Category: Cheese history
Why Does Cheese Go Moldy?
You may be wondering, why does cheese go moldy? Cheese lovers all over the world have been asking the same question.
In this article, we delve into the science behind why cheese goes moldy and shed light on the factors that contribute to this natural occurrence.
Understanding the Nature of Cheese Mold
Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in warm and moist environments. When it comes to cheese, mold growth can occur due to a combination of factors. These include the presence of mold spores in the air, moisture content, temperature, and the type of cheese.
The Role of Mold Spores
Mold spores are microscopic particles that are present in the environment. They can be found in the air, on surfaces, and even on the cheese itself. When conditions are favorable, these spores can settle on the cheese’s surface and begin to grow. This, in turn, leads to the formation of visible mold.
Moisture Content and Cheese Storage
The moisture content of cheese plays a crucial role in its susceptibility to mold growth. Soft and moist cheeses, such as blue cheese and Camembert, have higher water content and are more prone to mold development. Proper storage is essential to prevent excessive moisture buildup.
Cheese should be wrapped in breathable materials like wax paper or cheese paper to maintain a moisture balance. This will also help prevent mold growth while allowing the cheese to mature.
Temperature and Cheese Preservation
Temperature is another critical factor in cheese preservation. Most cheeses should be stored at cool temperatures to slow down the growth of mold and other spoilage organisms. However, certain types of cheese, such as blue cheese, require specific temperature conditions to develop their characteristic mold veins.
Understanding the optimal storage temperature for each type of cheese is key to preserving its quality and preventing unwanted mold growth.
Cheese Rind and Mold
The rind, or outer layer, of some cheeses, acts as a protective barrier against mold. Cheeses like Brie and Camembert have bloomy rinds that form a layer of white mold.
This mold is intentionally introduced during the cheese-making process and contributes to the unique flavors and textures of these cheeses. However, it’s important to note that not all mold growth on cheese rinds is desirable. Unwanted mold can indicate improper storage conditions or a deterioration in the cheese’s quality.
Preventive Measures and Moldy Cheese
While mold growth is a natural occurrence in some types of cheese, it’s understandable that many people prefer to avoid consuming moldy cheese.
To prevent mold growth, it’s crucial to handle and store cheese properly. Keep cheese refrigerated, wrapped in breathable materials or in a suitable container. Keep cheese separate from other foods to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Additionally, inspect cheese regularly. Discard any portions with visible mold growth or unpleasant odors.
Wrapping It Up
Understanding why cheese goes moldy helps us appreciate the complex interplay of environmental factors, moisture content, temperature, and cheese type.
While mold growth is a natural process in some cheeses and even intentional in others, it can still be off-putting to find mold in our favorite varieties.
By following proper storage and handling practices, we can extend the shelf life of cheese and minimize the risk of unwanted mold growth.
So, next time you encounter mold on your cheese, remember that it’s simply a natural part of the cheese maturing process.
Guggisberg Baby Swiss – A Brief History
If you have spent much time in North Eastern Ohio, you likely have tried some of the world-famous cheeses offered in the area. One name that rings notoriety in the region is Guggisberg Baby Swiss.
How to Serve Raclette
If you’re anything like us here at Shisler’s Cheese House, you love entertaining. We’re always looking for great new ways to share food and fun with our friends and family.
If you haven’t had a Raclette dinner party yet, then today we’re here to tell you why this might be your next big hit.
What is Raclette?
Raclette (ra-klet) is a semi-firm, salted cheese made from cow’s milk. It originated in the Swiss canton of Valais, but is today also produced in the French regions of Savoie and Franche-Comté.
The term raclette derives from the French racler, meaning “to scrape”. Raclette cheese is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners’ plates.
What is the history of Raclette?
Raclette is mentioned in medieval writings and was then known in the German-speaking part of Switzerland as Bratchäs, or “roasted cheese.” Traditionally, the Swiss cow herders used to take the cheese with them into the mountains. They would cook it by the campfire and scrape it onto bread.
How can we enjoy it at a dinner party?
These days, you don’t have to go into the mountains or start an open fire to enjoy Raclette around the dinner table. Electric table-top grills with small pans make the job of melting the cheese easy and fun. Each guest fills their small pan, known as a coupelles, with cheese and melts it before adding it to their plate.
