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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Pasta Filata (Pulled Curd) => Topic started by: KenyD on December 27, 2012, 05:36:21 PM
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Hello everyone. Two summers ago I was introduced to homemade cheeses while I was in Eastern Quebec. I fell in love right away. It was just yesterday that I finally made my first batch of cheese. Actually it was mozzarella curds I wanted. My daughter loves the freshness and when it's still warm, we call it "squeaky cheese". It's the best cheese for poutine!!!
Anyhow, it went with two exceptions I need help resolving.
1) I used 2% Sealtest milk and the curds had no taste. I added cheese salt but maybe not enough? 3/4tsp for 10 cups of milk. Any thoughts?
2) While stirring the curds, they started to stick together and make a ball in the pot. I heated it to 105 deg F as instructed. Did I do something wrong or is this normal? I had to tear it apart by hand to get curd size/shape again.
Thanks in advance,
Ken
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Hey there Ken.
1. Try to use unhomogenized full milk. That said, I get a very good mozzarella from pasteurized homogenized full milk.
2. Be more careful when stirring. I don't stir heavily when heating up the curds, I only try to move the mass around using a large ladle. I imagine the curds will mat together if you stir too "agressively" or not at all.
p.s. Got any pics of your cheeses? ;)
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Haven't tried it with mozz, but I have had excellent results with cheddar using 0% pasteurized milk and pasteurized cream (not ultra-pasteurized)....add enough cream to reach the fat content required by the cheese and voila! I have compared the curds from that combination with the curds that resulted from using whole HP milk from the same dairy, and the difference is definitely improved.