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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Washed Rind & Smear Ripened => Topic started by: Milk Maid on August 03, 2013, 05:18:17 AM

Title: Wet spots on rind
Post by: Milk Maid on August 03, 2013, 05:18:17 AM
I made a Havarti a week and a half ago. I let it dry for 3 days then had the (dumb?) idea to try washing it with kombucha to help it develop a smear rind. I've had success washing cheeses with beer and thought I would get a similar result. I didn't.

About 5 days in, I started noticing asymmetrical wet patches on the top and bottom of the wheel. I thought it was accumulated moisture. It wasn't. I tried distributing the moisture of the wet spots to the drier sides but that didn't work. The wet spots stay wet (and slimy) while the rest of the wheel is starting to dry out.

I think I remember hearing that this is an unwanted yeast? Can anyone offer more info?

Thank you,

Milk Maid
Title: Re: Wet spots on rind
Post by: linuxboy on August 03, 2013, 12:13:44 PM
Most likely, cellulosic film. The kombucha works out if you physically take out the zoogleal mat (mother) from the jar, decant, and use a small tiny bit of the bottom flocculating yeast in a new wash, then add it into a standard 3% brine or established wash. But all the acetobacter variants (glucono, aceto, gluconoaceto...) don't work all that well. The yeasts aren't too bad when used sparingly.

To fix this, I would scrape it all down, salt rub, then start over.