the anticaking agent when baked in an impinger oven at between 425° F. and 450° F. for 5 minutes. Also disclosed are food products containing an anticaking agent described herein, and methods for treating divided cheese for anticaking using an anticaking agent described herein.

A method is for manufacturing brine-salted cheese with a homogeneous salt distribution and/or organic acid distribution and/or eyes distribution and/or texture on one axis of the cheese. The method includes, before a brining, applying a hydrophobic barrier on the entire outer parts of the cheese, which are located at the ends of the cheese axis. The hydrophobic barrier is kept on the cheese outer parts at least during part of the brining.

A method is for manufacturing brine-salted cheese with a homogeneous salt distribution and/or organic acid distribution and/or eyes distribution and/or texture on one axis of the cheese. The method includes, before a brining, applying a hydrophobic barrier on the entire outer parts of the cheese, which are located at the ends of the cheese axis. The hydrophobic barrier is kept on the cheese outer parts at least during part of the brining.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.