As ubiquitous and inexpensive as it is in deli cases across the country, Colby cheese actually is a very special American cheese invention.
According to cheese.com, Colby was invented near the town of Colby, Wis., by Joseph F. Steinwand, in 1874. It is made from pasteurized cows’ milk, colored bright orange with annatto.
Although Colby looks much like a young cheddar — bright orange, semi-firm, and sliceable, it tastes nothing like it.
While cheddar cheeses undergo a “cheddaring” process, wherein the drained curd is stacked and permitted to rest and settle at room temperature until the acid content increases dramatically, Colby undergoes the opposite process. The drained curds are rinsed or “washed,” with water to remove acid, resulting in a sweeter, mild taste. This process is what gives Gouda cheese its characteristic sweetness.
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