Author Topic: thermo or meso cultures?  (Read 1903 times)

klschnepp

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thermo or meso cultures?
« on: July 26, 2013, 07:38:18 AM »
I am doing a lot of research on a pasta filata style cheese (Oaxaca/quesillo).  The traditional recipes simply leave raw milk out to acidify overnight.  Interestingly, some of the modern recipes I am finding are using a meso culture, but the process does not differ in its temperature or acid development profile from a typical mozzarella.   

Can anyone think of a reason why a meso culture might have made sense to these folks?  Is it logical to think that you can ripen/let acid develop under the meso heat threshold and the development will continue just enough to hit targets despite passing the heat threshold in the scald phase?  Maybe the thinking is use of a meso would slow the acid development at the critical point of wheying off and give more time/control over stretch phase?   I am not sure the logic holds, but curious since I am finding a number of references to its use!

Any geekiness welcome  ;D

linuxboy

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Re: thermo or meso cultures?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2013, 12:52:02 PM »
meso. But not lactococcus meso :). The native starter for oaxaca is lb plantarum, which is a mesophilic lactobacillus.
Quote
Can anyone think of a reason why a meso culture might have made sense to these folks?
Because most thermos you can buy will not acidify that well at oaxaca normal temps. You'd be making an italian cheese at that point and have to raise the temps. I think it's a simple answer... trial and error. They used the typical process and temps and picked cultures that worked.

klschnepp

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Re: thermo or meso cultures?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2013, 03:18:55 PM »
of COURSE I should have just sent you a direct message.  Thanks for the clarification!!!   Out of curiosity, what starter profile do you/would you use?  I am using a mix of TA60 and FLAV54 right now.