El Pastor Cheeses> Product > Preparation process of the cheese
Preparation process of the cheese

Hijos de Salvador Rodríguez S.A. basically produces three classes of Spanish cheese:
  • Spanish Sheep cheese (unpasteurised).
    We are the leading producers of ZAMORANA CHEESE WITH DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN
  • Spanish Blended cheeses with cow, sheep and goat milk.
  • Spanish Goat cheeses.

The range of our Spanish cheese goes from “Mild” with seven days maturation, to “Aged” with 12 months’, passing semi-mature and mature along the way. The variety of formats is enormous: 550g Spanish cheeses, 1Kg Spanish cheeses, 3Kg Spanish cheeses, half Spanish cheeses, Spanish cheese wedges, blocks of Spanish cheese and Spanish cheese slices in trays.

Preparation process of the cheese - Reception of the milkRECEPTION OF THE MILK
The milk is received at the production plant. This phase can be broken down into various basic activities before the manufacturing process:

  • Verifying the maximum quality of the milk through analysis.
  • Cleaning the milk.
  • Chilling the milk received.
  • Storage of the milk in refrigerated silos whilst it awaits transformation.

Preparation process of the cheese - PasteurisationPASTEURISATION
Thermal treatment which consists of heating every particle of the milk during a short period of time until it almost reaches its boiling point and then rapidly cooling it afterwards. This process destroys pathogenic microorganisms detrimental to the health of the consumer and reduces the bacteria, without altering the composition and qualities of the milk.

Preparation process of the cheese - CoagulationCOAGULATION
Coagulation consists of stimulating clotting or gelling through the addition rennet. These clots are called the curd. In the process of the clotting of the milk, the liquid whey separates from the curd.

 

Preparation process of the cheese - Cutting and filling of moldsCUTTING AND FILLING OF MOLDS
Once the clotting has finished, the curd is cut using instruments known as 'strips'. Once separated, the curd is introduced into moulds. Through drainage and agitation, the curd is freed of the whey.

 

Preparation process of the cheese - PressingPRESSING
The product is pressed within the moulds using a controlled mechanical pressure. Thus the major part of the whey content is eliminated.

 

 

Preparation process of the cheese - SaltingSALTING
Once the pressing has been completed and the pieces have been removed from their moulds, they pass through a salting process via immersion in brine, thus absorbing it through moisture.

 

Preparation process of the cheese - Airing and maturingAIRING AND MATURING
The phase in which the excess brine drains out of the cheese and it dries for a variable period in a specialised drying room. The Spanish cheese is then placed in a finishing room for more or less time. Here the temperature and humidity are constantly controlled to ensure the quality and maturity of the Spanish cheese.

Preparation process of the cheese - LabellingANALYSIS OF THE FINAL PRODUCT
Once mature, the Spanish cheese undergoes an analytical check, to verify its quality and safety.

Once it has passed this analysis, the Spanish cheese is DECORATED, PACKAGED and LABELLED all ready for its SHIPPING to various points of sale.

Point of sale of El Pastor Cheeses
Hijos de Salvador Rodríguez, S.A. - Ctra. Mozar, Km. 1 - 49620 SANTA CRISTINA DE LA POLVOROSA (Zamora) Spain - Telf.: (+34) 980 631 907 - Fax.: (+34) 980 631 992