What should it be served with?
This is where you can let your imagination run wild! Anything that you think might be delicious with cheese could be tried, but there are some classics that are essential for a Raclette party:
- Small boiled potatoes
- Sliced vegetables including carrots, peppers, celery, mushrooms and any other favourites
- Sliced fresh bread
- Meats or seafood
Whilst the cheese is melting in the coupelles, guests can cook their meat or seafood to their liking on the top of the grill. They can even throw the vegetables on to cook them slightly or crisp the potatoes up. The beauty of this is that everyone can select what they would like to eat and how they would like to eat it.
You can also serve apple slices, to cut through the sweetness, and other treats that you might usually serve with cheese.
Could I serve other cheeses?
Certainly! Let guests experiment with Raclette cheese, gouda and gruyere. They can find their favorite combinations.
What drinks should I serve with Raclette?
A white wine is a great choice to pair with Raclette. A Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Grigio would all work well. You could also serve a light wheat ale or a fruity Pinot Noir for red wine lovers.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab some supplies and you could be hosting the dinner party that will have all your friends hoping for a second invite!
How do you serve your Raclette? What are your top dinner party tips? Let us know in the comments!
About Ohio Amish Country
The Amish Communities are a big part of Shisler’s Cheese House. We pride ourselves in using local trade, producers, and Cheesemakers when we can. It is important to us as just as much as our customers, especially our regulars because you’re what keep us going. With everything over the years changing and becoming more modernized and grocery stores putting everything under one roof, it can really take its toll on local businesses.
This is why we love our Amish Community. The Amish people are Amish because of their religion. What they believe comes directly from the Bible:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15 RSV
Amish people came to the United States in search of religious freedom, as did many immigrants. In the 1700s, between 50 and 100 Amish families arrived in America, settling mostly in Pennsylvania. Many others followed in the 19th century. Over the years, various orders of Amish spread into Ohio.
They live in homes without electricity or telephones, ride in buggies and wear plain, home-made clothing. They choose this way of living because they do not want to conform to the rest of the world.
In the same sense, the Amish produce milk, meats, cheese all naturally with the best, high-quality results. The quality of our products is not something you can find in a grocery store. Products from grocery stores can be full of harmful things that are simply unwanted but needed in mass production and animals are often treated cruelly.
In Amish Country, people and animals are living a simple, free life, how they believe God intended.
With this, we are passionate about supporting their local business and products in the same way our friendly customers do.
You can always count on having not only high-quality products but an experience like no other at Shisler’s Cheese House. We genuinely care for each and every one of our customers and look forward to seeing and meeting you all while helping you with all your cheese and like gourmet needs! Having been a family run business for almost 60 years, you can guarantee to have a warm, family welcoming.
Christmas At Shisler’s Cheese House
It’s amazing how fast the year passes by. It feels like just yesterday that we were picking up our Easter chocolate and gift boxes from Shisler’s Cheese House.
With Christmas just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about what gifts would be ideal for our family and friends.
A lot of the time, it can be extremely difficult to think of gift ideas year after year, but here at our store, we feel that we have something for everyone with our wide selection of gift boxes.
Check out our high quality, affordable gift boxes here:
Gift Box #1: Baby Swiss Cheese: $25
This gift box includes a 4 lb. wheel of our signature Baby Swiss Cheese. Our Baby Swiss is one of our local selections that is made in Charm, Ohio by the original producer Guggisberg Cheese. It is a young, semi-soft whole milk cheese which is distinguishable by its myriad of small holes. Although Baby Swiss is closely related to Swiss Cheese, the holes are smaller and it has a milder flavor which is delightfully creamy and delicious.
This gift box makes a perfect gift for pretty much anyone who likes cheese as the flavor is not as acquired as some of our other complex cheeses. It also comes with assorted chocolates that you can find!
4 lb. Baby Swiss Wheel
Assorted Chocolates
Gift Box #2: Troyer’s Trail Bologna and Cheese: $25
This box contains a mixture of meat, cheese, and chocolates- what an amazing combination!
