When I was a kid, I firmly believed that the holes in swiss cheese are bitten by mice due to the influence of Tom&Jerry. And finally I have solved this question! Here is the answer.
What is Swiss Cheese?
When we talk about “Swiss cheese,” we’re referring to several varieties of medium-hard cheese that resemble Emmental cheese is a Swiss delicacy.
Most blocks of Swiss cheese are dotted with holes, also called “eyes.” Swiss cheese varieties without eyes are known as “blind.”
Why Does Swiss Cheese Have Holes?
William Clark published a thorough explanation of how the Swiss cheese bacteria that are present in milk release carbon dioxide, which is what causes Swiss cheese holes, in 1917.
For almost a century, Clark’s theory was taken for granted, but in 2015, a study by the Swiss agricultural institute Agroscope blew a hole through it (pun intended).
The eyes are actually caused by tiny bits of hay present in the milk, according to Agroscope researchers.
This hypothesis explains why, in recent years, the holes have eerily shrunk and occasionally vanished. Hay fragments are likely to get into the milk that has been collected when making cheese in barns using open buckets. It’s those little bits of hay that cause a weakness in the structure of the curd, according to The Spruce Eats, allowing gas to form and create the holes.
“It’s the disappearance of the traditional bucket” used during milking that caused the difference, said Regis Nyffeler, a spokesman for Agroscope, added that the holes were eventually caused by hay fragments that had fallen into it.
Milk for cheese-making is now usually extracted using modern methods, which explains why we don’t see nearly as many holes in our Swiss anymore.
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Conclusion
The truth is- your cheese had gas. There are non-harmful bacteria in the milk used to make Swiss cheese- and they ferment, producing bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The bacteria in the cheese not only make bubbles but contribute to the flavor of Swiss cheese.
