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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => STANDARD METHODS - Aging Cheese => Topic started by: dbudge55 on May 21, 2012, 06:21:45 PM

Title: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: dbudge55 on May 21, 2012, 06:21:45 PM
Short of buying a trier, is there a way to taste test natural rind cheeses to see if they're ready? For example, I recently opened an Asiago that was OK to good (not great) that I think, had I had a way to taste it, I would have left alone. Can I expect a cheese to improve if I crack it, vac seal most of it, and throw it back in the cave?

Or is this just the time frustration of making cheese? I've only been making cheese since January and most of what's in the cave simply baits my curiosity. Maybe it's a phase newbies have to go through.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: linuxboy on May 21, 2012, 07:04:35 PM
Use veggie peeler if you don't have a real trier. Or some other similar tool. Cracking it disturbs maturation process, although it will still age some if you reseal and put back in cave.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: dbudge55 on May 21, 2012, 07:11:15 PM
Thanks, LB, I'll give it a go.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: Tomer1 on May 21, 2012, 09:26:38 PM
I think affineurs use wax or lard to seal the holes?     
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: dbudge55 on May 21, 2012, 09:37:34 PM
I saw a video sometime ago that showed exactly that. The took the plug and tried the innermost paste then reinserted the plug and covered it with lard or butter if memory serves.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: DeejayDebi on May 22, 2012, 03:16:36 AM
I found aneat little jalapeno cleaner that works great as a trier for like $3. It does wiggle like the veggie pealer.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: dbudge55 on May 22, 2012, 03:46:07 AM
You mean like this one?http://toolwizard.com/store/index.cfm/product/77_11/jalapeno-corer.cfm (http://toolwizard.com/store/index.cfm/product/77_11/jalapeno-corer.cfm)
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: Tomer1 on May 22, 2012, 10:34:51 AM
Or http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31CCJ3G38VL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31CCJ3G38VL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: DeejayDebi on May 23, 2012, 03:33:36 AM
I have both of those and I prefer the jalapeno cleaner because it makes a bit of an angle cut and it's easier to stick it back in the hole.
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: dbudge55 on May 23, 2012, 03:35:59 AM
That's it. On your "cultured" recommendation I'm getting one. Thanks
Title: Re: Tasting Cheese For Readiness
Post by: H-K-J on May 23, 2012, 02:08:23 PM
this one I bought at wall-Mart I think it was about $2.00 us.
if you slide it in and spin once then spin slowly as you bring the sample out then insert back into the cheese hold the plug in place and slip the peeler out  no worries ^-^