For three generations we at Shisler’s Cheese House have prided ourselves on providing the best examples of local fare to tourists and locals alike. Troyer’s Trail Bologna is one of the best examples of local fare we can recommend. Our Trail Bologna comes from the fourth generation of the Troyer family. Don’t be fooled by imitators. There is only one Troyer’s Trail Bologna, made in Trail, OH and sold exclusively by Ohio retailers so this gift box will be a one of a kind gift for your family or friends!
Also in this box comes two of our delicious cheeses Farmers and Colby. Farmers Cheese is a mild unripened white cheese made by adding rennet to cow’s milk. When the milk coagulates it separates into solid curds and liquid whey, which is drained off. The result at this stage is sometimes referred to as pot cheese. Further pressing out of the moisture results in a more firm and crumbly Farmer’s Cheese. It is often enjoyed in a sandwich with delicious bologna from our store, which is why it why this gift box is an amazing combination.
Colby cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese native to the United States. But today Colby cheese is made in other regions of the world as well. It is often compared to cheddar cheese since the two both typically appear orange or creamy yellow. But two kinds of cheese taste very different. The flavor of Colby cheese is much milder and creamy. Washing the curds reduces the acid content, making Colby cheese less tangy when it is finished. Colby also has a higher moisture content, and it tends to be much softer than cheddar. Colby often goes well with rye bread, pears and apples. It can also be used as a table cheese, the possibilities are endless.
Like gift box #1, the box also comes with assorted chocolates, because who doesn’t love chocolate at Christmas?
1 Lb. Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Colby
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Farmers
Assorted Chocolates
Gift Box #3: Cheese Lover’s: $23
This is the ultimate cheese lover’s collection. With a selection of some of our most amazing cheese, this gift will not be forgotten this Christmas!
It comes with 3/4 wheels of 4 kinds of cheese:
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Cheddar
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Cojack (Marble)
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Farmer’s Cheese
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Pepper Jack
Orange Cheddar is traditional white cheddar with Annatto, an extract from the tropical achiote tree, and oleoresin paprika added. These added ingredients give the orange cheddar its orange color and a milder flavor. Many connoisseurs claim that White Cheddar is slightly sharper than orange cheddar, but that is more dependent on aging than color.
Marble Cheese is so named because of its two-toned color. It is made by taking the curds from Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses or white and orange Cheddar curds and pressing them together into a Longhorn. Because Marble Cheese is made from Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses, it is sometimes called “Cojack.”
Farmers Cheese is a mild unripened white cheese made by adding rennet to cow’s milk. When the milk coagulates it separates into solid curds and liquid whey, which is drained off. The result at this stage is sometimes referred to as pot cheese. Further pressing out of the moisture results in a more firm and crumbly Farmer’s Cheese.
Pepper Jack Cheese is just one of our selection of many spicy pepper kinds of cheese. Pepper Jack Cheese is a cow’s milk cheese which blends the creamy, buttery flavor of jack cheese with the intensity of spicy peppers, most notably jalapeños, but also includes some serrano peppers and habañeros. Pepper Jack Cheese is used in a wide variety of recipes, and it is particularly popular in the American West, where people have an acquired taste for spicy peppers.
This gift box also comes with assorted chocolates.
Gift Box #4: Amish Cheese and Goodies: $50
With Amish country being a big part of our store production and community, we had to include a gift box packed full of amazing goodies:
1 Lb. Baby Swiss Wheel
1 Summer Sausage Link
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Colby
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Pepper Jack
Shisler’s Private Label Mustard
Home Style Amish Jam
Carr’s Crackers
Assorted Chocolates
6oz. REACH Coffee
Baby Swiss is a young, semi-soft whole milk cheese distinguishable by its myriad of small holes. Baby Swiss is closely related to Swiss cheese, made by substituting water for the milk’s whey to slow bacterial action, Baby Swiss has smaller holes and a milder flavor. Baby Swiss is often made from whole milk. Baby Swiss has a delightfully creamy and mild taste, a delicious favorite!
Summer sausage is a type of sausage that can be kept without the use of refrigeration. It earned its name from its ability to be kept during the summer without electricity.
