Hello everyone

[BigCheese]

Hello,

My name is Nitai. I am part of a small cowshare program in Northern California and we have begun making cheese as well. We use raw organic Jersey milk and have had a fair amount of success in our first session of cheesemaking. Now we are looking to hone in and really undrstand and craft our ideal cheeses. I thought joining this forum might help.

Thank you!

[FarmerJd]

Welcome to the forum!

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

Hi Nitai, You are at the right place to hone in.

What sort of equipment do you have?

[Cheese Head]

Hello Nitai, welcome, have fun, lots of info here!

[BigCheese]

Hi Nitai, You are at the right place to hone in.

What sort of equipment do you have?

Well, the last time around I had two digital thermometers, a four-gallon pot, a 14" curd knife, a cheese press from thecheesemaker.com and a mold and follower that held about the curd from 4 gallons. And of course some stirring utensils and what not. I also have a Foodsaver vacuum sealer and an upright freezer and mini fridge with override thermometers.

When I start again in a month or so I hope to be doing 8 gallon batches in a hotel pan style pan. I may need to have it fabricated though. Then I will put it in a larger pan for a water bath and heat it all on my 6-burner stove. I am also going to have a PH meter, hopefully some nice molds, and a lot more knowledge and experience!

I live off the grid so that limits some of the tools I can use...Solar system is strained as it is.

As I mentioned we use all of our own raw Jersey milk.

Thanks for the welcome,
Nitai

[FarmerJd]

Do you have a wood stove or gas? Just curious because I sometimes use our woodstove to heat medium batches and it works very well because you can adjust the temp by moving the pot. I also use my own raw cow's milk from a jersey and a guernsey. One day I am going off grid too; or at least be where I can.

[BigCheese]

We have gas. When you go off grid, be sure to overestimate your usage! Grid tie in can be really great because you could hypothetically supply all your power, make a little money and avoid the nightmare lead-acid batteries.

[DeejayDebi]

Welcome aboard Nitai

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

Hi again Nitai,

For the molds you can look at http://www.ullmers-dairyequipment.com/cheesemolds.htm

I am in the process of doubling my production. So far I worked with 8 litres of milk and now will try to increase that to 16 so that the cheese will be much bigger and actually worth the effort. I will also get a new press (or made one with a pneumatic cylinder and a steel frame) and some bigger molds from Ullmers.

Good luck.