Rennet - Converting ml to tsp to Drops

[CdnMorganGal]

After having made a couple of batches of cheese with some coagulation problems, I decided to read the instructions (in spanish) on my rennet bottle.  It says to use 8-10ml per 100litres of milk.  Working with 4l of milk, that would mean 0.32-0.4ml of rennet. Converting that to tsp gives me 0.06-0.08tsp.  Given that 1tsp has 120drops (if you are working with water) that means approx 8drops of rennet is needed for 4l of milk.  Can this be correct?  The strength of the rennet is 680-700IMCU/ml.

[inchrisin]

I just got started with cheese and only looked at a lot of mozzarella recipes.  Sounds a little weak, as lots of recipes call for 1/2 tab or 1 t of rennet per gallon of milk.  From my understanding rennet helps shape the cheese and makes it harder.

[Johnny]

I am no expert but looked it up and I think you'r right... 1 Drop = 0.05 ml

[linuxboy]

Math looks correct. at 800 IMCU you do not need very much.

[wharris]

I use the rule of 90ml rennet for every 1000lbs of milk. (9ml/100lbs).
(Single strength Veal Rennet)

Looking at your data:
Four liters of milk weights about 9.01lbs.
9ml/100lb=(X)ml/9.01lb
X=.81ml
You need .81ml of rennet for 4liters of milk.

According to Wikipedia:
the "metric" drop, 1/20 mL (50 μL).
the medical drop, 1/12 mL (83⅓ μL).
so....
.81ml could then be expressed as 16.2 metric drops or 9.72 medical drops.
I would use the Metric drop as that seems to be the standard.


Also, I would add that .81ml of rennet to 32.4ml of cool distilled water in order to achieve the correct dillution.
(This follows the 40:1 dillution rule)

 

[linuxboy]

Veal rennet ranges from 180 to 220 IMCU/ml. So with your 700 IMCU (this is probably CHR Hansen's), your math is about right.

[wharris]

Hmm
Guess I did not take into account his Rennet had four times the strength of mine.

[woodsman]

My dairy lists its rennet usage as 8 drops per gallon which at 20 drops per ml would come to about 1.5 ml (30 drops) for 4 gallons of milk. When I use it this way the flocculation point is at about 24 minutes. If I use 3 ml (60 drops) the flocculation point moves to 10 minutes.