Question

How is yogurt made?

Answer 1

Fermentation:

Fermentation is the process by which milk is converted into curd. Lactobacillus bacteria are found in curd.

Lactobacillus bacteria:

1. Lactobacillus bacteria are any genus of bacteria that have a rod-shaped body with a non-spore-forming feature and are gram-positive in nature.
2. As a byproduct of metabolism, this genus of bacteria can convert glucose into lactic acid.
3. This bacterium can be found in a variety of environments, including animal feeds, manure, silage, milk, milk products, and so on.

Fermentation process:

1. When one spoon of curd (the precursor curd) is added to milk, the lactobacillus multiplies inside the milk.
2. Milk now contains two proteins: whey protein and casein protein.
3. When milk is processed into cheese, the whey protein is found in the water, and the casein protein is located in the cheese.
4. Casein protein is the globular form of milk protein.
5. A chemical reaction occurs during the fermentation process between the lactic acid bacteria and the milk's casein protein.
6. Initially, the lactobacillus bacteria use their enzymes to generate ATP from lactose.
7. Lactic acid is produced as a byproduct during this process.
8. The lactic acid now reacts with the casein protein in milk and denatures it.
9. As a result, the globular protein's tertiary and quaternary structures are broken, and the globular protein is converted into a fibrous protein (simple chain protein).
10. This fibrous protein begins to thicken the milk, and coagulation of the protein also occurs.
11. As a result, the milk turns into curd.