Methods and apparatuses for making pasta filata

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for the production of cheese. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for making pasta filata cheese. In one embodiment, a microwave system is used for the production of pasta filata cheese.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making pasta filata cheese comprising:
 (a) manipulating cheese curd to a desired shape, size or volume; and   (b) heating the cheese curd of step (a) with microwave energy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein manipulating cheese curds comprises using one or more augers to level the cheese. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein manipulating cheese curd further creates a uniform heating profile of the cheese curd. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a sensor to determine a profile of the cheese cured prior to step (b). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising step (c) of stretching the cooked cheese curd. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the cheese curd raises the temperature of the cheese curd from about 5° C. to about 60° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the cheese curd with microwave energy comprises using a microwave energy source that operates at a power rate selected from the group consisting of: from about 30 kw to about 300 kw, from about 40 kw to about 290 kw, from about 50 kw to about 280 kw, from about 60 kw to about 270 kw, from about 70 kw to about 260 kw, from about 80 kw to about 250 kw, from about 90 kw to about 240 kw, from about 100 kw to about 230 kw, from about 110 kw to about 220 kw, from about 120 kw to about 210 kw, from about 130 kw to about 200 kw, from about 140 kw to about 190 kw, from about 150 kw to about 180 kw, from about 160 kw to about 170 kw. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the cheese curd with microwave energy comprises using a microwave energy source that operates at a power rate from about 30 kw to about 300 kw. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the cheese curd with microwave energy comprises using a microwave energy source that operates at a power rate from about 50 kw to about 280 kw. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the cheese curd with microwave energy comprises using a microwave energy source that operates at a power rate from about 70 kw to about 260 kw. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making pasta filata cheese comprising:
 (a) heating cheese curd in a chamber with a microwave energy source, wherein the microwave energy source operates at a power rate selected from the group consisting of: from about 30 kw to about 300 kw, from about 50 to about 225 kw, from about 55 to about 220 kw, from about 60 to about 215 kw, from about 65 to about 210 kw, from about 70 to about 200 kw, from about 75 to about 196 kw, from about 80 to about 190 kw, and from about 85 to about 185 kw.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the microwave energy source operates from about 60 to about 215 kw. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the microwave energy source operates from about 70 to about 200 kw. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the microwave energy source operates from about 75 to about 195 kw. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making pasta filata cheese comprising:
 (a) manipulating cheese curd to create a uniform heating profile; and   (b) heating cheese curd from step (a) in a chamber comprising a microwave energy source.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein manipulating cheese curd comprises using a product leveling system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the product leveling system comprises an anger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein heating cheese curd from step (a) in a chamber comprising a microwave energy source comprises operating the microwave energy source at a power rate selected from the group consisting of: from about 30 kw to about 300 kw, from about 50 kw to about 225 kw, from about 50 to about 220 kw, from about 60 to about 215 kw, from about 65 to about 210 kw, from about 70 to about 200 kw, from about 75 to about 195 kw, from about 80 to about 190 kw, and from about 85 to about 185 kw. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein heating cheese curd from step (a) in a chamber comprising microwave energy source comprises operating the microwave energy source from about 63 to about 77 kw, and further wherein about 5,580 to about 6,820 pounds of cheese curd per hour is heated in the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein heating cheese curd from step (a) in a chamber comprising a microwave energy source comprises operating the microwave energy source from about 98 to about 182 kw, and further wherein about 8,680 to about 16,120 pounds of cheese card per hour is heated in the chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein heating cheese curd from step (a) in a chamber comprising a microwave energy source comprises operating the microwave energy source from about 56 to about 308 kw, and further wherein about 5,000 to about 27,280 pounds of cheese card per hour is heated in the chamber.