Methods and compositions for producing cheese with S. thermophilus and a urease inhibitor, and for producing hard or semi-hard cheese, such as cheddar, with S. thermophilus that is partially or completely deficient in its ability to release ammonia from urea are provided. Methods and compositions for reducing, the amount of open texture (e.g., slits, cracks, or fractures) in hard and semi-hard cheeses, as well as hard and semi-hard cheeses that comprise one or more S. thermophilus bacteria that are partially or completely deficient in their ability to release ammonia from urea, are also provided.