Colby cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese native to the United States. But today Colby cheese is made in other regions of the world as well. It is often compared to cheddar cheese since the two both typically appear orange or creamy yellow. But two kinds of cheese taste very different. The flavor of Colby cheese is much milder and creamy. Washing the curds reduces the acid content, making Colby cheese less tangy when it is finished. Colby also has a higher moisture content, and it tends to be much softer than cheddar. Colby often goes well with rye bread, pears and apples. It can also be used as a table cheese, the possibilities are endless.
Pepper Jack Cheese is just one of our selection of many spicy pepper kinds of cheese. Pepper Jack Cheese is a cow’s milk cheese which blends the creamy, buttery flavor of jack cheese with the intensity of spicy peppers, most notably jalapeños, but also includes some serrano peppers and habañeros. Pepper Jack Cheese is used in a wide variety of recipes, and it is particularly popular in the American West, where people have an acquired taste for spicy peppers.
Gift Box #5 – Baby Swiss Cheese and Troyer’s Trail Bologna: A Classic Amish Country Combination: $50
This box gives a classic combination of Amish county, with a well-rounded selection of each of our special delicacies. This can be a perfect give for a family, neighbors or to bring along to a Christmas gathering. There’s plenty of delicious food to go around and enjoy while supporting not only Shisler’s Cheese House but our very own Amish Country.
The box includes:
4 Lb. Baby Swiss Wheel
Large Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring
Shisler’s Private Label Mustard
Carr’s Crackers
Assorted Chocolates
6oz. REACH Coffee
Gift Box #6: Amish Country Sampler Gift Box: $75
This gift box is the biggest gift packed full of a huge selection of all Shisler’s Cheese House has to offer. This is the ultimate gift for people who are passionate about fine foods and complex tastes.
The best that Amish Country has to offer!
Our Amish Country Sampler Gift Box includes:
Large Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring
1 Lb. Box of Heggy’s Chocolates
Home Style Amish Jam
Shisler’s Private Label Hot Jalapeno Mustard
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Cheddar
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Cojack (Marble)
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Farmer’s Cheese
3/4 Lb. Wheel of Pepper Jack Cheese
Baby Swiss Cheese Wedge
Summer Sausage Link
Townhouse Crackers
6oz. REACH Coffee
Other Gifts
If you would rather leave the choice to your family member or friend, you can always purchase them their very own gift certificate to be used at Shisler’s Cheese House so that you can be sure they get exactly what they desire.
These gift certificates are valid for one year and can be used all at once or for multiple transactions. We’ll just subtract the amount spent!
You will be provided with a Gift Certificate code immediately after checkout. Gift certificates can be mailed via US postal service on the following business day if selected.
Select from these set amounts:
$25
$50 (+ $25.00)
$100 (+ $75.00)
$200 (+ $175.00)
Create A Delicious Bologna Spread Using Our Bologna
Here at Shisler’s Cheese House, we have a number of products on sale which will help you create an amazing Bologna spread for any occasion.
This recipe is super easy to create and at our store, we have high-quality bologna and cheese which would be perfect for this spread.
The bologna recommended for this recipe is Lebanon Bologna. You can buy 12 Oz. for only $6.29 at Shisler’s Cheese House, be it in store or on our website. Our Lebonan Bologna is a type of cured, smoked, fermented, semi-dry sausage. It is similar in appearance to Salami, just slightly darker in color. The flavor is distinct and tangy, which makes it delicious.
Also included in this recipe is a cheese, we recommend you use our Colby cheese. However, the choice of cheese is entirely yours and you can look through our wide selection!
Recipe
What You Need
12 Oz. Lebanon bologna (Shisler’s Cheese House)
2 Oz. of Cheese (Colby from our store is recommended)
6 hardboiled egg, peeled
1 cup Miracle Whip
What To Do
Cut the bologna and cheese into large chunks.
Using a meat grinder, grind the bologna, cheese, and eggs into a large bowl.
Add Miracle Whip and stir until mixed well.
Serve on crackers or make a sandwich with the spread.
Easy-Cheesy Halloween Recipes!
Halloween is one of the best times of the year. What better way than to enjoy it by exploring all the different ways you can make spooky Halloween snacks. Be it for a Halloween party for your kids, an adult get-together or a spookily themed dinner with the family, these extra cheesy recipes- with a twist will be a cheese lovers heaven this Halloween!
