Tom And Jerry's Favorite Cheese: A Tasty Mystery

The iconic cat and mouse duo, Tom and Jerry, have been the subject of many a debate, with one of the most pressing questions being: what kind of cheese is featured in the show? The answer: Emmental cheese, also known as Swiss cheese, is the variety that Jerry is often seen gorging on. This variety of cheese is known for its distinctive holes, which are caused by the release of carbon dioxide by the bacteria P. shermani during the fermentation process. The larger the cheese gets, the bigger the holes get, resulting in the Swiss cheese's signature appearance.

Emmental cheese is featured in the episode Snowbody Loves Me

Emmental cheese is featured in the episode "Snowbody Loves Me" of the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. The episode, released in 1964, features Jerry the mouse caught in a snowstorm in the Swiss Alps. He finds himself outside a cheese shop and decides to sneak in. Inside, he discovers a large array of cheeses, including a wheel of Emmental.

Jerry dives in and out of the holes in the Emmental cheese as Tom, the cat, tries to catch him by pumping air into the cheese with a fireplace bellows. Tom then comes up with another plan and hammers corks into the holes of the cheese, before dropping a giant weight on top of a giant bellows, causing the cheese to burst. Jerry manages to escape and is seen wearing a tutu made out of cheese.

The inclusion of Emmental cheese in this episode is notable as it is a type of Swiss cheese known for its distinctive holes. The holes in Swiss cheese are formed by the release of carbon dioxide during the fermentation process, creating air pockets that expand as the cheese ages. The mystery of the holes in Swiss cheese was solved by a Swiss agricultural institute, which discovered that tiny specks of hay are responsible for the holes in traditional varieties.

Jerry uses a celery stick to steal cheese in The Midnight Snack

In the 1941 short "The Midnight Snack", Jerry uses a celery stick to steal a giant wedge of cheese from the refrigerator. The cheese is so big that Jerry cannot see the exposed lightbulb when Tom disguises himself as a lamp by grabbing a lampshade. Tom then starts to make Jerry's task more difficult by piling dishes on top of the cheese and topping it off with an egg, completely blocking Jerry's view. Jerry continues to struggle with the weight of the cheese and eventually walks into a trap set by Tom, causing the dishes to scatter and the egg to fall on him.

Jerry then puts the cheese back in the refrigerator, breaking the celery stick in the process. He then tries to steal a tiny bit of cheese, but Tom stomps on his tail and replaces the cheese. Tom then discovers the delights of the refrigerator for himself, and raids it. Jerry frees himself, but is soon caught by Tom and returns to his prison. Tom presents Jerry with the wedge of cheese, but he is unable to run towards it because of the iron on his tail. Tom then allows Jerry to lick some cream off some donuts, and then sprays the rest of the cream on him, along with a cherry.

Tom then smells the food in his hand and is about to eat it, but realises it is the wedge of cheese. He tosses it away, smashing some crockery and waking up Mammy Two Shoes, the owner of the house. Tom quickly shoves Jerry into the refrigerator and hides, framing Jerry for the mess. Mammy enters the room, sees the mess, and calls for Tom. Tom emerges from his hiding place to pursue Jerry, and in the midst of the chase, he gets tied up and knocks over the stool that a frightened Mammy is standing on. Horrified, Mammy exits the room.

Jerry ultimately outsmarts Tom and lands him in the refrigerator by the end of the cartoon. Mammy re-enters the room, opens the refrigerator door, and finds Tom inside, covered in food. Jerry overhears Mammy shouting at Tom and kicking him out of the house. The short ends with Jerry munching on his wedge of cheese, feeling pleased with himself.

The Midnight Snack is the first Tom and Jerry cartoon to feature cheese

Tom then realises he has free rein of the refrigerator and helps himself to its contents, including a wedge of cheese which he offers to Jerry. However, Jerry is unable to reach the cheese due to an iron attached to his tail. Tom then allows Jerry to lick cream off some donuts, before spraying him with cream and a cherry. Tom then smells the cheese, but tosses it away in disgust, smashing some crockery in the process. The noise wakes up Tom and Jerry's owner, Mammy Two Shoes, who goes downstairs to investigate. Tom quickly shoves Jerry into the refrigerator and hides. Mammy opens the fridge, screams in terror, and calls for Tom, who emerges and pursues Jerry.

In the end, Jerry tricks Tom and hides in the refrigerator. Mammy re-enters the room, believing that Tom has caught Jerry and disposed of his body. She opens the refrigerator door to reward Tom with a bowl of cream, only to find him inside the refrigerator, covered in food. Jerry is then seen munching on his wedge of cheese, feeling very pleased with himself.

The type of cheese featured in The Midnight Snack is not specified, but in a later Tom and Jerry cartoon, Snowbody Loves Me, Jerry is seen eating Emmental cheese.

In Snowbody Loves Me, Tom uses corks to plug the holes in the cheese

In the 1964 Tom and Jerry episode "Snowbody Loves Me", Tom uses corks to plug the holes in a wheel of cheese Emmental cheese. Jerry has taken refuge inside the cheese, which is in a shop where Tom resides. Tom hammers corks into the holes to try and trap Jerry inside, but Jerry manages to avoid being hit by the corks. Tom then drops a giant weight on top of a giant pair of bellows, causing the cheese to burst and corks to fly everywhere.

Jerry emerges from the destroyed cheese wheel wearing a thin slice of cheese as a tutu. He then performs a ballet dance, which Tom enthusiastically applauds. Tom approaches Jerry, slaps him unconscious, and throws him outside into the snow. Tom tries to go back to sleep but is plagued by guilt when he imagines Jerry dying of hypothermia. He rushes outside, brings the frozen mouse inside, and revives him with a warm blanket and a spoonful of strong alcohol. Jerry wakes up, puts on a Swiss-style outfit, and dances happily while Tom plays the piano. The cartoon ends with Tom and Jerry taking a bow.

"Snowbody Loves Me" is notable for its use of recognisable Chopin pieces, including the "Revolutionary Étude", the "Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major", and the "Fantaisie-Impromptu". The episode also features a winter theme, with Jerry rolling down a hill in the Swiss Alps in a giant snowball before landing outside Tom's house.

The holes in Swiss cheese are caused by carbon dioxide bubbles

In the Tom and Jerry cartoon "Snowbody Loves Me", Jerry is out in the Swiss Alps and takes refuge in a cheese shop. He raps on the door and wakes up Tom, who opens the door, only to find no one there. Tom goes out into the cold while Jerry sneaks in and locks Tom out. Jerry then surveys the large array of cheeses and walks towards a large wheel of Emmental cheese. He starts to dive in and out of the holes in the cheese as Tom manages to open the door.

Emmental cheese, also known as Swiss cheese, is distinguished by its extra-large holes and unique flavour. The holes in Swiss cheese are caused by a starter culture of bacteria added to the milk at the beginning of the cheesemaking process. This strain of bacteria is called Propionibacter shermani or Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and it consumes lactic acid and releases carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These bubbles become trapped in the rind of the cheese and slowly form holes, or "eyes". The size of the holes can be controlled by changing the temperature of the milk, its acidity, or the aging time of the wheel.

The unique flavour of Emmental cheese is also caused by the Propionibacter shermani bacteria. When carbon dioxide is released from lactic acid, the lactic acid is converted to propionic acid, which gives the cheese its pungent smell and flavour. The flavour and the size of the eyes are related, with larger holes indicating a more intense and developed flavour.

Cheesemakers in the United States and other parts of the world have not observed their Swiss cheeses going "blind" like those in Europe. Scientists believe there must be other unknown particles that account for the "eyes" in American Swiss cheese.

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