Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 At last.... today I would take my first steps with smoking cheese. Started at 07.20 there are 12 slabs of mature Cheddar, 2kg in total that we bought from Costco (I think) there or Booker ? I'm running a trial for ourselves, timed sections, I will take the first look at 1st hour. Then every hour after as there seems to be a lot of disagreement on how long it should be smoked for???. Notes will be taken, slabs numbered, all of the cheese will be wrapped and stored the same. Left... Ice from the defrost.. Right.....Ready for smoke 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 What are you using as a smoke generator? Often the disagreement on the length of time required is down to the different generators that are being used. For instance a ProQ sawdust generator will produce less smoke than something like an AMNPS and so will usually need longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Brillant, I went and bought the ProQ......it's smoking but as you say very low in volume....will have to wait & see. ? Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Just looked up AMNPS ..........Bugger I've got one!!!! bought along with the gasser that we got 5/6 years.....am I correct they work better with pellets?? Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 The ProQ also produces less heat though and so is often better when used in the smaller spaces. You are not looking for thick plumes of smoke in the smoker so don't be discouraged if it seems quite thin. It will flavour the cheese fine but it may take a little longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 I did 10 hours wisp of smoke in cardboard box. Taste test next weekend. Smelt very smoky when I can packed them but we shall see. The colour is reopening in the vac Pac already 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 10-Rog Wade....as I said it's a learning session for me today just had a peep and it all looks tickety-boo. I only have an hour left on the shed, the rest of the day is for relaxing. Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Icefever said: Just looked up AMNPS ..........Bugger I've got one!!!! bought along with the gasser that we got 5/6 years.....am I correct they work better with pellets?? Yes they work with pellets. I use one in my commercial cold smoker - mostly with hickory pellets. Here is a comparison of the smoke generated by two types of smoke generator If I need more smoke (for things like smoked salt or nuts) I will often use one of my tube generators - but this produces far too much smoke for things like cheese. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 They say a picture is worth a thousand words ....those photos show how much difference there is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 (edited) As you say trial and error, you will find the right combo for yourself. I personally use the Proq smoke generator myself, with my Proq Exel. My general rule of thumb for my tastes is 2½ hours to 3 (if temp is a little colder for most cheeses) No reason for it but I turn them over ½ way through smoking. Never bothered with ice personally, as I only do it when the early morning temperature is in single figures. The lower the better, I find the different dusts have a greater effect than anything on the finished flavour. I personally like the milder smoke flavours from woods like Apple or Silver Birch with my cheese. The stronger ones like Hickory or Maple just don't suit my tastebuds and find it gives the cheese a bitter smoke flavour.. But I am sure there are plenty of other people do enjoy those wood dusts. Never tried a AMPNS but that quantity of smoke generated for cheese, would be a bit much by the looks of it for my taste. I prefer more cheese flavour and the smoke in the background. But everybody is different. Certainly for Bacon those AMPNS look ideal though for me Once smoked I just leave them for 2-3 weeks in an airtight vacuum sealed bag or ziploc bag. Just finished of some Wykes Farm mature and a really nice Gouda I smoked for the first time about 5 weeks ago. I thought the smoke really worked well with the Gouda. Got some Manchego, Cheddar, Gouda and hopefully some Pecorino (never smoked sheeps milk cheese before) but I like it grated over my pasta dishes, if the forecasted night time temps drop as forecast for the bank holiday. Edited August 19, 2018 by sotv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 (edited) The outside temp is so-so at the moment hence the ice, the wind has a tendency to whistle down the side of the cottage...so hopefully will help hold the temp back a little, I may take a brewing tip and throw a wet T-shirt/old towel over the top/sides of the smoker to help cool it. Update... Just been and checked and there's a marked difference in the colour from the first shot..... Ice Edited August 19, 2018 by Icefever 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Yes and you will see colour develop more once you vac pack and leave to mellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Well, it's all done...we started taking two blocks at a time out at 1.5hrs then every 30 mins after that. Until we got down to two, these Rosie wanted to leave in longer, so they stayed in and clocked up 5 hrs. The burn went around 4 channels and was just turning the corner, I stopped the burn and saved about maybe 2 hrs of dust.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Forecast to drop to 7 °C around my area on early Sunday morning. Few different cheeses in the fridge ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Just tasted mild cheese I smoked 10 days ago, pretty good milky smoky flavour. Not my favourite but nice job all the same, mature will surely taste better but I am leaving that until the bank holiday. Will bring a Mature block and Red Leicester block to the 1st northern tailgate for taste test 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) Nice an cool last night, put 6 blocks, 2kg in total of mature cheddar, along with some French Comte, Pecarino and Manchego in just after 5am this morning. Taking it out about 0830 and will put a nice piece of Cod Loin in to lightly cold smoke for tea tonight afterwards before cooking it later. Edited August 24, 2018 by sotv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Looking forward to photos a taste notes in due course. Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Just got cod loin back in the house 10 minutes before one of those unannounced very sharp showers came, thank goodness. Cheeses smoked for just under 4 hours with Apple wood dust, all bagged up and mellowing for 4 weeks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) good call, mine is too strong on smoke I think. Just tasted the mature after 2 weeks of mellowing. I am going to ditch it and try again. UPDATE, found one bit of mature left in fridge, week 3. Tasted and it is nice. So i should have left it longer. than 2 weeks Edited August 31, 2018 by Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) How long did you smoke it for and what type of wood dust? Seems a shame to have to throw it away, cant you at least grate it nad grill it and use it in pasta, pizza or cheese on toast etc if too much smoke in its raw form, to enjoy? I'd certainly give it another 2 weeks anyway at least, it just may need a bit longer. Mine was in 3 hours 40 minutes normally do slightly under 3 hours but due to the quantity gave it an extra 40 minutes as Apple wood dust is a very mellow smoking dust I find.and I have yet to overpower any type of cheese with it yet. There is always a first time though...? Edited August 24, 2018 by sotv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 It was the wood that came with the pro q cardboard smoker. It was not labelled so who knows what it is. Apple wood next time. It is a journey no problem. the cheese smelt like a bonfire when it came out. I was hoping for something mire like Wades cheese that he gave me at Wooodsmoke18. Next time. Still to hot here in Essex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 10 hours too per the pro q video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I notice Wade uses hickory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotv Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 4 minutes ago, Justin said: 10 hours too per the pro q video. I have never smoked my cheese that long tbh and never would! 2.5 hours usually and up to 4 hours is the max, I would ever consider for my tastes. But everybody is different and strong smoke may well suit them. still like to taste the cheese though ? 2 minutes ago, Justin said: I notice Wade uses hickory I have tried Hickory, I find it a bit bitter for my tastes on its own, but have added it as a 1:4 ratio with Apple or Silver Birch in the past. As with anything, I found it to be a bit of trial and error, with the different woods but I have 3 definites now that I am confident in the finished flavour it will give for me and others I smoke cheese for. I intend to experiment with a few other wood dusts like Orange and maybe Walnut or Alder dust later this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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