What is Inoculum:
Inoculum is a substance used for inoculation. The plural of inoculum is inocula.
Inoculum is a biological material that is introduced into a medium to cause a reaction or to increase immunity to a disease. It can be used in a variety of fields, including medicine, microbiology, and industrial microbiology.
Examples of Inoculum:
In medicine: A substance that is introduced into the body to increase immunity to a disease, such as a vaccine.
In microbiology: Cells, tissue, or viruses that are used to inoculate a new culture.
In industrial microbiology: A substance that is introduced into a fermentation medium to produce products like enzymes, drugs, and food products.
Inoculum to Prepare Curd:
Inoculum to prepare curd is a starter culture that contains millions of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). It's added to fresh milk to convert it into curd.
How it works:
The LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria) in the inoculum multiplies at a suitable temperature.
The LAB produce lactic acid, which coagulates and partially digests the milk protein casein.
This process converts the milk into curd.
Other uses of LAB:
LAB are also used to make other milk products like butter and vinegar.
How to make curd
without inoculums:
You can add a few pieces of fresh ginger skin or a dry red chilli with its stalk to lukewarm milk.
Cover the bowl and let it sit for about 12 hours.
