Author Topic: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)  (Read 1703 times)

Offline lrunyenj

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when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« on: August 09, 2017, 02:51:14 PM »
I recently made a Manchego-like cheese using Mary Carlin's recipe from her book.  It has been aging at 54F 85% humidity for one week.  The instructions in the book imply that I should let the cheese continue to age and then oil it at the end of aging, but it seems like the point of the oil is to protect the rind and so earlier oiling would be better.  So my question to the community is this:  When do you start oiling rinds?  I am especially interested in comments from Manchego-like cheese makers, but all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2017, 09:58:37 PM »
I oil mine when they are around 2 weeks old and re oil again every now and then (every few weeks).

Offline Gregore

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2017, 03:56:40 AM »
I agree 2 weeks , Post a pic here just before oiling and we can all chime in ,   The worst thing you can do is oil too soon

Offline lrunyenj

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2017, 04:06:25 PM »
Thanks for the responses.  It was two weeks on Thursday, but I am out of town until Monday.  Will post picture then and hopefully start oiling soon.   Humidity is at 85 % and steady in my wine cooler cheese cave. 

Offline botanist

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2017, 01:11:21 AM »
Agreed--you want the rind to dry out some before oiling.  Try some smoked paprika in EVOO and it will be stupendous (lovely coating for a Parm also).
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Offline Al Lewis

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2017, 05:16:22 PM »
I did mine 12 days after the make.  It had begun to pick up everything in the air and I wanted to protect the rind.
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Offline awakephd

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2017, 05:41:40 PM »
I thought the proper time to oil anything was ...

... when it squeaks!

:)
-- Andy

Offline Andrew Marshallsay

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Re: when to start oiling cheese (manchego)
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2017, 08:53:07 AM »
I thought the proper time to oil anything was ...

... when it squeaks!
You're thinking of mice!

(I would also go for about 2-3 weeks)
- Andrew