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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Washed Rind & Smear Ripened => Topic started by: sawhett on November 22, 2010, 08:20:21 PM

Title: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: sawhett on November 22, 2010, 08:20:21 PM

Very new to the hobby. Attempted a batch of limburger. Ageing at 55 deg.,80% hum..   No mold formed after 18 days. Are my parameters OK.? Or just need more time for bloom?
Thanks

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: linuxboy on November 22, 2010, 10:16:25 PM

That humidity is too low, needs to be 98%. And the surface for b linens needs to be prepared with a yeast or deacidifying mold because b linens doesn't grow below pH of ~5.8.

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: Cheese Head on November 23, 2010, 12:50:25 AM

Hi sawhett, welcome, there's some very good reading in the Washed Rind & Smear Ripened Board (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/board,85.0.html), should give you tonnes of info, plus Searching (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,585.0.html) on word Limburger, have fun!

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: sawhett on November 23, 2010, 07:58:04 AM

Any chance of saving this batch? If so, how? Or should I just toss it?
Thanks

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: sawhett on November 23, 2010, 01:28:12 PM

How do I achieve 98% humidity?

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: linuxboy on November 23, 2010, 02:52:44 PM

in a small area, using a humidifier is a good approach. How are you doing it now?

You can still get a b linens bloom even now, but you have to make the conditions suitable so it can grow.

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: sawhett on November 23, 2010, 04:03:53 PM

Using a small bowl of water and moist sponge.in a dorm fridge..84% now. Still, 98% is almost complete saturation, no? Should I toss the 1st attempt?

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: linuxboy on November 23, 2010, 04:31:56 PM

Try aging it and see what happens and learn from it. Put it in something where you get air circulation underneath, and then wrap a plastic bag around the entire thing, to get the humidity up. That should get you a good bloom.

Title: Re: Smear Ripened Cheese - Getting Good B linens Bloom
Post by: sawhett on November 23, 2010, 04:55:42 PM

Thanks.Will try that