Randy Chandler
Space food is a type of food product created for consumption by astronauts during missions to outer space. It must meet several requirements to be suitable for space, including being nutritious, easily digestible, and palatable. It must also be easy and safe to store, prepare, and consume in the machinery-filled, weightless environment of crewed spacecraft. As such, space food is often dehydrated or freeze-dried to minimize weight and ensure long shelf life, and it can be challenging to design. In this vein, let's explore the topic of how to cook cheese in space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese in space | SpaceX launched a wheel of Le Brouère cheese into space in 2010 |
| Freeze-dried cheese is also available for consumption in space | |
| Type of food | Food in space must be nutritious, easily digestible, and palatable |
| It should also be easy and safe to store, prepare, and consume | |
| Food preparation | Food is dehydrated or freeze-dried to minimize weight and ensure long shelf life |
| It is then rehydrated in hot water before consumption | |
| Food packaging | Food is packaged in tubes, cans, and sealed plastic packages |
| Food choices | Astronauts choose their meals several months before the flight from a list of hundreds of food items |
| Frozen foods, spicy foods, and shrimp cocktails are popular choices |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Freeze-dried cheese is a crunchy, bite-sized snack
Freeze-dried cheese, in particular, is made from real cheese without adding anything else. The bite-sized pieces are convenient to eat as a snack on their own or paired with other freeze-dried foods like apples, tomatoes, or even salad. They can also be a great complement to wine and beer. The texture is described as creamy, and the flavour is enhanced after rehydration.
Freeze-dried cheese is a tasty and nutritious snack option for astronauts, providing a crunchy and creamy texture with a great flavour. It is a versatile snack, perfect on its own or paired with other foods, and can even be enjoyed with a glass of wine or beer. This type of cheese is an excellent example of how space food can be both functional and enjoyable.
Freeze-dried foods are also popular beyond space exploration, as they are convenient for camping, travelling, and long-term food storage. They are a great option for those seeking a low-carb, nutritious snack that is easy to eat on the go. So, whether you're an astronaut in space or just looking for a quick bite here on Earth, freeze-dried cheese is a crunchy and delightful snack option!
Mozzarella Cheese Balls: A Simple, Tasty Treat
You may want to see also
SpaceX launched a wheel of cheese into orbit
The wheel of cheese was a "secret payload," sealed in a metal cylinder with a bolted cover. The cover featured a sketch of a cow wearing galoshes from the 1984 movie "Top Secret!". SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hinted at the mysterious cargo before the launch, saying, "If you like Monty Python, you'll love the secret." The cheese was a nod to a classic skit from the British comedy show "Monty Python's Flying Circus," in which actor John Cleese tries to order cheese from a cheese shop that has no cheese.
After the successful mission, Musk revealed the secret payload, saying, "The silliest thing we can imagine! Secret payload of 1st Dragon flight was a giant wheel of cheese. Inspired by a friend and Monty Python." The wheel of cheese is now displayed at the company's headquarters, where guests and staff can view this unique artifact that travelled to space.
This unusual payload demonstrates SpaceX's ability to carry cargo into space, and it also adds a touch of humour and pop culture reference to the historic achievement of the Dragon spacecraft's maiden flight. The mission marked a significant milestone in private space exploration, showcasing the capabilities of commercial space capsules developed by private companies.
Cooking Unpasteurized Cheese: Can It Kill Listeria?
You may want to see also
Macaroni and cheese is a typical Shuttle-era menu choice
Macaroni and cheese, or mac and cheese, is a dish with a long history, dating back to medieval England. It is a pasta dish consisting of macaroni covered in a cheese sauce, commonly a cheddar sauce, and is often baked in the oven or prepared on a stovetop. Its popularity has endured, and it is a typical menu choice for astronauts in the Shuttle era.
The dish has been a staple in cookbooks since the 18th century, with recipes appearing in Eliza Acton's 1845 "Modern Cookery in All Its Branches," and Mary Randolph's 1824 "The Virginia House-Wife." The latter's recipe included just three ingredients: macaroni, cheese, and butter, layered and baked in a hot oven. Macaroni and cheese was also featured in Elizabeth Raffald's 1769 book, "The Experienced English Housekeeper," where the recipe calls for a Béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese, mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked to a golden finish.
Over time, macaroni and cheese recipes have evolved, with various cheeses and additional ingredients being used. For instance, Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese offers several variations, including a four-cheese blend of Cheddar, Muenster, Gruyere, and Pecorino, as well as options with meats and vegetables.
Given its versatility, enduring popularity, and ability to be prepared in various ways, macaroni and cheese is a suitable and familiar option for space exploration, where freeze-dried cheese and ready-to-eat meals are common. Astronauts can enjoy a comforting dish that reminds them of home, even in the vastness of space.
Steaming Soft and Cheesy Puto: How Long?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Astronauts eat food from disposable plastic containers
Freeze-dried food is a common method used to prepare food for space, as it minimizes weight and ensures a long shelf life. Freeze-dried cheese, for example, has a crunchy texture and a flavour that opens up after rehydration. Other foods that can be dehydrated and then rehydrated in hot water before consumption include scones, waffles, and rolls, which can be specially formulated to have a shelf life of up to 18 months.
In addition to dehydrated foods, astronauts also have access to commercially available, shelf-stable foods such as nuts, cookies, and granola bars that are ready to eat. Frozen foods are also an option, with shrimp cocktail, butter cookies, lobster Newberg, ice cream, and fresh bread being popular choices.
The process of eating and cleaning up in space is complicated by weightlessness, with crews spending up to 90 minutes a day on housekeeping. Additionally, food can taste different in space than on Earth, and weightlessness can dull the senses of taste and smell. To counteract this, beer has been developed with a reduced carbonation recipe, and ingredients like barley have been grown in space to produce beer.
Cheese Flan: Baking Temperature for Best Results
You may want to see also
Fermented cabbage dish Kimchi was modified for space travel
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish (banchan) consisting of salted and fermented vegetables, most often napa cabbage or Korean radish. It is one of the most important staples of Korean cuisine, with Koreans consuming 1.6 million tons a year. Kimchi is eaten with almost every Korean meal, and is also used in a variety of soups and stews.
The dish is made by first soaking the cabbage in a salty brine to soften the leaves. Lactobacillus bacteria then convert sugar into lactic acid, which preserves the cabbage and changes the flavor over time.
Kimchi is so important to Koreans that in the Vietnam War, South Korean President Park Chung-hee wrote to US President Lyndon Johnson to request that his troops, who were miserable, be supplied with kimchi. Johnson acquiesced, financing the delivery of canned kimchi to the battlefield.
When South Korea sent its first astronaut, Ko San, into space in 2008, the country devoted several years and millions of dollars to modifying the dish for space travel. Kimchi was the toughest dish to turn into space food, but it was important to include it as it is a cultural touchstone.
Cooking Boursin Cheese: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Space cheese is freeze-dried cheese made from real cheese without adding anything else. It has a crunchy texture and a creamy taste.
Space cheese is dehydrated and can be rehydrated in hot water before consumption.
Foods that can be eaten in space include commercially available, shelf-stable foods such as nuts, cookies, granola bars, and macaroni and cheese.
Astronauts choose their meals several months before their flight from a list of hundreds of food items. The food is then processed for storage at room temperature. Astronauts can warm their food at a galley station and use a hot-cold water dispenser to rehydrate dried foods.
There is no specific food that is not allowed in space. However, Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang was not allowed to bring reindeer jerky on board a shuttle mission as it was considered "weird".
