Icefever Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 As a lot of us smoke cheese, we've decided to have another go at making the stuff. We've had a couple of goes at it at the beginning of this year, only a soft cheese and it turned out ok. I've been reading up on making hard cheeses, we've bought a cheese mould that makes a 1kg round. Along with a culture and a few other bits& bobs, I need to buy two small plastic chopping boards today to make the press. Then tomorrow we start on making a cheddar....may as well go the whole hog, what with making bacon, wine, beer, where will it all end. This is one of the sites I've been reading up on, as they have the recipe online, this is the one we'll try out. https://www.littlegreencheese.com/2017/01/how-to-make-cheddar-cheese.html Ice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Following with interest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 ?.....We've been out today so we had the chance to buy the full-fat milk, a couple of chopping boards so it's all go tomorrow...? Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 I've watched a lot of the videos from the fella from little green cheese, Gavin Webber. He seems to know his stuff. I'm also looking at cheese making, just need more space for all these hobbies... The boss has said once I finish converting the bathroom into a shower room I can start the cheese adventure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 I've been watching Gavin Webber over the last few weeks also....he does indeed seem to know his stuff. Hurry up and finish that shower room then you can get stuck in... Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Marine ply arrives tomorrow, that's all I'm waiting on. Should get finished in the coming week. hopefully.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 Ok, just knocked up a simple press, seems most folks go for something like this, saves loads of money on buying a cheese press which does the same job. Ice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Nice press, looks to be just the job. I assume you are using water filled bottles as weights, I was worried about them sliding off but your press looks like it will be very stable. Is today "cheese day"? Hope it all goes according to plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 ? ......Everything is now sterilised, just about to start my first ever Cheddar, following the above recipe. Photos to follow...... Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, Adman said: Nice press, looks to be just the job. I assume you are using water filled bottles as weights, I was worried about them sliding off but your press looks like it will be very stable. Is today "cheese day"? Hope it all goes according to plan. It took all of 15 mins to build Adman, seems like it should stand up to the job, I've filled a Tupperware tube with water and that ways 3.2 kg, I also have an old flat iron that is 3 kg also.... here goes. Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 You'll soon know the weight of everything handy in the kitchen! Good luck... ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Monkey Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Ice, this looks really interesting, all ? ?? are on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 (edited) Well what a day yesterday turned out to be, everything went brilliantly. Our first try at hard cheese, but we're now hooked on making more. We followed the recipe and it was so easy to do, cheese seems to do most of the work for you. The milk is brought up to 32c, you add the Mesophilic culture, Calcium Chloride and rennet and that's it. You just sit back and watch the milk change into curds & whey, how easy is that??. Then after separating the curds from the whey, you start the cheddaring, after turning the curds about 3 times it's ready for the press. You pop it in the press for 1 hour, take it out, turn the cheese over and put it back under pressure then for 12 hours. A bonus is don't throw the whey down the drain, you make Ricotta cheese with it, so two cheese from one, can't be bad. Cheddaring for 45 mins. In the press for 12 hours. Out it came this morning at 04.00 Now it has to air dry for 3/5 days at room temp. The bonus Ricotta, this will be used in a beef lasagne in the week. Rosie and I both enjoyed the whole experience, will we make more??? to bloody right we will. There's a whole world of soft cheeses out there that don't need a press. Ice. Edited November 11, 2018 by Icefever 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 That wheel of cheese looks fantastic! Great job. Are you going mild or mature with it? The first I guess will be the hardest to resist for long enough to really mature. Your own smoked cheddar, what could be better? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 1 hour ago, Adman said: The first I guess will be the hardest to resist for long enough to really mature. You can say that.....it will be tempting, we hope to make one every 2 or 3weeks so that it can get to mature..... along with soft cheeses. Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Monkey Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Wow ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 I guess the airing at room temperature is now complete and you're preparing for the maturing stage. Are you waxing the cheese or cloth wrapping it as per one of the videos? How did the lasagne turn out? Pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 5 hours ago, Adman said: I guess the airing at room temperature is now complete and you're preparing for the maturing stage. Almost....... took a look this morning and there's still a small damp patch so I'm leaving it for another 24 hrs. Are you waxing the cheese or cloth wrapping it as per one of the videos? Sending for wax today How did the lasagne turn out? Out of this world...the recipe called for Ricotta and a couple of eggs WOW. Pictures? None of the Lasagne, will follow up later on the cheese. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 Two now vac-packed.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 Now I've just ordered the Blue culture to make a Stilton....you don't need a press as such, just a couple of boards and a 4kg weight for that type. Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 They look really good, I didn't think of vac packing, obvious really. If you can get unpasteurised milk I've heard it makes a difference with stilton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 1 minute ago, Adman said: They look really good, I didn't think of vac packing, obvious really. From what I've read and seen vac-packing is not the best way of storing cheese. When you think back it's a new "thing", I've done it because the fridge will be too cold at 4c, as a cheese fridge it should be nearer 10c/12c. I'm waiting on a cheese coating and wax to arrive. If you can get unpasteurised milk I've heard it makes a difference with stilton. Yes, it is in fact, you can add a large tub of cream to help when making it. Ice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Any news on the cheddar? It should be ready soon shouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefever Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 19 hours ago, Adman said: Any news on the cheddar? It should be ready soon shouldn't it? It's still in the fridge at the moment, what with all the upheaval with moving it had slipped my mind, thanks for asking, will sort it out midweek. Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valve90210 Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Are there any updates on this? How did it turn out, are you making more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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