Author Topic: Cheese making  (Read 5802 times)

Offline Jude59

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Cheese making
« on: December 21, 2011, 05:02:10 am »
Ive bought DH a cheese making kit for Christmas - he's always saying he would like to have a go. Anyway, bought from a place someone here mentioned in passing in another thread. I bought the hard cheese making kit and a cheese press. Then found out I need a double boiler and probably a wine fridge to keep the temp just right for maturation.....  Started me wondering if I do need the double boiler..... Wonder if my TMX could do the gently heating part? Anyone know?
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Offline jeninwa

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2011, 05:22:16 am »
Its too much milk for the TM you need 6 - 8 litres, you can heat the milk slowly in a saucepan in the sink. Adding more hot water as needed, I quite often use this method. I also found that the bar fridge was too cold, we had a new thingy fitted to an old bar fridge  to control the temp. as you need it between 10 and 15 deg depending what type of cheese you are making. You could use an esky with ice blocks, need to change the ice blocks twice a day, that what I used when I first started out making Camembert. There is lots of information on the web. Greening of Gavin  had lots of video's and info. Farmhouse cheddar is a good one to start with. He has a good video on waxing cheese which I found very helpful when I first start making hard cheese. Good luck. Love to hear how you cheese making goes.
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Offline cookie1

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2011, 05:24:36 am »
It sounds rather fascinating. Jeninwa what sorts of cheese do you make now and how do they compare with shop stuff in price and taste?
May all dairy items in your fridge be of questionable vintage.

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Offline JuliaBalbilla

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2011, 08:02:13 am »
I just use an 18 litre saucepan on the hob.  Double boiler is ideal, but not necessary if you keep an eye on it.  You might like to start off with a small cheese such as Little Derby.  I don't think I left this to mature very long because I am impatient, but you could probably use a normal fridge with a thermometer and something that measures humidity, rather than having to buy a wine fridge.  Good luck with it and keep us informed ;D

JB
Rosemary from Bournemouth formerly Gloucestershire

Offline Jude59

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2011, 09:36:31 am »
Thanks for the help everyone. I was just starting to wonder if I actually needed to get the double boiler or not. Looked around the shops last night and there were only little ones. Loved that  green blog mentioned on this thread too :) hope DH is as excited about it as I am getting...haha.   Nice to know that there are a few here making cheeses too.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2011, 09:38:36 am by Jude59 »
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Offline jeninwa

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2011, 11:47:48 am »
It sounds rather fascinating. Jeninwa what sorts of cheese do you make now and how do they compare with shop stuff in price and taste?

At the moment I have Farm house cheddar just about ready to cut and a couple of Camembert in the fridge, (they are a bit stronger in flavour than the last ones DH loves it but I'm not to keep) Cost Farmhouse cheddar probably $10.00 at least a kg haven't weight it yet, Camembert I think were $1.50 each. (if that). They taste a little bit more milky than store bought.
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Offline cookie1

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2011, 01:17:36 am »
I'm sure I'd still love them. The constant temperature bit is a worry for me. More thought needed.
May all dairy items in your fridge be of questionable vintage.

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Offline Twitterpated

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Re: Cheese making
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2011, 07:39:22 am »
Interested but the constant temp thing is a worry. I saw these on a recent shopping trip and nearly bought one. Glad I decided to think about it as it would probably end up a disaster.