The different foods derived from milk have their own characteristics.
Dairy products derived from milk that have been produced throughout history are different. Most are already known throughout the world, in this article their main characteristics are explained.
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What are dairy products?
Dairy products are foods derived from milk . To make them, the milk is subjected to certain conditions that make this food transform into a different one, since its nutritional and organoleptic characteristics are different.
These elaboration processes can be carried out by the fermentation of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi, but there are also other procedures.
On the other hand, the milk used can potentially originate from any mammal. The most common is that the milk comes from cows, goats and sheep, but there are populations in the world that consume milk from other animals such as llamas or camels.
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The 8 main dairy products (derived from milk)
Milk contains a large proportion of fat and protein . For this reason, all dairy products derived from milk have a similar composition, but there are differences.
For example, fermented products contain less lactose than milk, since this sugar has been consumed by some microorganism. Below are the main foods that exist within the category of dairy products.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the most popular dairy products . It is made from milk, which is fermented by the action of bacteria. The best known belong to the groups of streptococcus and lactobacilli.
It is a derivative of milk well known and consumed throughout the world. It is a probiotic food, since it contains microorganisms inside that have a positive impact on the bacterial flora.
Of course, you have to be careful because there are yogurts that are pasteurized. These have a much longer expiration date but do not contain these beneficial microorganisms.
2. Kefir
Kefir is a dairy product similar to yogurt . Originally it is a product that began to be made in the Caucasus area, although lately it is gaining popularity all over the world. It has a slightly peculiar taste, somewhat more acidic. It has to be tried.
The principle is the same as that of yogurt, that is, microorganisms that ferment. Your metabolism uses the sugars in milk to produce lactic acid. The difference is that these microorganisms are different.
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3. Curd
Curd is a dairy product with a creamy consistency . It is made from milk and the action of rennet on it, a substance that contains enzymes that coagulate milk proteins. Rennet can be of animal, vegetable, microbial or artificial origin.
It is usually consumed as a dessert, and is usually accompanied with nuts and honey, as well as pieces of fruit or dehydrated fruit.
4. Queso
Cheese is one of the most popular dairy products . It is consumed in large quantities worldwide, and the number of varieties that exist is completely indeterminable.
There are many regions of the world with cheeses typical of the area, and without a doubt it is the dairy product with the most possibilities of all those derived from milk. They contain a lot of protein and fat. although some cheeses are very fatty and others are rather lean.
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5. Nata
Cream or milk cream is a very fatty food . When milk is obtained, there is a layer that is richer in fat, and this is what ends up constituting the cream. It is therefore a dairy product that is made up of a large percentage of fat.
The usual thing is to centrifuge the milk to separate the cream, and what is done is to pack it separately. Thus, cream is widely used in the preparation of desserts, although it can be used to prepare coffees or creams.
6. Ice cream
Ice cream is a food product that usually contains some dairy product . It can be cream or milk, but the point is that it is usually one of the most important ingredients.
Even so, there are more and more brands or establishments that make ice cream that does not contain dairy products. The fact that there are more and more vegan people is the main argument, which is still a niche market that is on the rise.
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7. Butter
Butter is another well-known dairy product . It is made from milk and has been widely used for generations to prepare desserts or breakfasts.
However, margarine has been a product that has competed a lot in recent years with butter for market share. This is not a dairy product, since its fats do not come from milk, but from vegetable oils. However, butter has been shown to be much healthier than margarine.
8. Sweet milk
Dulce de leche is another very popular dairy product . It is a traditional sweet in all Latin American countries and is widely consumed in the preparation of desserts.
The most popular forms in which you can find dulce de leche are: wafers, alfajores, pancakes, cuchuflíes, wafers, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, cakes and cakes.
There are many types and varieties depending on the Latin American country you go to, and it is a dairy product that contains a lot of sugar. It is therefore highly recommended not to consume too much when eating.
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Bibliographic references
- Ducrot, V.E. (1998). The flavors of the country: the intrigues of Argentine history told from the table and the kitchen (1st edition). Buenos Aires: Editorial Norma.
- Garcia-Garibay, RS and Gomez-Ruiz, L. (1993). “Dairy products”. In: Food Biotechnology (García-Garibay M, Quintero R and López-Munguía Canales A, eds.) México DF: Editorial Limusa, SA
- Miller , GD , Jarvis , JK and McBean , LD (2000). Handbook of Dairy Foods and Nutrition (Second Edition). Boca Raton (FL), USA). CRC Press.
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