Four Things You Didn't Know About Cheese Curds

If you don't live in Wisconsin or Quebec, chances are that you haven't ever tried a cheese curd, let alone seen one in person. There are some other areas in the United States and Canada where they are popular (such as parts of New York, Vermont and the states around Wisconsin), but these are the two main locations. Because of this, most people don't know much about these delicious treats. They may know what they look like or the general idea behind them, but that is usually it. Here are four things that you probably didn't know about cheese curds, especially if you haven't had them before.

Their Origin

One of the little known facts about cheese curds is their origin. There is no set evidence, but legend says that they came about by accident when a nomad was traveling across a desert in the Middle East. He filled his saddle bag with milk but it was warm out so a few hours later when he was thirsty, he opened the bag and all that was inside was white curds and liquid. This happened because of a combination of the heat and the rennin from his bag and was reportedly the first cheese curds in history.

Squeakiness

Another thing you might not know about these treats if you haven't had them before is that they should be squeaky as this indicates freshness. If you have had them, you probably don't know why they squeak and instead simply enjoy the effect as well as the taste. 

Put simply, the proteins within cheese curds are in long chains and the squeakiness is the sound and feeling of the cheese curds rubbing against your teeth's enamel. The long chains are formed because as a side effect of rennet which eliminates the negative charges, thereby forcing the proteins to connect into the chains.

Microwaving

Even if you are a big fan of cheese curds, you may not know that there is actually a way to get back some of that lost squeakiness. All you have to do is put them in the microwave for a very short amount of time. The heat will cause the protein molecules to drop their negative particles again which in turn causes them to recreate the longer protein chains. This means that when they come in contact with your tooth enamel, you will have the same result as with fresh cheese curds: the squeak.

Serving Options

If you don't live in Wisconsin or Quebec, chances are that you can't think of any ways to eat your curds. The simplest option is to eat them raw but another very popular choice, especially in Wisconsin and nearby areas is to deep fry them. In Quebec, they are most popular in poutine which is a combination of French fries, cheese curds and gravies. The best way to appreciate their squeak and flavor, however, is simply to eat them raw when they are extremely fresh. Remember that they are a type of cheese you want to eat as soon as you get it as they lose their freshness quickly.