There are over 2,000 varieties of cheese in the world, and each of them has a unique taste. Whatever the cheese, most people ultimately like its taste – some men and women experience such pleasure when eating this product that no other food on Earth can deliver. Many scientists even believe that cheese is addictive, and their opinion is not without reason. The fact is that this dairy product contains a substance that causes pleasant emotions and a feeling of satisfaction. Any cheese is delicious, but you can make it even better by heating it up and letting it melt a little. Then you want to eat the cheese again and again, adding it to all your dishes. Recently, scientists gave a convincing answer to the question of why processed cheese tastes better than hard cheese.
Cheese was invented thousands of years ago, and since then we have been addicted to this delicious product. Source: sgastronomy.ru
Contents
- 1 Why People Like Cheese
- 1.1 The Taste and Composition of Cheese
- 1.2 The Health Benefits of Cheese
- 2 How to Make Cheese Even Tastier
Why People Like Cheese
First, it's worth understanding why people like cheese in the first place.
This dairy product, which was invented around 7,500 BC, has billions of fans around the world. The recipe for making cheese has hardly changed over the years. In short, producers take milk, add a starter to harden it, separate the whey, and press the resulting mass. Then the cheese is left to sit for a while – this is what largely determines its taste and texture.
One of the workers cuts a huge head of cheese into pieces. Source: livekuban.ru
Taste and composition of cheese
The taste of cheese, depending on the variety, can be salty, sour, sweet, and also have nutty and even fruity notes. Also, each cheese has its own texture – for example, cheddar cheese is hard, and brie cheese is soft. So the main reason people love cheese is its taste, which cannot be compared with anything.
In addition to taste, cheese attracts us due to the casein content, although we do not even know about it. This protein, when digested, turns into casomorphins, which, like opiates, cause pleasant emotions and even lead to addiction. It is also believed that cheese can contain phenylethylamine, a substance associated with the feeling of love, as well as tryptophan, which is involved in the production of the “happiness hormone” serotonin.
It has been scientifically proven that cheese contains addictive substances. Source: cas.sk
Health benefits of cheese
Another reason for our love of cheese is its nutritional value. This product is rich in protein, calcium and vitamins that strengthen the health of bones, teeth and muscles. When we are in good health, our mood is less likely to drop, so cheese again contributes to our feeling of happiness.
And finally, cheese plays a huge role in the cultures of different countries. For example, it is very popular among the French: they created the delicate Camembert cheese, and France is also the birthplace of Roquefort cheese. Cheese is also closely associated with the cultures of Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece and many other countries.
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How to make cheese even tastier
It turns out that millions of people love cheese for its taste, composition, health benefits, and cultural significance. Cheese is great in its original form, but when it is melted, it tastes absolutely divine. That is why we love microwaved cheese and sausage sandwiches, as well as hot pizza with lots of cheese. Recently, the authors of the IFL Science publication found out why processed cheese is better than hard cheese.
Melted cheese tastes better than hard cheese because its solid structure releases fat, according to researchers at Yale University. Scientists believe that humans have been conditioned since ancient times to find fatty foods more calorific, which is why we are so attracted to them.
Did this photo whet your appetite too? Source: aif.ru
Not all cheeses melt the same. For example, some varieties spread and stretch quickly, while others take longer. According to scientific research, the melting of cheese depends on the ratio of lactose to fat and protein. Once melted, high cheese content cheeses are always softer and have a more pronounced creamy flavor that is hard to put down.
When cheese is heated, not only fats are released, but also various amino acids like glutamate. These give cheese its umami flavor, one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. People describe it as “meaty” or “sweet,” and it’s pleasant for most of us.
Processed cheese has an umami flavor that billions of people love. Source: elittea.ru
In addition to all this, processed cheese has a creamy consistency. Thanks to this, it spreads smoothly across the tongue and covers more taste buds. So it is not surprising that melted cheese always tastes better than hard cheese.
What type of cheese do you like the most? Share your answer in the comments of our Zen channel!
If you are a fan of Roquefort, Camembert, and so on, be sure to read our selection of 5 amazing facts about cheese that many people do not know. You will surely learn a lot of new things! For example, do you know why casu marzu cheese is extremely dangerous for human health?