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Why does Swiss cheese have holes in it?

Why does Swiss cheese have holes in it?
Dairy & Protein


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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Why does Swiss cheese have holes in it?
 

Have you ever eaten Swiss cheese and wondered why there were so many holes in it?? Is it because a hungry mouse snuck into the fridge during the night to steal a nibble? Or is it because the cheese gets holes in it when it gets old, like that t-shirt you’ve worn so many times?     

The answer to this mystery is those special little critters called bacteria! Bacteria are tiny creatures too small for you to see that live naturally in and on lots of different places, and when certain kinds of these itsy-bitsy fellows are added to milk, they act like helpers that change it from a liquid you could drink to a solid you could eat!   

The type of bacteria that turn milk into Swiss cheese give off some gas while they work. The gas creates pockets and bubbles that leave you with such hole-y Swiss cheese! – YUM! 




  • The type of gas given off by the bacteria that make Swiss cheese is carbon dioxide. This is the same gas that makes your soda so bubbly!
  • The holes in Swiss cheese are referred to as “eyes,” and Swiss cheeses that don’t have any are called “blind”! 






Pretty Cheesy!
Find out if there’s a cheese shop somewhere near where you live, and see if you can take a field-trip to learn about cheeses!

In the store, find out the names of all the different kinds of cheeses that have holes in them. What are some other differences you see in the types of cheeses you observe? You’ll probably notice lots of different colors, textures, shapes, and smells!

If you’re lucky, the salesperson at the store might even let you try a few kinds! Try to remember the names of all the cheeses you get to try, and what the different tastes were like.