Author Topic: My 2nd Derby  (Read 3792 times)

JeffHamm

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My 2nd Derby
« on: May 17, 2014, 11:58:41 PM »
A couple years ago I had read on the British Cheese Board site that Derby doesn't go through the "cheddaring" step.  However, I had noted that the books all list a cheddaring step for Derby.  So, I had a look around, and finally found an old book (1800s I think) that described how Derby was made with sufficient detail that I could put this procedure together.  I made it once before, and was pleased with it, though it's more work than many other makes (the repeated pressing and milling at step 14 takes extra time).  Anyway, I realised I haven't made it again in nearly 2 years, so I thought I should give it another go.  All seems to be going well.  I also picked up a smaller diameter mould (this one is 5.625" (14.3 cm) across, so my PSI can be increased a bit.  This should help as the curds cool a bit more with this one, so higher pressure will be required to get a really good knit.  The bottom has a bit of a bullet nose rounding, which I don't care for as it will make the flipping and repressing a bit awkward.  Oh well, the good with the bad, as they say.  Will post photos once it is out of the press, and update the notes as I go.  (here's a link to my first one; it's in the cheddar board, but should be here since this protocol isn't cheddared - http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,8826.0.html )

NOTES: For those familiar with typical cheddar type makes, there are two points to note about this in how it deviates from the usual.  First, as mentioned above, this protocol does not include a cheddaring step (where the block/slab of curds are kept warm and left to rest, being flipped occasionally, etc.  Second, there is no "cooking" phase, where the temperature is raised 4 or 5 degrees over a period of time.  Part of the job of cooking is to help expel whey from the curds, but stirring will do that too.  When the temperature is up to the 30 C range, and you remove the pot from the heat, the milk and curds will generally cool a few degrees as you're letting the curds firm up after adding the rennet.  When you raise your temp back to 30 that is sort of cooking, but basically, the stirring, cut the curds small, etc is where you want to get the whey out in this make.  The repeated milling (which I admit is a bit of a pain), also helps to remove any whey trapped when you're pressing the cheese (rather than removing whey from the inside of the curds themselves).  So, no cheddaring, and no cooking, lot's of milling.  It is very important to keep the curds warm during the repeated milling!

 Derby (my own version): Sunday, May 18, 2014

7 L Homebrand standard (3.3g fat; 3.1g protein / 100 ml)
4 L Homebrand Light  (1.5g fat; 3.7g protein /100 ml ; total f:p = 0.8:1)
3 ice cubes MW3 (Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis)
1 ice cube STB01 (Strep. Thermo)
1.6 ml calf rennet
½ tsp CaCl2 (50% solution)
2 tbls salt
5.625” diameter mould


