milk whey
Definition
Noun: - The liquid part of milk that separates from the curds (the solid parts) during the process of making cheese. It is the watery serum remaining after the removal of the casein and fat.
Usage
- Milk whey is a byproduct of cheese production.
- It is often used in baking, as a nutritional supplement, or in animal feed.
- It is distinct from whole milk, containing mostly water, lactose, proteins, and minerals.
Examples
- After adding rennet to the milk, the milk whey was drained away from the solid curds.
- The recipe calls for milk whey instead of water to add protein to the bread.
- Whey protein powder is made from dried milk whey.
Advanced Usage
- "Sweet whey": Whey produced from making cheeses using rennet (like cheddar or Swiss).
- "Acid whey": Whey produced from making cheeses where acid (like vinegar or lemon juice) causes the separation (like ricotta or paneer).
Variants and Related Words
- Whey (noun): The more common, shortened form of "milk whey."
- Whey protein (noun phrase): The proteins isolated from whey.
- Curds and whey (noun phrase): The two separated components of coagulated milk, famously referenced in the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet."
Synonyms
- Serum (in the specific context of milk)
Notes
- Milk whey is a specific compound noun. The core word for explanation is "whey," with "milk" specifying its origin. In many contexts, simply "whey" is sufficient.
- It is not to be confused with other dairy liquids like buttermilk or skim milk.
Noun
-
the serum or watery part of milk that is separated from the curd in making cheese
