Lab-Aids: Cheese Making Kit

Students will love making cheese using basic modern science concepts and one of the oldest scientific processes: enzymatic action. In this easy-to-do experiment, students first add viable, non-toxic bacteria to milk to adjusts the pH and enhances the flavor. They then add a milk clotting enzyme, a fermentation-derived product that is extremely effective at producing cheese curds. The process must be done over a two day period which allows students to study live, harmless bacteria in an important food process as well as the live bacteria itself. Open-ended activity suggestions are included in the teacher's guide.