1)   Add CaCl2 while setting up
2)   Add ice cubes and warm to 80 (26.7 C) (reached at 7:09)
3)   Ripen 1 hour (time: 7:09 – 8:09 ; 27.8 – 27.6 C, – put back in warmer pot when it was 26.8, around 8:05)
4)   Add Rennet (time 8:09:00 27.6 C ; floc time 8:26:00 = 17m 00s 3x mult = 51m 00s cut at 9:00:00)
5)   Cut to 1 cm cubes
6)   Rest 10-20 minutes (start 9:06 - 9:20 ; temp 27.8 C – 27.6 C)
7)   Raise temperature to 30 C (start 9:20 – 9:34 Final temp 30.3) C
8)   stirred gently for 45 minutes (start time 9:20 - 10:05)
9)   Rest at temp 45 minutes stir every 15 minutes to reduce matting (10:05 – 10:50)
10)   press curds to bottom (failed, didn't have anything really suited to doing this.  My large follower was not large enough)
11)   Remove whey to level of curds (finished at  10:55; ??.? C)
12)   Press more firmly in cheesecloth bag to remove more whey (3 litres of water as the weight, pressed for 15 minutes ; 11:00 - 11:15)
13)   Remove whey, mill to olive size (into cheesecloth) and transfer to mould (11:30)
14)   press again with 10 kg (0.89 PSI) in the pot for 15 minutes then mill into olive sized (repeat until no whey expelled) (11:30 - 11:43 11:46 - 12:00 12:05 - 12:20; only a little whey expelled after last press)
15)   Salt the curds and transfer back to cheesecloth lined mould, punch curds down as you load up
16)   Press 20 kg (1.77 PSI; in the pot) 45 minutes (start time: 12:30 - 1:15)
17)   Flip and redress, press 30 kg (2.66 PSI; in the pot 45 minutes (start time 1:15 - 2:00; by this point have extracted over 8 litres of whey, maybe 8.5)
18)   remove and redress, press overnight 35.2 kg (3.12 PSI; start time 2:00 – redressed at 5:30 pm – 5:55 am) Flipping not good with bullet nose mould; Knit excellent by morning
19)   remove and redress, press through the day 35.2 kg (3.12 PSI; start time 5:55 am - 5:17 pm)
Weight after press 1200g, 14.3x 7.1 (ave of 6.6 and 7.7 cm as it was a bit tilted) 1.05 g/cm3. (this is an underestimation as one end is domed, and round to about 9.0 cm; see note b below, where density estimated to be 1.28 g/cm3, which is similar to first make)  Knit was : superb

Moved to cave Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Made Ricotta; Heat to 92.3 add ¼ cup cider vinegar (12:30) wait 20 minutes. Scoop to cheesecloth and drain for a few hours. Got 316 g.  Add 1-2% salt by weight (added 5-6g)

NOTES:
a) After trying one flip, I've decided that the shape of this mould is just not suited to flipping during the press.  However, I think it's still a good idea to remove the cheese, and redress it, as this will resit the cheese and hopefully distribute the weight a bit different each time to improve the knit.  So far, it looks like it is on the way to a better knit than the first make.  The smaller diameter mould plays a part.  The curds, after the repeated milling, were quite dry, but it seems to be binding well.

b) Based upon putting 2 litres of water in the mould, it appeared to be 12 cm tall.  Assuming a perfect cylinder would mean this should be 2206 ml, but it was only 2000.  So, the domed mould is out by about 206 cm3.  Calculating density with the adjusted volume gives about 1.28g/cm3, which is similar to the previous make (it was 1.24 g/cm3).

1885 Text:
I found the bit of text that I based this make protocol from.  The I went with the "add salt to the curds" approach, which sounds to be the less common one, but I find it's more efficient and easier to do than salt rubbing during the press.  Although, I add the salt just before the final press, not during the repeated press and milling.

Derby Cheese (pages 87-89) from The Dairy of the Farm, James Long and J.C. Morton, 1885.

Derbyshire Cheese-making does not differ materially from that which obtains in Gloucestershire in making a thick (double Gloucester) cheese.  It is usual to make but once a day, unless in very hot weather, when it may be doubtful if the milk can be got cool and kept sweet during the night, in which case cheese is made in the evening as well as morning.  In general, however, the evening’s milk is put in thin layers in the cheese-tub and other vessels to cool during the night, tin vessels of cold water being put to stand it in in order to subject it to as large a cooling surface as possible.  In the morning, if much cream has risen, it is partly skimmed, and, if necessary, warmed up with some milk and added to the morning’s milk, so as to bring the whole to about 80.  In the summer time, however, the rennet has often to be added when the milk is naturally warmer than this.  Enough fresh-made rennet is added to set the whole in an hour or less.  After the curd has been broken with the common sieve curd-braker, used gently for a sufficient time, a presser is used – a sort of heavy metallic sieve “follower,” which sinks gradually through the whey and ultimately lies upon the curd, enabling the baling out of the whey.  After this has been for the most part taken out, this follower is forced hard down on the curd so as to squeeze and still further separate the whey from it.  The curd may then be slightly salted, thought this is not always done at that time.  It is broken by hand into a vat and pressed ; taken out and broke up again, re-vatted and again pressed ; and this may be done more than once – as often, indeed, as seems to be required.  It is at length finally vatted,  in sizes of about 4 to the cwt. ; (note ; 1 cwt = 100 lbs in the US, but it’s 112 lbs in the UK). Its whole surface is made to take in as much salt as it will hold by rubbing and pressing ; this gets liquefied by the exuding moisture and is absorbed.  It is dry-clothed and changed in the press daily, and is in the press four or five days being being finally removed to the cheese-room, where it is turned at gradually-increasing intervals until read for the market.
   In some district, and notably in Lancashire, no salt is put in the curd, but the cheeses, after two or three days’ pressing, are placed in brine for a week, in which they float, going in soft at first and coming out hardened.  They are taken thence to the cheese-room, and turned daily until sold.
« Last Edit: July 27, 2014, 09:04:27 PM by JeffHamm »

JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2014, 05:45:38 AM »
Well, all done!  I'm very pleased with the knit on this one.  The first time I made this the knit was weak on one of the faces, and there were cracks, etc where mould could get in.  This one, tight as a drum, so I can go with a natural rind rather than waxing.

It tilted a bit during the last press through the day, so it's around 6.6 cm high on one side and about 7.7 on the other.  But, the size of the new mould is such that my two small weights (2.5 kg each) are only a bit smaller than the mould diameter, so that's about as much tilt as can occur.  That's good.  I don't care for the domed top though as it means calculating the volume is a bit of a pain.  I'll have to put a bag in it, fill it with a known volume of water, calculate the volume it should be if it was a perfect cylinder, work out the difference, and that should tell me how much space is lost in the dome ; hmm, actually, even the body of the cylinder tapers a bit, but I'll live with that error in my calculations.  Ok, not really that hard to do, just a pain.

(I did the above, and the mould seems to "be out" by 206 cm3, so the density is about 1.28g/cm3, which is similar to my first make where it was 1.24g/cm3).

Anyway, the final cheese weighs in at 1200g.  The first one I made was 1102g, but that was from 10 litres of milk.  If I scale that up to an 11 litre make the expected yield would be 1212.2g, which is pretty close (the first make was made with a higher F:P ratio of 0.94:1, so not entirely the same make).  So, I think that's within acceptable tolerance levels (and points to the benefit of keeping notes as my previous make was Jan 7th, 2012).

Well, now it's time to air dry a few days, then into the cave, which is now, officially, full!

- Jeff
« Last Edit: May 19, 2014, 06:39:23 AM by JeffHamm »

GlabrousD

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2014, 11:04:34 AM »
A fine looking Derby, Jeff. A Cheese to you.

Cheers, GD.

Geodyne

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2014, 08:20:30 PM »
A cheese to you from me as well, Jeff, for your forensics on the recipe for this one, and for having a full cheese cave! I look forward to seeing the results on this one.

JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2014, 05:49:24 AM »
Thanks guys.  Apparently 9 months is the typical age for Derby (according to a web source, which I have, of course, forgot to record).  That would be around next Feb.  Might not make it that long, and may give it a go around Nov/Dec.  Will see. 

- Jeff

Offline Boofer

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2014, 06:28:07 AM »
Good-looking cheese, Jeff. Is the mould a Kadova?

Excellent smooth rind. How would you characterize the flavor, aroma, and texture of a Derby?

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JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2014, 08:14:11 AM »
Hi Boofer,

Thanks!  Yes, the rind came out very nice this time round, so I'm quite pleased with that.  Derby is a mild, buttery flavoured cheddar type (but without the cheddaring step in the make).  I bet adding a smidge of Flora Danica, or buttermilk, would be a good addition to tweak that buttery aspect a little.  Texture should be like a creamy cheddar.  At 9 months of aging, all of these should be quite achievable, though for a small wheel like this, it will require waxing or coating of some sort to avoid drying out too much, which will change the characteristics (not necessarily in a bad way, just away from creamy, buttery, mild cheddar territory).

