Cheesemakers Short Course

April 16-19, 2013

Location: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin

Sponsored by: Animal and Food Science Department, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences, University of Wisconsin-River Falls  

In Cooperation with: Cooperative Extension Service, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Course Description: This four-day short course is designed for farmstead cheesemakers as well as apprentice cheesemakers from industry. Sessions focus on the basic steps in cheese manufacture and provide opportunities to gain "hands-on"experience in the cheesemaking process. 

Completion of this short course will give the student six months credit toward their apprenticeship requirement for the state cheesemakers license. This short course is jointly sponsored with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Department of Animal and Food Science, UW-Madison Department of Food Science and UW-Extension and sessions will be held on the UW-River Falls campus.

Topics covered in the UW Basic Cheesemaking Short Course:

  • Milk composition 
  • Cheesemaking principles 
  • Milk microbiology 
  • Pasteurization 
  • Regulations 
  • Basic analysis 
  • Milk and cheese analysis 
  • Coagulants 
  • Cheese defects 
  • Cultures 
  • Cleaning and sanitation
    Basic Labeling Requirements  

Lab sessions will include production of cheddar cheese, milk and cheese analysis, and sensory evaluation of cheese.

Registration and Related Information