whey

/weɪ/

/hweɪ/

/weɪ/

Other forms: wheys

Whey is what's left over after you've made cheese by straining curds. Rather than being thrown away, whey is often used to add buttery flavor or extra protein to processed foods.

You may know the word whey from the nursery rhyme that begins "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey..." Curds and whey are part of the cheese-making process, with whey being the slightly sour leftover liquid. Think buttermilk or thin yogurt, and you've got an idea of what whey tastes like. It's actually a great source of protein and often shows up in healthy smoothies and shakes.

Definitions of whey

1. noun

   the serum or watery part of milk that is separated from the curd in making cheese
   synonyms: milk whey

   type of:

   blood serum, serum

   an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates
2. noun

   watery part of milk produced when raw milk sours and coagulates
   “Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating some curds and whey”

   type of:

   dairy product

   milk and butter and cheese