Not only are these Halloween recipes for cheese lovers, but they are quick and easy to make. So, if you have work on Halloween, you can quickly whip them in a short amount of time so no one misses out!
Halloween Cheese And Crackers
Cheese and crackers are a quick and easy snack to add to a party platter of spooky delights. What makes this recipe even better is that you can have some fun with the kids making these. All you really need is a few different Halloween cookie cutters which you can purchase from your local craft store and some delicious cheese from Shisler’s Cheese House.
Cheddar would be the best cheese for this, at Shisler’s Cheese House we have a range of different cheddars to suit your palette:
– White Cheddar
– Orange Cheddar
– Garlic Cheddar
– Smoked Cheddar
Now you just have to cut some thin slices of your cheese and use your cookie cutter to form the spooky shapes and then place them on your crackers! It is as easy as that! Don’t throw out your outline leftovers, you can just save the cheese for a topping on a family dinner or just for a snack! Enjoy.
Halloween Cheese Board
Everyone loves a cheese board! If you are attending a more sophisticated event this Halloween but you would like to add a twist, bring a spooky Halloween board! Just cut some slices of your favorite cheese and use cookie cutters to make pumpkins and ghosts out of the cheese. Don’t forget to bring the wine!
Check out our website to see all the delicious cheeses you can get for your board.
Crescent Roll Witch Hats
This recipe is something different but equally delicious. With Halloween being very much geared towards a sweet tooth, you’ll be happy to know that this recipe is more on the savory side for those who love Halloween and savory foods!
Again, this recipe is super easy to make and creative!
What You Need
1 package of Crescent Rolls (original)
Shisler’s Cheese House Bologna
2 types of cheese with contrasting color (Cheddar and Havarti from our store)
Basil
What To Do
1. Open and unroll one package of Crescent Rolls.
2. So hats maintain their shape, use a knife to separate segments.
3. Cut salami slices and a portion of cheddar cheese into thin strips.
4. Place bologna and cheese strips on top of the widest part of the roll.
5. Roll it up to create the hat brim.
6. Cut cheddar cheese strips and cheese squares to make the hat band and buckle.
7. Arrange cheese above the brim of the hat.
8. Lightly sprinkle basil over the entire roll.
9. Bake according to package directions.
Cheesemaking: How To Make Cabra Al Vino
Recipe
What You Need
3 Gallons of Goat’s Milk (not Ultra-Pasteurized)
1/8 tsp MA4002 Culture*
1/8 tsp Single Strength Liquid Rennet
Cheese Salt
Salt Brine
Calcium Chloride (for pasteurized milk)
What To Do
1. The first step is to heat and acidify the milk. So let’s begin by heating the milk to 95F To do this, place the milk in a container and then place it in a large pot of very warm water. If you heat it on the stove, be sure to heat it slowly and stir it as it heats if you heat it on the stove.
After heating the milk, the culture can be added. The powder can become very cakey and sink in clumps so to prevent this, sprinkle the culture over the surface of the milk and then let it sit for a couple of minutes. This allows the powder to re-hydrate before you stir it in. After stirring, let the milk sit for a further hour so that the culture can get to work.
2. After an hour of ripening, add 1/8 tsp. single strength liquid rennet. Stir the rennet in for about a minute in a slow up and down motion. The rennet will begin to coagulate the curd, let it sit for 90 minutes. You will see the milk thicken after around 40-45 minutes, but it still needs the full 90 minutes for a proper curd to form.
One way to check for a good curd, insert a knife into the curd at a 45-degree angle and lift slowly until the curd breaks. The edges should break cleanly and the whey that will rise should be clear, not cloudy.
3. It is now time to cut the curds and cook them. Cut the curd vertically in both directions, at about 3/4-1/2 inch then let it sit for 5 minutes.
The second cut should be horizontal with a spoon or flat ladle and then cut slowly to a pea size, taking about 10 minutes.
Remove 30% of the whey after allowing the curd to settle.
Add back some water at a temperature of 110F slowly to heat curds to 97F over 10 minutes.
Stir the curd for 30-40 minutes to achieve a moderately firm curd.
The final curds should be cooked well through. Examine them to make sure enough moisture has been removed. A broken curd should be firm throughout and the curds should have a moderate resistance when you press them in between your fingers.
