String cheese is a type of cheese that comes off in strips and is popular as a snack, especially with children. It can be made from cow, sheep, or goat milk and comes in various flavors. Mozzarella is the most common type in the US, often shaped into a log. Traditional versions are produced in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Stretched curd cheese is a cheese that comes off itself in strips, rather than crumbling or breaking. It is often eaten as a snack, being particularly popular with children, and there are several different types of string cheese produced around the world. Many markets carry this dairy product in their cheese section, and it’s also possible to buy string cheeses directly from a dairy or make it at home, in the case of people who have experience making cheese.
Most cheese doesn’t come off in strips because of the way it’s made. For the most part, cheeses are created by pooping milk and then pressing the curds into a block. Depending on how the cheese is aged, the block can become soft and runny, or it can remain hard, in which case it crumbles or breaks unless cut. In the case of string cheese, the curds are worked into an elastic strip that can be braided or twisted for convenience, and this process creates a bundle of cheese fibers that can be broken down into strings.
Several Eastern European nations produce traditional versions of string cheese, as do some Middle Eastern countries. It’s not uncommon to find a wide variety of types available in these regions, including peppered cheese, smoked cheese, herbal cheese, and white cheese. These cheeses can be eaten as snacks, added to sandwiches, served with fruit, chopped for salads, or prepared in cooked dishes.
Cow, sheep and goat milk can be used in the production of string cheese, creating a variety of flavors from a very creamy and buttery cheese to a sharp and tangy one. The texture of stretched curd cheese is usually firm and tough, with some cheeses that crack and feel already in your mouth. Many dairies are happy to cut out small samples for people to taste, so consumers who are considering buying an unfamiliar cheese can find out what it tastes like before they commit.
In the United States, the product that most people think of as string cheese is mozzarella that has been processed into the shape of a thin log. String cheese logs are especially popular in children’s lunches, where they provide an excellent source of protein and calcium. In some Italian-American communities, braided mozzarella is also available, with consumers separating the braid so they can use the cheese.
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