Author Topic: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?  (Read 66682 times)

Offline Tiarella

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: Chester, MA, US
  • Posts: 1,748
  • Cheeses: 81
  • Default personal text
    • Farm Blog
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #135 on: March 25, 2015, 04:14:11 PM »
where do you get the fluorescent light grids?

Building supply stores like "Lowes" or "Home Depot"

qdog1955

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #136 on: March 25, 2015, 07:18:17 PM »
Some of the lowes and home depot---guess it depends where you live---don't stock the grids any more unless you use their online order---but you have to order a whole case----like I really need a whole case >:(
Qdog

Offline Tiarella

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: Chester, MA, US
  • Posts: 1,748
  • Cheeses: 81
  • Default personal text
    • Farm Blog
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #137 on: March 25, 2015, 09:02:47 PM »
Some of the lowes and home depot---guess it depends where you live---don't stock the grids any more unless you use their online order---but you have to order a whole case----like I really need a whole case >:(
Qdog

Hey after kidding and lambing season I could buy you some and cut it into smaller, more shippable pieces and send them to you if you are desperate.  What are cheese-making buddies for???   :)  Let me know if you want to do that.  My local Lowes had it last time I looked.  If they still have it I don't mind doing this as long as you pay for the grid and shipping. 

Stinky

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #138 on: March 25, 2015, 09:06:46 PM »
For buying other cheese buddies light fixtures? ???

Offline Tiarella

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: Chester, MA, US
  • Posts: 1,748
  • Cheeses: 81
  • Default personal text
    • Farm Blog
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #139 on: March 26, 2015, 12:54:45 AM »
For buying other cheese buddies light fixtures? ???

No, we're talking about the plastic grid that is used on those long fluorescent light fixtures.  Some of us use that plastic grid in the bottom of ripening boxes to keep the cheese up off the bottom puddle of whey.  I advise using the plastic mesh stuff on top of the plastic grid since the mesh is food safe and the other might not be.
Sorry I don't have a photo of it handy.  Maybe someone else does?  I know I've posted it before somewhere.......    ???

shaneb

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #140 on: March 26, 2015, 01:27:25 AM »
I think it's referred to as egg crate. At least that is what I've heard it called in Australia.

Shane

Offline awakephd

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 2,351
  • Cheeses: 240
  • compounding the benefits of a free press
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #141 on: March 26, 2015, 01:30:34 PM »
Do a google search for egg crate light diffuser and you will see lots of pictures. Here is a link from Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-White-Eggcrate-T12-Troffer-Replacement-Diffuser-L2GT-PLTS-R5/100579509
-- Andy

Stinky

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #142 on: March 28, 2015, 03:50:12 AM »
I'm at 23 pounds and will max out at 25 with the sort of maybe Emmental?


Offline awakephd

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 2,351
  • Cheeses: 240
  • compounding the benefits of a free press
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #143 on: March 28, 2015, 04:32:00 PM »
Follow-up -- inspired by the discussion above, I bought a sheet of egg crate light diffuser from Lowe's yesterday. It cost around $13 for a rather large sheet -- I now have a lifetime's supply! It is easy to cut out pieces to size, using just a pair of sturdy scissors. A sharp knife will trim the "nubbins" left behind.

One thing that surprised me -- I couldn't find this on the Lowe's website when I searched for it, but since I was by there I stopped in on the off chance. It turns out that it is not sold in the lighting section of the store, but rather in the building materials as a type of ceiling panel.
-- Andy

Spoons

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #144 on: March 28, 2015, 10:57:11 PM »
An update on my caves:
1 x Smoked Paprika/olive oil/coconut oil rubbed Friulano
1 x Friulano
2 x Double Gloucester
1 x Experimental parm/cheddar cheese
2 x Parm/cheddar hybrid (my own creation, so far very good at 9 months but will keep aging)
2 x Lancashire
3 x Gouda
2.5 x cheddar
1 x Pumkin Ale Cheddar

Only reason why I prefer sealing a cheese: They're stackable.
Also, just like Andy, I use the egg crates for my ripening boxes.

Stinky

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #145 on: March 28, 2015, 11:10:18 PM »
Ah man I want that cheese.

Offline scasnerkay

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: Sunnyvale, California
  • Posts: 853
  • Cheeses: 197
  • Default personal text
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #146 on: March 29, 2015, 01:26:26 AM »
Spoons, if you are willing to share your recipe for the friulano (never heard of it) and for the cheddar parm hybrid, that would be lovely!
Mine are:
Tomme
Bitto
Gouda x 3
Cheddar x 2
Hispanico
Caerphilly x 2
Havarti
1/2 of a 4# cheddar from August
1/2 of a 4# gouda from August
I would say it is about 25# of cheese. The oldest unopened is the Tomme from October 2014. I will open it for the Caldwell class in April!!
Susan

Stinky

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #147 on: March 29, 2015, 02:09:32 AM »
Spoons, if you are willing to share your recipe for the friulano (never heard of it) and for the cheddar parm hybrid, that would be lovely!
Mine are:
Tomme
Bitto
Gouda x 3
Cheddar x 2
Hispanico
Caerphilly x 2
Havarti
1/2 of a 4# cheddar from August
1/2 of a 4# gouda from August
I would say it is about 25# of cheese. The oldest unopened is the Tomme from October 2014. I will open it for the Caldwell class in April!!

Oo, nice. How patient will you be with the bitto?

As far as I can tell Friulano is very similar to Montasio.

Offline scasnerkay

  • Old Cheese
  • *****
  • Location: Sunnyvale, California
  • Posts: 853
  • Cheeses: 197
  • Default personal text
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #148 on: March 29, 2015, 02:47:39 AM »
I probably will open the bitto really soon. The make did not go as well as I wanted, and the form was not the right size. So I have been ignoring that cheese for awhile. It was made November 4, and feels quite firm. It may be a grating cheese...

Stinky, where do you live in California? There is still space available in the Caldwell Class in Sacramento!! I would love to meet some other forum members there!
Susan

Stinky

  • Guest
Re: Will you share photos of your caves? and Mini-cave techniques?
« Reply #149 on: March 29, 2015, 03:12:05 AM »
South San Francisco. :) I got your note, unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to make it. It looks fantastic though.