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Fermentation Atlas

Stretched-curd cheeses

Acidified curd stretched in hot water or whey, as for mozzarella and provolone.

131 entries listed here, page 1 of 2.

How these cheeses are made

The shared make of pasta filata (stretched-curd) cheese family. Each cheese below says what it does differently.

  1. Set the milk with whey starter and rennetup to 30 min · 34–39 °C
  2. Break the curd
  3. Let the curd sour until it stretches3–8 h · 20–27.5 °C
  4. Stretch in hot water60–93.5 °C
  5. Firm in cold water and brine25 min – 25 days · 16.5–19.5 °C · 4–18 % salt
  6. Dry and age (provolone, caciocavallo, kashkaval)at least 10 days · 15–16 °C

Compare them

CheeseRegionMilkRipeningRind
Abaza peyniri (Sakarya Abhaz peyniri)Turkey, Sakarya provinceWhole cow milk, boiled2 months at 3–6 °C
Acharuli chlechili (Adjarian chlechili)Georgia, Autonomous Republic of Adjara30 days – 2 months
Bocconcini alla panna di bufalaItaly, Campania4–4.5 hNone or a thin skin; smooth, glossy, damp, bluish porcelain white
Burrata di Andria PGIItaly, PugliaCow milk, raw or pasteurised, plus creamNone; a fresh cheese kept at 4 °C ±2
Burrata di bufalaItaly, Lazio24 hNone; glossy porcelain-white skin
Burrell' (Scamorza con burro all'interno)Italy, LazioCow milk, whole; raw at Picinisco, pasteurised at 68–70 °C for 30 s at CassinoAbout 7 days of drying at Picinisco (7–10 days in one ONAF sheet); none at Cassino
BurrinoItaly, Moliseat least 2 monthsVery thin, glossy, straw-yellow (especially when made in spring)
Caciocavallo affumicatoItaly, Campania60 days to more than 12 monthsFairly thin, smooth, matt; straw to orange
Caciocavallo di bufala (semplice e affumicato)Italy, Lazio20 days – 3 months
Caciocavallo di SupinoItaly, Lazioat least 15 daysThin, smooth, straw-yellow
Caciocavallo PodolicoItaly, BasilicataRaw milk of Podolica cows or their crosses, or of other cows at pasture6 and 12 months in one study; large forms up to 4–5 years
Caciocavallo Silano PDOItaly, southern ApenninesRaw cow milk only, which may be thermised at the dairy to 58 °C for 30 secondsAt least 30 days; 'extra' at least 4 months; 'gran riserva' at least 9 months
Caciocavallo vaccino (semplice e affumicato)Italy, Lazio15 days – 8 yearsThin, smooth, straw-yellow; darker when smoked
Cașcaval de Săveni PGIRomania, northern half of Botoșani CountyRaw cow milk from the delimited area of Botoșani CountyAt least 60 days at 2–8 °C
Ciambella di MoroloItaly, Lazio20–30 daysSmooth, smoke-yellow
Diyarbakır Örgü PeyniriTurkey, Diyarbakır province and its districts3 months
Fior di latte / Mozzarella STGItalyWhole cow milk that arrives raw and is pasteurised at the dairy (TSG)Fresh; sold in liquid and kept at 0–4 °C
Fiordilatte dell'Agro PontinoItaly, LazioWhole cow milk from the Agro Pontino, protein above 3 % and fat above 3.6 %None; eaten very freshNone; a thin, smooth, glossy pearl-white skin
Gran cacio di MoroloItaly, LazioWhole raw cow milkAt least 5 months (1 kg) to about 18 months (5 kg)
Kashkaval / KaşarBulgaria and the Balkan PeninsulaBalkan is sheep milk, Vitosha cow milk, Preslav a mixture (BDS 14:2010, as summarised)2–6 months for the full aroma
Kasseri PDOGreeceSheep milk, or sheep milk mixed with goat milkAt least 3 months
Klenovecký syrecSlovakia, Gemer-Malohontat least 20 daysClosed surface stamped with a toothed circle around a cross or four-leaf ornament
