Learn To Make Cheese

Steve Shapson, expert cheesemaker, home-brewer and winemaker offers a great cheesemaking kit that makes up to 30 pounds of cheese.   He provides detailed instructions and his methods are clear and easy-to-follow.  While we haven’t used it ourselves, it looks like a great way to demystify the cheesemaking process.

Here are a few helpful tips from Steve:

“1. Avoid aluminum pots, the acid will dissolve them and possibly overload you with aluminum.
2. Sterilize the pot just before use by pouring ½ inch of water in the bottom, covering, and bring to a rolling boil for at least five minutes. Pour out the water, replace sterile lid, keep sterilized pot covered until you are ready to add the milk.
3. If the curds float, you have a gas-producing contaminant in your starter or your milk was contaminated. You need to pay closer attention to handling your milk, and/or purchase fresh starter. The bacteria which form bubbles may be a form of Escherichia. However, it does not necessarily ruin the cheese, but does make it iffy. Many CO2 formers are non-pathogenic. Indeed, you might WANT bubbles in your finished cheese. Think about Swiss cheese… However, to be safe, age your cheese for at least two months because pathogens do not survive this extended aging. In addition, you will have a little more difficulty separating the curds from the whey if the curds float.”

Home Made Cheese Making thats very Satisfying when you taste your first Cheese.

For serving nice cheeses at home, having a proper cheese slicer or cheese knife is essential.  A cheese slicer is a nice presentation piece, helps keep your cheese cool, and you can slice off as much or as little as you want.  Slices are always neat and consistent.   Plus, cheese slicers make a great gift!

Cheese slicers with a plastic base tends to be dishwasher-safe, lightweight and more sanitary than wood.

Marble base cheese slicers have a nice presence and help keep the cheese cool and look fresh.  They are also sanitary and usually have rubber pads on the bottom to keep it from sliding.  Marble cheese sliders enhance any decor.

Wood cheese slicers are fairly light and often have recesses to organize fruit and crackers.  A nicely finished wood piece becomes more beautiful with use and can last for decades.

Hand-held stainless steel cheese slicers are also long lasting and don’t rust or crack.  They are relatively inexpensive and easy to store.