Is paneer (a type of Indian cheese) a plastic?

Question

This video from New Scientist seems to imply that it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvAl4lu1uA&feature=dir

What is the definition of a plastic, and does paneer fit into this definition? If not, did they make plastic on the New Scientist video?

Answer 1

A special favorite with North Indians, paneer (cottage cheese) with its delicate milky flavour is used all over India to make delicious dishes ranging from curries to desserts. Available at most supermarkets in block form or even as curds, it readily takes on the flavor of the spices in which it is cooked. When used to make desserts it gives a rich and creamy flavour. Paneer can be bought at the supermarket or better still, made at home quite easily. Here’s how:
INGREDIENTS:
1 litre full-cream milk (use lean milk for a low-fat version)
½ tsp citric acid/lemon juice
½ cup warm water
PREPARATION:
Set the milk up to boil.
As the milk is readied, dissolve the citric acid/lemon juice in half a cup of warm water.
When the milk comes to a boil, pour the acid-water/lemon juice-water mix into it.
Reduce the heat and stir continuously until the milk is completely curdled.
Remove from the heat when the separation of the curds and yellowish whey is complete.
Strain the mixture through a clean muslin cloth.
Hold it under running water for a minute and then press out the excess water.
Hang the muslin for 15-20 minutes so that all the whey is drained out.
To make the paneer into a block tie the muslin and place it under something heavy.
The paneer can now be cut into chunks and used as required.

Answer 2

Paneer is Indian cheese and is very tasty! You can buy it from any local Indian grocery stores. When you go in as for Paneer, pronounced, Puneer. Paneer is not like regular cheese, it does not have any salt in it which makes it no fat. You can make Paneer using milk at home.

Answer 3

Plastic is the general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other substances to improve performance or economics.
Paneer is the most common Indian form of cheese. It is an unaged, acid-set, non-melting farmer cheese that is similar to acid-set fresh mozzarella and queso blanco, except that it does not have salt added, much like hoop
Paneer and Plastic are totally different.
youtube entertains more than it informs

Answer 4

Plastic doesn t have to be synthetic. The first plastics were made from polysaccharides (eg starch, cellulose) and protein (eg casein). A plastic is simply a polymer (repeating long-chain molecule) that can be shaped while soft, and then made rigid (eg by chemical processes or by cooling).

You can make casein plastic out of milk by heating it and curdling it with acid (typically vinegar). This causes the casein protein molecules in the milk to unbundle (denature) and then create cross-links between the protein strands, making it rigid. While it dries, it can be moulded (ie, it is "plastic") and takes a few days to dry, or it can be set by the addition of formaldehyde. In the early 20th century, casein plastic was used to make buttons for soldiers uniforms, among other things.

Making casein plastic is essentially making curds that are then cured into rigid form. If you eat the curds before it sets, you re eating paneer. Usually paneer curds are denatured with lemon juice rather than vinegar, but you get the same casein curds regardless of the acid used.

It s cheap and easy to make casein plastic, and a lot of fun. Just heat milk to nearly boiling, add vinegar or lemon juice at a ratio of roughly 16:1 (eg 1 cup milk to 1 tablespoon vinegar), and stir gently to clump the curds together. Avoid breaking up the curds. Gently wash in cold water, then strain the curds (eg wrapped in muslin cloth), and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. (Here, you can press then curds under a board or saucepan for 20 minutes and use as paneer.) Then kneed, shape and allow to dry.

Answer 5

you can make a type of plastic out of milk...and I think its almost the same as making cheese.