Malkara Eski Kaşar PeyniriTurkey, Tekirdağ provinceat least 3 monthsHard, thick, dirty-straw to dark-straw yellow
Mavrovo Reka mountain-pasture kashkaval (Galichki kashkaval)North Macedonia, Mavrovo National Park on Bistra mountainRaw sheep milk from summer mountain pastures; no starter45 min
Metsovone PDOGreece, Epirus, Metsovo province of the Ioannina prefectureCow milk, or cow milk with up to 20% sheep or goat milk, from the Metsovo areaAt least 3 months at 15–17 °C before smoking
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDOItaly, Campania, with parts of Lazio, Puglia and MoliseWhole fresh Italian Mediterranean buffalo milk, at least 7.2% fat and 4.2% protein, used within 60 h of milkingNone; sold fresh in its liquid
Mozzarella di vacca (Molise)Italy, MoliseWhole cow milk of local breeds, raw or thermised20 daysNone; smooth, glossy, porcelain-white skin
OscypekPoland, Podhale and nearby Tatra and Beskid areasRaw sheep milk, at least 60 %, with optional Polish Red cow milk3–7 days
Provola di bufala (semplice e affumicata)Italy, southern LazioRaw whole buffalo milkAt most one weekThin, smooth skin; white to pale yellow, hazelnut-brown if smoked
Provola di vacca (semplice e affumicata)Italy, LazioWhole cow milk, raw (Latina) or pasteurisedPrimo sale after 1–2 days; traditionally over 30 days and up to 6 monthsSmooth, glossy; white (primo sale) to straw-yellow, amber when smoked
Provolone vaccino (Lazio)Italy, LazioWhole cow milk, raw (Latina) or pasteurised at 70–72 °C (Amatrice)30–60 days to 1 year; the ARSIAL description gives 60 days to 1 yearHard, smooth, straw-yellow, deepening with age, with brownish mould spots
Redykołka PDOPoland, Podhale and nearby Carpathian districtsUnpasteurised sheep milk, with up to 40% cow milk3–7 days
ScamorzaSouthern and central ItalyCow milk; sheep and buffalo versions existShort, under 30 days; 10 days at 4 °C in the Lazio make
Scamorza appassita (Cacetto di Supino)Italy, LazioRaw whole cow milk from Ciociaria herdsFresh within 48 hours, or withered about 10 daysVery thin, elastic, sometimes waxy skin; straw-yellow
SulguniGeorgiaCow, buffalo or goat milk or a mix; raw or pasteurisedFresh, sold from 24 hours after salting; may be dried for days or weeks
Zázrivské vojkySlovakia, Zázrivá2–10 min
Zázrivský korbáčikSlovakia, the village of Zázrivá in OravaLump cheese from raw or pasteurised cow milkNone after braiding; springiness falls as it ages
AinuzziItaly, Sicilia24 hThin skin, milk-white to light straw after a few days
Animaletti di provolaItaly, Calabria4–5 daysNone; surface just dried, smooth, straw-yellow
ButirroItaly, Calabria7 daysThin, shiny, white to pale straw skin
Caci figuratiItaly, Sicilia30 days – 3 monthsClean, thin, straw to amber
CaciobarileItaly, Campania7 daysClean, smooth, leathery, golden yellow, fairly thin
Caciocavallo abruzzeseItaly, Abruzzoat least 2 hThin smooth skin, deep yellow
Caciocavallo del MateseItaly, Campaniaup to 25 daysClean; white and smooth when fresh, straw, then brown and rough when aged
Caciocavallo di AgnoneItaly, Moliseat least 2 monthsThin, hard, smooth, hazel; mould-mottled if long aged
Caciocavallo di bufalaItaly, Campania2 monthsClean, smooth, white to straw (ochre if smoked); mould spots on aged cheese
Caciocavallo di CastelfrancoItaly, Campania3 months – 2 yearsClean, smooth, pale to deeper straw; thin to slightly thick
