Parmesan Cheese Wheels at a Parmesan Factory in Modena
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Parmesan Cheese Making Video in Modena Italy ?? ?????

Ever wonder how and where farmers make Parmesan cheese?   To be sure, locals know it as “Parmigiano Reggiano,” and it doesn’t come from the supermarket!

The History of Parmesan Cheese

Artisans from Northern Italy have been making Parmesan cheese since the middle ages.  Interestingly, the Parmigiano Reggiano we have today is very much the same as it was, going back as far as the 1300s.  Today, Parmesan is made in a few different areas in Northern Italy.  For example, farms can from Modena, Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Parma, and Manua make Parmesan cheese.

How Parmesean Cheese Gets Made

Parmigiano Reggiano gets made from raw cow’s milk.  To be sure, farmers wake up early each day and collect the whole milk from the cows.

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This milk is then mixed with a naturally skimmed milk, to provide a perfectly balanced combination.  Then, the milk is mixed with whey and rennet, heated, and then gets moved to plastic or stainless steel forms.

Here is a video of this step from our visit to Hombre Organic Cheese Farm near Modena, Italy!

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After 20-25 days, the cheese has set into its iconic form and is then stored for aging, as shown below.

Rick at a Parmesan cheese farm - this is where it is stored

Beware of the Fakes

The Parmigiano Reggiano consortium protects authentic Parmigiano Reggiano.  For example, the consortium has a significant checklist that ensures the cheese gets manufactured according to their time-tested standards.  Then, after the 12th month of storage, each parmesan wheel is inspected.  Finally, if it passes the test, the “Parmigiano Reggiano” seal will be written along the side of the wheel.

To be sure, the best Parmigiano Reggiano is 24-36 months old, and sometimes even older!

A Parmesan cheese Wheel Up Close

A Parmesan Cheese Farm

 

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