Author Topic: Maggots on my Drying Cheese  (Read 3973 times)

djc5232

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Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« on: October 08, 2017, 02:30:34 AM »
Hello! I'm new to this forum as well as new to cheese making. Last week I made my second batch of farmhouse cheddar and a couple days ago, when I went to flip it while it was drying, I noticed there were maggots on it. My best guess is they’re from fruit flies. Is my cheese still okay? Is it safe for me to wax and continue on with? Thanks for your help!

Offline Gregore

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2017, 08:15:35 AM »
I have had them on my cheese once , and I am still here , I cut the sections away that they they had eaten  and finished the aging .

djc5232

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2017, 01:29:26 PM »
Thank you!! That is what my game plan was going to be, but figured I should look into it just in case.

djc5232

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2017, 02:31:36 PM »
Another question, if I dug out the places with maggots, can I wax the cheese like that? Or do I have to let the places I dug out, develop a rind?

Offline Boofer

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2017, 03:45:08 PM »
Yeah, I had a bit of those awhile back. :o
Guess I was lucky.

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SOSEATTLE

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2017, 12:05:54 AM »
Just pretend it's casu marzu  >:D  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu.

Susan

Offline Gregore

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2017, 03:04:34 AM »
I would think that small areas with no rind will not be a problem .

djc5232

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2017, 01:37:17 PM »
Thanks!

AeonSam

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2017, 08:24:57 AM »
Hello,

I found these mesh food covers pretty useful in preventing flies from accessing my drying cheese.

https://www.amazon.com/Handy-Gourmet-Set-Food-Covers/dp/B000EYFV4M/ref=pd_sim_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WC114R22VXMDJXR3ZWWQ

Sam

djc5232

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2017, 02:53:04 PM »
That’s a wonderful suggestion! Thank you! I don’t have a very sealed off location for drying my cheese and just do the best I can.

Offline Al Lewis

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Re: Maggots on my Drying Cheese
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2017, 04:24:32 PM »
Those are really cool!!  I wrap mine in butter muslin when not in the cave and double wrap my blues in it if I am going to put them in a cave and don't want the mold to spread.  Works pretty good.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2017, 04:33:06 PM by Al Lewis »
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