Cheesemaking defies the laws of conservation?

[Chicken lady]

So, I started with one gallon - 128 ounces of whole milk.

From which I subtracted (skimmed off) 8 oz of cream. (120 oz)

I then added 2 tsp. dry Citric acid (1/3 oz) (120 1/3 oz)

and 2 T liquid rennet and water mixture (1 oz) (121 1/3 oz)

this made one 13.8 ounce (by weight) wheel of mozzarella cheese with whey left over

I returned the whey to the pot, boiled it, added half a cup (4 ounces) of vinegar (125 1/3 ounces minus the cheese)

This gave me a pint and a half (12 ounces) of ricotta and 120 ounces of whey.- (I measured it back into the jars and was expecting to only need three quart jars.)

I can only assume that some of the energy (heat) added to the pot became matter - otherwise I am somehow violating the laws of physics.

[iris lilies]

I want to be your best friend because I think next you should try to expand gold. I will send you a small piece if you promise to make me your partner, oh magical Chicken lady.

[rosarugosa]

Alchemist magic! Are you working with goat's milk or cow's milk?

[Tradd]

Wow! Interested in your cheesemaking adventure!

[razz]

Very interesting manufacturing and cost analysis. The second whey, post ricotta, how does one use this? Liquid for cooking cream soup?

[Chicken lady]

Goats milk.

I have a bread recipe - it’s yummy and the whey adds protein.

but usually I just give it to the chickens.

[jp1]

I assume your original gallon of milk was 128 oz by volume, not weight? I think your discrepancy lies in the fact that ounces of volume can change once something goes through a chemical change, as opposed to ounces by weight, which don’t change no matter what.

When matter is converted to energy the amount of energy released is substantial. See reactions, nuclear for details.

[Chicken lady]

Yes jp. This is more on the order of a match than a bomb.

since the chemical reaction requires energy (heat) to occur, I’m not too worried.

so, whey is apparently quite a bit less dense than milk. (Also I think the ricotta has a significant net volume of tiny air bubbles.)

I made a pound cake too. It also got bigger.

[happystuff]

Very impressive!!