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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/23/2023 3:31:04 PM EDT
Spam me with your infinite knowledge on cheese making. Bought some starter bacteria for hard cheeses and realizing I'm in over my head. Do I really need a cheese press? Will a cheese mold work just as well?
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Posted: 12/23/2023 3:49:40 PM EDT
[#1]
Start with 30 minute mozzarella or paneer.
Cheese press and a mold are two different tools. The press consolidates the curd and removes whey to get to a desired dryness. Sometimes the mold is used on conjunction with the press, other times just for creating a specific shape. You can DIY a cheese press. I can't remember where I bought mine but it's essentially a 6" plastic tube that sits on a plastic base. Two pieces of all thread go from the base up to a bar at the top with a couple of wing nuts. |
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Posted: 12/23/2023 3:50:19 PM EDT
[#2]
This is a good walk through for cheddar.
 How to Make Cheddar Cheese (with Taste Test) |
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Posted: 12/23/2023 6:02:05 PM EDT
[#3]
If you going to get into cheesemaking on a long term basis a press is good. A lot of cheeses start with a minimal pressure then increase after a few hours.
You can make your own, a couple of 16" all thread rods, 5/16 or 3/8 a cutting board from amazon and then a couple pieces of wood and washers and nuts you can make a press. I bought these to make it a bit easier. I'm just getting into it myself. |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/23/2023 6:10:37 PM EDT
[Last Edit: cammomileT75]
[#4]
Medicman, good to know thank you! Knew they were different but read somewhere I could possibly use a mild instead of a press but that makes sense. Did you find making your own cheese worth the time, effort and money?
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/23/2023 6:12:25 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By 50-140: If you going to get into cheesemaking on a long term basis a press is good. A lot of cheeses start with a minimal pressure then increase after a few hours. You can make your own, a couple of 16" all thread rods, 5/16 or 3/8 a cutting board from amazon and then a couple pieces of wood and washers and nuts you can make a press. I bought these to make it a bit easier. I'm just getting into it myself. |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/23/2023 6:12:59 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By medicmandan: Start with 30 minute mozzarella or paneer. Cheese press and a mold are two different tools. The press consolidates the curd and removes whey to get to a desired dryness. Sometimes the mold is used on conjunction with the press, other times just for creating a specific shape. You can DIY a cheese press. I can't remember where I bought mine but it's essentially a 6" plastic tube that sits on a plastic base. Two pieces of all thread go from the base up to a bar at the top with a couple of wing nuts. |
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Posted: 12/23/2023 8:15:24 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By cammomileT75: You sound like you know what you're doing. Did you find making cheese yourself worth the time, effort and money? Money, no. But I enjoy it and that's worth something. It gets even more expensive when you start using raw milk. I'm not very good. Failed many times. Haven't made anything in a year. Time to do it again. |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 12/23/2023 9:39:07 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By medicmandan: Money, no. But I enjoy it and that's worth something. It gets even more expensive when you start using raw milk. I'm not very good. Failed many times. Haven't made anything in a year. Time to do it again. |
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Posted: 12/26/2023 12:23:01 AM EDT
[#9]
Find an old freezer or fridge and an stc-1000 controller and make a simple cheese cave for aging your cheese at constant temp. Makes all the difference for certain cheeses.
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Posted: 12/26/2023 12:29:48 AM EDT
[#10]
Look at a dutch style cheese press. I use different weights for different pressure on different cheeses. Usually I'd hang a gallon milk jug with water and fill to certain levels and/or hangi it at different places along the top lever.
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SC, USA
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Posted: 1/7/2024 5:30:24 PM EDT
[#11]
@rwilkins01 interesting stuff! I'll take a look. Thank you!
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