Curdling

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A pan of curdled milk

In cookery, curdling is the breaking of an emulsion or colloid into large parts of different composition through the physico-chemical processes of flocculation, creaming, and coalescence. Curdling is intentional and desirable in making cheese and tofu; unintentional and undesirable in making a sauce, cheese fondue or a custard. Curdling occurs naturally in cows' milk, if it is left open to air for a few days in a warm environment.

Looking particularly at the food preparation aspect of curdling rather than scientific, curdling is used to clump proteins in different types of milk. This occurs due to the protein molecules joining together after a change in pH.^[1] These clumps help form cheese curds, however this can also occur in non-cheese making procedures, being sauces or cheesecakes.

Cheese and tofu[]

Cheese curds prior to pressing

Milk and soy milk are curdled intentionally to make cheese and tofu by the addition of enzymes (typically rennet), acids (including lemon juice), or various salts (magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or gypsum); the curds are then pressed.

Egg sauces[]

In hot preparations emulsified with eggs like hollandaise and custard, curdling is the undesirable result of overheating the sauce. Sauces which contain starch curdle with more difficulty.

In cold sauces like mayonnaise as well as in hot sauces, too large a ratio of fat to egg may also cause curdling.

Milk sauces[]

In sauces which include milk or yogurt, overheating often causes curdling. The higher the fat content, the less likely curdling is. Strained yogurt used in sauces also curdles only with difficulty.

Coffee[]

When a plant based milk such as soya milk is added to coffee, curdling can sometimes occur. To help prevent this manufacturers sometimes add acidity regulators.^[2]

Cheesecake[]

When making cheesecake, if water is added to the cream cheese during the combining period, it will curdle.

Bibliography[]

• Harold McGee, On Food and Cooking: The Science And Lore Of The Kitchen, 1984–2004.
• Bethany Moncel "Why Does Milk Curdle". Foodreference.about.com.

References[]