The curds should be allowed to settle under the whey when this point has reached.
4A. The basket molds which should have been previously sanitized can now be put on a draining surface but with no cloth.
Remove the whey down to just above the curd surface and begin transferring the curds to the molds. Use moderate hand pressure for a firm pack into the molds.
You should stack the two molds for a moderate amount of weight.
Continue to do this for 30 minutes with no cloth and weight by simply reversing and restacking the molds after 15 minutes.
4B. After 30 minutes, turn the cheese in the molds with no cloth.
Now stack 2 high and weight at 5-7lbs for 30 minutes. Turn in the molds and re-wrap in cloth using the same weight and time as above.
Make sure you keep the curd warm at 75-80F. You can do this by insulating with a thick towel. This needs to be done because the bacteria are still working and producing acid from the remaining lactose.
Turn the cheese again in the cloth and stack the molds 2 high, weighted at 15lbs. Turn and re-wrap at 30-minute intervals for the next 4 hours.
You can now press the cheese for about 5 hours and by this time it should have reached its final acid level and moisture. If you have a pH meter, the final reading should show 5.2. Remove the weights when it reads this and you will now be ready to salt the cheese in a brine bath.
5. Now it is time for the salting. So, remove the cheese from the cloth and they will be ready to go into the brine at 52F.
The final cheese weight will be approximately 1.5lbs each which makes the final brine time 5.5 hours.
You will need a saturated brine prepared for salting the cheese, here is a simple brine formula:
– 1 gallon of water
– 2.25 lbs of salt
– 1tbs. calcium chloride
– 1 tsp. white vinegar
– Bring the brine and cheese to 50-55°F before using.
The cheese will float above the surface so please be sure to sprinkle a small amount of salt on top of the cheese surface. Flip the cheese halfway through the brine period and sprinkle some salt on the other surface too.
Wipe down the surface at the end of the brine period and let the surface dry for a day or two at around 52F and 85% moisture.
6. It is now time to finish this cheese with a traditional twist. You will soak the cheese in wine for several days which will increase the surface acidity substantially and make it less hospitable for mold growth and hence less work in the aging room.
Two pieces of cheese will fit comfortably in a 1-gallon zip-lock bag and a small amount of wine will do just fine to soak the cheese in. Be sure to squeeze out the excess air and zip the bag closed.
Wash the surface with the light brine to remove any surface mold that developed and rehydrate the surface, before you soak the cheese in wine.
A Vino is recommended for this, Petit Sirag grape in particular. Use about 12-16 ozs of the wine and then you can happily drink the rest.
Pour the wine into the bag with the cheese and then squeeze the air out before sealing the bag.
After soaking, you can age the cheese in the bag in an aging room at 52F for 36 hours, turning several times.
Now you can remove the cheese from the bag, wipe down the surface and dry it off for 24 hours. Allow for the first dose of wine to migrate into the cheese before the second wine soaking.
Finally, repeat the wine soak for another 48 hours and turn it regularly.
7. After all the soaking, age the cheese at 52-56F and 80-85% moisture.
Age the cheese for 4-6 weeks at which point, it will be ready to consume.
There will be very little mold growth on the surface.
A fine dusting of white mold shows up every 3 or so days, it will just need a quick cloth wipe to remove it.
Cheesemaking: How To Make Caciotta
Recipe
What You Need
2 Gallons of Milk (Not UltraPasteurized)
2/3 Packet of C201Thermophilic Culture (1/2 packet if using raw milk)*
1/2 tsp Single Strength Liquid Rennet
Salt Brine
Calcium Chloride (for pasteurized milk)
What To Do
1. The first step is to heat and acidify the milk. So let’s begin by heating the milk to 98F To do this, place the milk in a container and then place it in a large pot of very warm water. If you heat it on the stove, be sure to heat it slowly and stir it as it heats if you heat it on the stove. The higher temperature will be more in line with a happy temperature for the Thermophilic bacteria.
You can add the culture once the temperature is at 98F. The lower culture amount is in character with the slightly less acid final cheese.
The powder can become very cakey and sink in clumps so to prevent this, sprinkle the culture over the surface of the milk and then let it sit for a couple of minutes. This allows the powder to re-hydrate before you stir it in. After stirring, let the milk sit for a further hour so that the culture can get to work.
