Petit Bleu

[enightshade]

I have been trying to make several blue cheeses in the past 6 weeks and I just tried one of the Petit Bleu cheeses made from the recipe on Gavin Webber's website (www.littlegreencheese.com). I used P. roqueforti, PBR6 HYP and mesophilic aromatic B for cultures.  Despite the fact I started it on Dec 3 (so it is only 23 days old) it was as runny as thick cream. The flavour was really pleasant but with little or no blue flavour. It seems to have a skin that reminds me of Camembert except it was gray with a bit of white fuzz. Does anyone have any idea why this might happen? I will try to download a picture of the cheese although I didn't take one after I cut it. I would really appreciate any feedback.
Also, if anyone can recommend a simple recipe for a blue cheese I would be thrilled to find one. 

[Gregore]

You do not say how big this cheese is but if it is quite small and pc or geo take over more than the blue then that would explain the runnyness .

[Dorchestercheese]

Where did you put it after you made it? Was the exterior dry? My first blues turned into soup.

[enightshade]

Hi Gregore,
The cheese is very small. That may be the trouble. There is white fuzzy stuff on the outside.

[enightshade]

Thanks for responding Dorcestercheese. I put these cheeses into my wine fridge at about 13oC. They were inside a ripening container. The outside was quite dry. I was surprised when I cut into it. These were also like soup. Did you figure out a way to resolve this issue?

[enightshade]

I tried to post a picture of the cheese but I am just getting an error message.
It is about 4 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches high. It is mostly a blue gray colour with a tiny bit of white here and there.

[Gregore]

What I would suggest is if you want more blue add about 2.5 percent  salt by weight . This will keep the pc held back a little but allow more blue .

Blue cheeses are almost always saltier than non blue cheeses .

[enightshade]

Thanks Gregore. That's a good idea. It is not a very salty cheese.

[Frodage4]

Hi Car,
I've made almost exclusively blues in the past 3 years, but always a gorgonzola style. Here is a link to my first make in 2015 with photos and make notes in a spreadsheet. If you have any questions, I can help you. I love blue cheese!
http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,13847.0.html

[enightshade]

Thanks Frodage4. I just read all the posts from your link and I must say it is inspiring! What a beautiful cheese!

[Frodage4]

It's nice of you to say. Have your first cheese, on me.

[enightshade]

Thank you Frodage4!