Dairy Management Inc. has developed a processed cheese testing technique that allows cheese makers to develop products with sliceability, texture and melting properties. The method uses a small oven that blends and tests small batches of cheese that display the same characteristics of an industrial-sized lot. After being in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, the melted cheese is cooled in a small cylinder. The unmelted texture of the cheese cylinder is analyzed using a special texture and analysis instrument. Then the batch of cheese is placed back in the oven and reheated to see how it melts. The company says the oven and process may help simplify the task of creating processed cheeses with different characteristics.

Dairy Management Inc.;
800-248-8829;
www.extraordinarydairy.com