Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Curd refers to the thick, casein-rich part of coagulated milk. It is a fundamental component in the production of various dairy products, most notably cheese. The process of making cheese involves curdling milk, typically by adding starter cultures and a coagulant like rennet. This causes the milk protein, casein, to clump together, forming curds and separating from the liquid whey.123

These curds are then processed further through cutting, heating, draining, and salting to create different types of cheese. Curds can also be used to make other products like cottage cheese and yogurt. A specialized tool called a curd knife, featuring wires or blades, is used to cut soft curd into cubes, aiding in whey drainage.32456

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.