Caciocavallo di CiminàItaly, Calabria4–10 hFresh: none, smooth shiny white; aged: thin, fairly hard, wrinkled, whitish-yellow
Caciocavallo di grotta del Cervati e delle Gole di PertosaItaly, Campania25–30 minMouldy; pale straw to grey depending on surface mould
Caciocavallo di Massa di MarateaItaly, Basilicataup to 2 monthsNone or thin; smooth, white
Caciocavallo irpino di grottaItaly, Campania25–30 minClean, smooth, straw to light brown; light white mould traces
Caciocavallo palermitanoItaly, Sicilia30 days – 4 monthsClean, smooth, sharp edges; straw to amber/brown, up to ~3 mm
Caciocavallo podolico daunoItaly, Puglia4–5 hThin, smooth, shiny; alabaster to amber yellow
Caciocavallo podolico dei Monti PicentiniItaly, Campania15 daysClean; alabaster white when young, straw to reddish-yellow when aged
Caciocavallo stagionato in grotta del TanagroItaly, Campania3 monthsClean, smooth, matt, pale straw; mould spots removed at end of ageing
CaciocchiatoItaly, Campania2–12 monthsClean, smooth, matt, straw to amber; mould spots removed
Caciotta di vacca ciociara (semplice e alle erbe)Italy, Lazio10–20 daysThin, smooth, elastic, white; ochre after smoking
Caciotto di Cirella di PlatìItaly, Calabria4 monthsThin shiny skin, ivory to straw-yellow
CasizoluItaly, Sardegna6–8 monthsClean, thin, smooth, yellow to ochre
Casizolu di pecoraItaly, Sardegna7 daysNone or thin, smooth, white to light straw
ChechilArmenia, GeorgiaSkimmed cow milk5–10 min
CofanettoItaly, Siciliaat least 20 daysSkin or clean rind, light straw to amber/brown, up to ~3 mm
Cosacavaddu ibleoItaly, Siciliaup to 2 monthsSkin (fresh), clean or oil-treated; golden straw darkening to brown
Meskhuri chechili (Meskhetian chechili)Georgia, Samtskhe-Javakheti5–10 min
Mozzarella di BrugnatoItaly, Liguria20–30 minNone, or a very thin skin
Mozzarella nella mortellaItaly, Campania12–24 hThin skin, glossy, myrtle-leaf imprints
Mozzarella o Fior di latteItaly, Puglia20–40 minNone; very thin white to ivory skin
Mozzarella silanaItaly, Calabria24 hSmooth shiny milk-white skin
Mozzarelle di AviglianoItaly, Basilicata2 hThin smooth shiny skin; white
Pallone di GravinaItaly, Pugliaup to 4 monthsThin to medium, smooth, straw to amber; brownish mould spots may stay after washing
PiddiatoItaly, Siciliaup to 12 monthsNone; smooth white surface
Provola affumicataItaly, Campania2–3 daysSkin, straw yellow; aged: slightly rough, ochre to reddish
Provola affumicata di bufalaItaly, Campania2–3 daysThin skin, smooth, straw to ochre
Provola dei Monti SicaniItaly, Sicilia30 daysVery thin skin or clean rind, white to straw
Provola delle MadonieItaly, Sicilia10–20 daysClean, thin, light straw (dark hazel if smoked)
Provola e caciotta a pasta filataItaly, Trentino-Alto Adige, Prov. Trento2–3 hThin skin, white (brown if smoked)
Provola sicilianaItaly, Sicilia30 days – 3 monthsClean, thin, smooth, ivory to straw/amber
Provoletta di latte vaccino sardoItaly, Sardegna7–9 daysClean, thin, light straw
Queso asaderoMexico, especially the north and the Huasteca of San Luis PotosíCow milk, often raw in small dairiesNone; a fresh cheese with a shelf life of days
Queso de mano / GuayanésVenezuelaCow milk7 days

Bold names have a full page with the animated steps. Blank cells: no sourced value yet.

Numbers come from cited sources and carry a label that says how each is known. How this atlas is made