What Is Whey?


Whey is a by-product of cheese making. It is formed when the curds separate from the milk or cream. After the cheese curds are formed, the remaining liquid is called whey. This liquid is watery and thin. Sometimes whey has a tinge of bluish color, but this depends on the quality and type of milk used.

Whey can be made from any type of milk. Cow's milk is the most popular in the United States. Goat's milk is commonly used in the Middle East and in some desert areas camel's milk is used in the cheese making process.

Whey is also formed during the making of yogurt. It is the thin liquid that forms on top of the yogurt when it has settled. This can be drained off and added to shakes, smoothies, or other liquid drinks for added protein.

Whey is often used in the making of ricotta cheese. The whey is heated, and vinegar or another acidic liquid is added. The addition of the acid causes the fats in the whey to congeal into the curds that create the cheese.

Whey is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and lactose. It is the base of many protein drinks for athletes or others wishing to build or repair muscle tissues. Whey is also an important supplement for those who have limited mobility in the limbs, as it contributes to the prevention of atrophy of muscular cells. It is also used in pet foods as a source of protein and fats. It contributes to a healthy coat and proper muscle development.

Most people are familiar with the old nursery rhyme, "Little Miss Muffet," who was eating her curds and whey. This type of cheese would be similar to cottage cheese and made by allowing milk to sour and naturally separate into curds and whey. While this method of making cheese may not sound appetizing to most people, it is a method used around the world in many different cultures.

Whey can be an important addition to anyone's diet. Those who have difficulty finding the time to eat right or who have other dietary concerns, such as protein needs in a vegetarian diet, will find whey an excellent supplement.

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27
Just want to know which cheese is considered vegetarian and which are not?
- anon49986
26
i found a whey powder in Nutella Hazelnut Spread ingredients. Is whey from pig's milk as well? you mentioned goats and cows. but what about pigs.
- kimie
24
is whey that is used in cake, cookies etc always in powdered form?
- anon37427
23
is whey from pig's milk as well? you mentioned goats, and cows, but what about pigs?

i've seen all bakery products and milk products use whey or enzamny. i should know mostly they are used from which animal?

- anon34193
22
I would like to know if drinking fresh whey gives suitable protein, how much to drink each day and if it can be frozen to be used subsequently. I can obtain fresh goat's whey, organic, but would have to freeze it for future use. I have a protein deficiency and was told that whey would help.
- r29p
21
Why does my mouth and throat feel funny (like there's residue that I can't rinse out) after drinking whey? It is the same when rinsing the glass.
- anon31369
20
Can Whey come from pigs milk?

- anon30858
19
I have made curds and whey from raw milk. Sometimes the whey is reasonably clear colored and other times it is milky colored. Are they both whey? Is one more desirable than the other? What is the difference? anon 2570
- anon28266
18
is whey from pig's milk as well?
- orange
17
can full vegetarians take whey?
- anon26495
16
I thought that Whey was poisonous, so I have avoided it. Why did I think that? Did it have a bad rap previously?
- anon25295
15
can someone who is allergic to milk products safely eat whey?
- anon24339
14
is whey from pig's milk as well?
- Hafizah
12
yes i would also like to know about pigs milk and if whey is made from it.
- anon23427
11
To re-iterate Hotgal's question, does anyone know if whey is sourced from pig's milk as well or from the lining of a pigs stomach just as it is also sourced from the lining of a calf's stomach? Please help.
- anon19374
10
How long does whey stay good in the refrigerator?
- anon15490
9
I make my own whey at home. What I do is take a quart of yogurt with live active cultures. I line a strainer with a flour cloth or you could use a dish towel. Put the strainer over a 2 quart pitcher. Then pour in the yogurt. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent contamination. Put in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The liquid at the bottom of the container is whey. I use mine for a lot of my recipes. The milk solids still in the strainer is cream cheese. The cream cheese is so good spread on whole grain toast with honey. Yummy!
- anon13537
8
Okay, I would think this would be an obvious question that should've been answered already: What common products contain whey?
- anon13460
7
Where does Whey come from?
- anon12187
6
Whey can be made from any lactalbumin or casein mixed milk (anything animal in other words). It can be made at home by curdling the casein portion of the protein with acid and heat. The solids are casein and the liquid leftover is water and whey. This can be achieved with heat, Vinegar, and skim milk. You can be allergic to whey if you are allergic to milk protein. However, some wheys contain lactose and others do not (mainly the isolates). Symptoms include gastrointestinal distress and basically anything that can be seen as an allergic reaction. The symptoms are wide and far so you'll have to find that out on your own.

Whey does not contain gluten. Gluten is a protein derived from wheat. However, it can be cross contaminated if the whey is manufactured or packaged in a plant that has wheat products present. A whey protein that has glutamine peptides usually has wheat in it because glutamine peptides are hydrolyzed wheat gluten.

- anon12065
5
Does whey contain gluten?
- DaltonGang
3
can you be allergic to whey and what are the symptoms?
- anon3691
2
is it possible to make whey protien or just whey at home ? (recipies)
- anon2233
1
is whey from pig's milk as well?

you mentioned goats, and cows. but what about pigs.

- hotgal

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Written by Kat Yares
Last Modified: 08 November 2009

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