Disclosed herein are methods for the large-scale production of a highly thermally stable acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Additionally, the expression methods disclosed herein can produce ChE preparations consisting of extract or purified forms that can be produced in high amounts and are highly thermally stable. These ChE products can be used in vitro detection, detoxification and decontamination methods.