My cheddar was a complete an udder failure.
Started off, it took forever to get a clean break!
I thought only 1 junket tablet would be too small amount, for 4 gallons of milk. In comparision my motzerella recipe that works fantastic uses 1 junket for 1 gallon of milk. But I followed the instructions as written in the cheddar recipe (posted above).
I was supposed to be able to cut the curd in 45 mintues. It was mush, no curd and finally I was able to cut it after 4 hours!
It appeared to be alright, just took a long time. It was shiny, squeeky, ok flavor.
http://chickenchaps.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album24&id=000_2843Put in the sink and brought temp up to 100 over a 45 minute period. Kept it there for 45 minutes.
Drained it as instructed, for one hour.
http://chickenchaps.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album24&id=000_2845http://chickenchaps.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album24&id=000_2847Salted, and into the press.
http://chickenchaps.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album24&id=000_284810 pounds for 20 minutes, flip, rewrap
20 pounds for 20 minutes, flip, rewrap
50 pounds for 15 hours.
Two disasters while pressing. My press design is flawed, its too wobbly. At 10 pound pressing, the press fell over, the weights dented my sink in two places. dang!
At 12:30 am, with 50 pounds, the press fell over again, giving me a heart attack in the middle of the night. This time the weights fell on the floor broke the linoleum, dented all to heck. DANG!
Set the press on the floor, wedged it between cabinets to hold it upright. Fine.
After the 15 hours and half destroyed home, unwrap, and the cloth is stuck, BAD. It totally tore the cheese all apart. The curd is somewhat moist, but very spongy, squeeky, it didnt knit at all.
http://chickenchaps.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album24&id=000_2851So, is this whole mess just chicken food now? or can I continue to dry it and wax it? It has a pretty good size crack through the middle, along with all the curd like outer structure. I had to use a spoon and literally scrape the cheese off the cloth, it wasnt just stuck, it had become one with the cloth.
I am so totally disappointed. Not only to lose 4 gallons of milk, but all the damage it caused. Really dispondent.
PLEASE if anyone can tell me what went wrong?? How can I correct it, IF I ever attempt to do this again. I already know to trash this press and make it much more rigid.
more, leaving it out to try and dry it, turned it on its side, went back, and its just crumbling, falling apart. I guess its chicken food. What a total waste and disappointment. sorry... I am usually very optimistic and upbeat, but this kills me...