Why are some Cheese Curds White and Others Yellow or Orange?

When it comes to cheese curds, there are a lot of different styles and a lot of different colors that they can turn out to be. If you are wondering why your cheese curds are different colors, there is a perfectly good explanation as to why this batch is orange and the last one was white. So, let’s explore in a little more detail why the cheese curds can be different colors and what causes that change in them.

Understanding how Cheese Curds are Made

To really understand the color difference, the easiest thing to start with is what a cheese curd is and how it is made. A cheese curd is basically a fresh piece of cheese that hasn’t been made into a loaf of Cheddar yet. What happens is that cheese curds are created when the cheese is made and then they are turned into a loaf of cheese. So, milk is added to start the batch, and then the coagulant is added so that it thickens. As the milk thickens, it actually turns into the curd, which is then cut once, stirred some more, and cut again. At this point, the curds and the whey are separated and we get the small, fresh curd pieces that we are used to seeing in the grocery store. This cheese is so fresh; it is also known as squeaky cheese.

Where the Difference in Color Comes From

There are a lot of different things that cause the different colors to come about in cheese curds. A lot of it can come from the milk that is used. Depending on the animal that is milked, the cheese can actually come out looking yellow, orange, or white. There also are some things that are added to the milk before the coagulant is, and that can cause it to change colors. So, there really is a factor of things, but more it is the milk that is used. Sometimes of the year, when the animal is on a different diet, there are different colors of milk that will come out, sure they aren’t going to be bright orange, but they may have a bit of orange that go with them because of the process to actually make the cheese curds. So, don’t worry if your curds are orange, yellow, white, pink, or whatever color. As long as they aren’t green, you’re probably good to go.

-Written by Viktoria Carella