Author Topic: First (approx) Stilton!  (Read 16184 times)

Offline H-K-J

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #30 on: January 03, 2013, 03:50:40 AM »
Your PR will take off just you wait and see ^-^
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AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #31 on: January 04, 2013, 02:25:55 PM »
The good: I have blue!

The bad: I didn't wrap it and and it is, err, mushrooming under its own weight. I put it in the oven with the light on to get it a little warmer. I've kept it around 70 degrees but it went to 90 once. I think that might have been the cause. I have a thermostat coming so I can put a heat source in the oven to keep it at a constant temp. Live and learn.

rolsen99

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #32 on: January 04, 2013, 04:10:52 PM »
Congratulations!  I want some too!  Waiting for HJK's promise  ;D

AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #33 on: January 04, 2013, 05:32:40 PM »
Rolsen, I bet your cheese looks better than this blue mold or not!


rolsen99

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #34 on: January 04, 2013, 07:41:03 PM »
It's a little crooked, but as long as it tastes good.....mine might be a little more symmetrical  :)

Offline H-K-J

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #35 on: January 04, 2013, 08:07:57 PM »
Just wondering, How are you flipping it? it looks like that may be difficult :-\
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sofusryge

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #36 on: January 04, 2013, 08:15:41 PM »
Funky shape. I would probably try to shape it up and foil/cloth wrap the sides to keep the shape. As long as you are able to pierce from top and bottom, the internal veining ought to come along nicely.

AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #37 on: January 04, 2013, 09:35:48 PM »
Flipping is not a problem as the center of gravity is still over that funky end .

Is the foil just aluminum foil?

I'm also freaking a bit since I'm leaving town for ten days on Wednesday. I can probably ask my neighbor to flip this if it is wrapped,but she may not want anything to do with it if it turns out as crazy looking as the other Stiltons here .
« Last Edit: January 04, 2013, 10:59:58 PM by AndreasMergner »

sofusryge

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #38 on: January 04, 2013, 10:00:18 PM »
Aluminum foil would probably do, i think that is what Gavin is using here: http://www.littlegreencheese.com/search?q=stilton, but i guess cheesecloth or gauze would allow the cheese to breath better. I'm on my first Stilton yet, so this is just what i imagine i would do in your situation.

Offline Al Lewis

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #39 on: January 04, 2013, 10:13:20 PM »
You might try to lay it on its side and roll it up in some cheese cloth while forming the fat end back into shape. :o
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AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #40 on: January 05, 2013, 01:59:40 AM »
I rolled it in a couple pieces of cheesecloth.  It didn't seem delicate enough to be in danger of falling apart at all.  I wonder if it needed more time in the mold initially and if I were to try smoothing the rind if it would fall apart now.  I need to get some more cheesecloth because the 2 yd pack I bought will get used up pretty quick if I want to put 3 good layers of cloth on a cheese.

You can see that the cheesecloth is not that well secured and I'm not sure how to go about that.  Usually it is held on my lard and I'm not sure that is wanted for Stilton.  That being said, I'm not quite sure it is absolutely necessary in the first place.  I flipped it and there seems to be mostly blue in the crevices. 


Offline Al Lewis

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #41 on: January 05, 2013, 02:15:02 AM »
The blue should develop anywhere the air can touch the cheese.
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AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #42 on: January 05, 2013, 04:04:48 AM »
true, but curious how the cracks develop the blue first (at least on my cheese)

Offline Al Lewis

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #43 on: January 05, 2013, 04:23:01 AM »
Yes, they did the same on mine.  Here's a picture of the first time blue showed up on mine.  Notice it's all around cracks.
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AndreasMergner

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Re: First (approx) Stilton!
« Reply #44 on: January 07, 2013, 01:11:38 AM »
So I took off the cheesecloth since I didn't think I really needed it for stability of the cheese.  I have some good PR mold growth, but looks like I have either geo or PC....PLUS b linens.  I'm not sure why I have these, but I bet they may be related to the odd temps and RHs I've been putting this cheese through. 

Geo or PC?


I tried to get a better pic of the suspected b linens....the orange in the middle of the pic.  It doesn't smell like linens to me, but maybe that's because it is just starting and it is not in a container??



Also, I have to go out of town on Wednesday for 10 days.  Luckily I have a cheese sitter!!  Should I pierce this thing before then?  Should I aim for 85% humidity and 50-55 degrees when I put it away on Wednesday?