2. You can now add about 2.5ml or 1/2 tsp of single strength liquid rennet. The rennet needs to be added and mixed for one minute but not enough that the milk is agitated.
The milk needs to sit for around 20 minutes so that the culture can get to work and the rennet can begin to coagulate the curd. The milk will begin to thicken after around 8 minutes but be sure to allow the full time for coagulation and check for a nice clean break before cutting.
You should utilize coagulation time by preparing the molds, cloth and draining area by sanitizing them all.
3. You need to cut the curd as soon as it has firmed well.
To cut the curd, you must cut it into walnut size pieces to maintain a higher moisture in the final cheese. It is very important to be gentle in the cut and stir it so you don’t break the curd further. Cut the curd vertically in both directions and then wait 5 minutes before the horizontal cutting. When stirring, it should be slow and gentle but just enough to keep the curds moving and separated for releasing the initial whey.
Stir the curd for another 10 minutes. Check the curds for excess moisture. You can raise the temperature to 102F if needed for the next 15 minutes of stirring. If you don’t need it, simply maintain the 98F temperature for the entire time.
The total stir time is 25 minutes.
To determine the final moisture, it will be a rather subjective decision and will depend on the milk quality, cook temperature and rate/time of stirring.
4. After removing around 40% of the whey, the curd will begin to show, this is when you can begin molding. Give the curds a nice gentle hand stir to discourage the matting in the vat.
Transfer the curd to the mold and pack it in lightly. The mold will need to be packed well above the top surface and you will have to wait as the whey drains to add more to get all of the curd into the mold.
5A. When you have fully transferred all the curd into the drain cloth and mold, the cloth can be neatly folded over the top. You should then flip the basket every 15 minutes and on the 2nd turn, it should be turned in the cloth and returned to the basket.
If the cheese is left at room temperature, you will need to warm it up otherwise it will begin to chill and bacteria cultures will slow and even stop and the fermentation of the curd will not be completed which will result in problems for the final cheese.
When the forms with the cheese are ready, place them on the draining rack and add enough hot water to maintain the temperature. 120F water tends to cool quickly to 100F and maintain this temperature.
Now cover the pot and hold the cheese here for at least 1 hour to 1.5 hours while the cheese finishes its lactose conversion to lactic acid. Check the cheese at 20-30 minute intervals to assure the temperature is correct and also turn the cheese in its form at the same time.
This will complete the lactose conversion and thus keep the cheese from any late acid development which will lead to a sour and crumbly cheese defect.
5B. Be sure to continue to turn the cheese in the basket form every 30 minutes while it is in the warm chamber. The cheese will be less sweet, the longer it stays warm.
After around 1 hour, remove the cloth and at around 1.5 hours, move the cheese to a room temperature draining area to let them gradually cool.
You can leave the cheese at room temperature until the evening which it should then be moved to a cool environment of 55-60F to prepare for the salt brine.
The cheese should be consolidated with a nice tight surface with an imprint of the basket molds.
There is no need for any pressing or press weight because of the high moisture and heating which had been done.
6. By the next morning, the cheese will be ready to brine.
You will need a saturated brine prepared for salting the cheese:
A simple brine formula is:
– 1 gallon of water
– 2.25 lbs of salt
– 1tbs. calcium chloride
– 1 tsp. white vinegar
– Bring the brine and cheese to 50-55°F before using.
You should now set the cheese in the brine for around 2 hours.
The cheese will float above the surface so please be sure to sprinkle a small amount of salt on top of the cheese surface. Flip the cheese halfway through the brine period and sprinkle some salt on the other surface too.
7. Wipe down the surface at the end of the brine period and place the cheese in the aging space at around 52-55F and 85-90% moisture. The high moisture is needed for good mold growth. The cheese needs to be turned and wiped daily. The wipe will be with a cloth which is dampened with a 6-8% strength brine to remove the mold, then air briefly before returning to the aging space.
The cheese will soften after about a week to 10 days as the high moisture encourages the enzymes to work on the protein structure.
At around 2 weeks to 2 months, the cheese will be ready to eat.
Cheesemaking: How To Make Butterkase
Recipe