As for the mould, it like a tomme mould, only the bottom has this bullet shape to it.  I didn't realise that when I picked it up.  Oh well, it works, just makes it hard to flip the cheese.  I did it once, but after that, I'm worried it's probably just stressing the internal structure rather than consolidating it.  It seems to have turned out fine, though, and this cheese was one I had a less than ideal knit on the last time I made it, so I won't complain.

- Jeff

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2014, 04:33:18 PM »
You just sold me on the Derby. Buttery character without the cheddaring step? I'm in!

Interesting culture change from your #1 to #2. From reading the historical treatise it would seem that the cheese relies on ambient cultural populations to ripen the cheese. Any thoughts on what sensory differences there might be between #1 and #2 because of the culture selection?

Streptococcus Lactis, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus are the two culture strains in my Cultured Bulgarian Buttermilk. The Streptococcus Lactis (SL?) isn't normally listed as a culture you can purchase. I don't know what flavor aspects it would impart compared with say, Lactococcus Lactis (LL). I posted a query in the Questions page in hopes of those in the know providing some direction.

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JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2014, 06:54:35 PM »
Hi Boofer,

Yes, it is likely the historical cheese was made with whatever was in the milk at the time.  My current selection of cultures was based upon something I read about Dunlop I think, one of the cheddar types anyway.  This was suggested as a fairly typical cheddar type blend, so I thought I would give it a go. I've not made a cheddar with this mix before, so I hesitate to guess.  I've got limited cultures to play with, so I've not really developed any real predictive ability other than flora danica amplifies the buttery notes.  My search on the web has suggested that buttermilk is usually cultured with the same 4 types of bacteria as flora danica (but probably different strains, and ratios), but perhaps the Bulgarian's have broken from the crowd?

- Jeff

JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2014, 06:54:25 AM »
Updating the rind development on this one after a couple months.  It's coming along nicely.  Will age this one out to Christmas at least I think.  Down to 988g, but it won't lose much more weight as the weight loss is excess moisture, and we should be leveling off soon (though down to 900 could happen).

- Jeff

Offline Boofer

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2014, 05:33:01 PM »
Another fine entry, Jeff.

I'd temporarily forgotten about Derby. I happen to have a little free time this weekend. I'm encouraged to visit my local raw milk emporium and grab 3 gallons of Pacific Northwest's finest white gold...and some buttermilk too.

Thanks for the inspiration, sir.  8)

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Let's ferment something!
Bread, beer, wine, cheese...it's all good.

JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2014, 09:05:27 PM »
Hi Boofer,

I added some notes to the protocol above to emphasize the lack of some of the typical steps in this protocol (i.e. no cheddaring and no cooking).  Let me know if you give it a go.

- Jeff

JeffHamm

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2015, 06:15:45 PM »
This is now about 9 months old, so cut into it to give some to the kids' violin teacher.  She's going to lend me a 1/2 size violin so I can learn with them and help them practice.  Anyway, this now weighs in at 864g, and measures 13.4 x 5.5 cm, for a density of 1.15 (although I've not adjusted for the bullet shape of the mould as the cheese has shrunk and I'm not sure of the adjustment without taking some time to work out the equations; and I've not had my morning coffee so that just isn't going to happen). 
Anyway, the paste is very nice, not moist like a young cheese, but not dry and dusty.  Nicely aged, with a good full flavour and a bit of a bite happening.  This is definitely worth doing again. 

- Jeff

Offline Danbo

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2015, 06:59:43 PM »
It looks sooo nice! AC4U! :-)

Offline Al Lewis

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Re: My 2nd Derby
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2015, 07:28:59 PM »
Great job Jeff!!
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