My second Stilton

[shotski]

I made my second Stilton last weekend and here are a couple of pictures of the making and today ready for the cave.

Ops named the first and second files wrong.

[bbracken677]

They look really good! Well done!

[Al Lewis]

Are you going to smooth the sides?

[shotski]

Thanks bbracken677 .

Yes Al I did smooth the sides before putting it in the cave. I have been using the 200 cheese recipes that calls for no cutting but a light press ( I did 10lbs for 8 hours). I think I will try cutting the curd next time as the curd seemed fairly dry this time.

[shotski]

Are you going to smooth the sides?

As stated I had smoothed the Stilton but was not happy with it. Thanks again to H-K-J  for posting his smoothing video, I realised I was being to gentle with it. All the other examples I had seen seemed soft and creamy when smoothed (I would call it more of a scraping to flaten) and then it would become creamy and seal all the openings. 

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U3o04QQCZTI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[shotski]

Opsss forgot the picture after smoothing.

[H-K-J]

this was how I was smoothing mine up before

[shotski]

That is the way I did it as well. At first glance it appears your SS mould has far less holes then my plastic mould, I wonder if it would retain more liquid keeping it softer? Just thinking out loud.

[H-K-J]

I can't say if that is the case, I used to use this for a mold and used cheese cloth inside to hold the curd,
the cheese cloth wicked away more whey from the cheese yet they were still quite moist and I still rubbed them

by hand

[shotski]

My Stilton at 16 days and all 3 are very different.

[bbracken677]

LOL love the video H!

I like that method as opposed to using a knife. You could say it's more "hands on"   

[H-K-J]

Yes, much more hands on bb

Shotski, seeing these has alleviated some of the fears I have been having about my new one.
the one on the far right is looking quite a bit like mine.

[shotski]

The 2 smaller ones are in the same container but the larger one I have not been able to get the RH up over 70ish. I did read some where today that PR needs higher humidity to grow.

[H-K-J]

That is what's happening with mine, finally got it up to 85%, trying for 90%
I'll see what it says tonight, has been a real chore gettin it up this time for some reason  

[george (MaryJ)]

H-K-J, you have taken this forum to new heights.  I mean, we're always talking about petting our cams, but this is the first time I've ever seen anyone pet a Stilton!  A cheese to you for my smile of the morning.