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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Rennet Surface White Mold (Penicillium candidum) Ripened => Topic started by: leboy001 on September 12, 2013, 10:12:16 AM

Title: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on September 12, 2013, 10:12:16 AM
So I have some camembert that has been ripening for a few weeks now but has developed purple smears on the outside.  Any opinions as to whether it is ok to eat. Im thinking it maybe cross contamination from some blue I also have ripening
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on September 19, 2013, 11:12:09 PM
No one knows where the purple has come from? or if its safe?
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on September 20, 2013, 01:57:20 AM
I am not an expert, however, I personally would not risk eating it.
Maybe you could use the report to moderator button to see if they have any thoughts on the matter
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: gsager18 on September 20, 2013, 05:45:48 AM
Why not just age it out, cut it, and see if anything looks or smells off? I think when camembert is bad it's pretty easy to tell.
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Spellogue on September 22, 2013, 05:04:14 PM
I agree with gsager.  I've not yet seen a purple mold on any of my cheeses, but I'd finish aging it and at least give it a taste.  Even if the rind turns out to be less than palatable the paste might still be good. 
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Al Lewis on September 22, 2013, 05:05:59 PM
Personally, I would toss it and start over.
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on September 25, 2013, 06:40:31 PM
Thanks guys. I have had a small portion of it now and haven't died so im taking that as a good sign. I will probably just keep the cheese for myself just in case
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Alison on October 08, 2013, 01:12:16 PM
Hi

Now that you did not die...  ??? I'd want to try to answer the question "what happened?". IMHE (in my humble experience), if the spots come through all over the cheese surface - like a rash, then I think that the contamination occurred before moulding, in my case the source was a batch of parlour contaminated milk (poor pipe cleaning before milking). The fact that the contaminant is only on the edge makes me think that your contaminant arrived after the curds were placed in the moulds. Maybe the mould edges were not properly sanitised? or the cheese  edges brushed a humid surface or cloth? or your hands (fingernails especially), or during washing?

Good luck in working it out..
Regards
Alison
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: jwalker on October 09, 2013, 03:20:34 PM

Hmmmmmm.........................Purple Cheese ?

Maybe something from your garden got in it ? .............like this?                  http://reviews.nuggetry.com/buds/purple-cheese-homegrown-mrthc_420 (http://reviews.nuggetry.com/buds/purple-cheese-homegrown-mrthc_420)


 >:D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Let us know how it works ...........er , tastes I mean. ;D
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on October 10, 2013, 11:47:23 PM
So took one of the cheeses to a friends place. He loved it and ate about 1/2 of it. The taste was strong. too strong for me. Definately had that french cabbagey camebert taste to it. Also the insides were liquidified. Like fondu.

The moulds were all sanitised by leaving in the sink with iodine solution. I think maybe i was getting some cross comtamination in my fridge when i was turning them. I was also aging some stiltons. I think i will clean out my fridge completely when i finish aging my last tomme thats in there at the moment. Give every thing a really good wash.

Mmmmmm Tomme . .. . cant wait to eat that. Oh and there is still a waxed segment of gouda that has been in there over a year now . . . should break that out soon
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Tomer1 on October 11, 2013, 07:34:38 PM
You sure its not something from the outside? perhaps you wiped with a purple napkin or something?
Ive never seen a purple mold before...
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Boofer on October 12, 2013, 12:16:13 AM
The taste was strong. too strong for me. Definately had that french cabbagey camebert taste to it. Also the insides were liquidified. Like fondu.
That rang a bell with me. I had a Gouda (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,2322.msg27742.html#msg27742) that had a strange smell/taste and turned very soft and squishy.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on October 13, 2013, 07:25:17 PM
The taste was strong. too strong for me. Definately had that french cabbagey camebert taste to it. Also the insides were liquidified. Like fondu.
That rang a bell with me. I had a Gouda ([url]http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,2322.msg27742.html#msg27742[/url]) that had a strange smell/taste and turned very soft and squishy.

-Boofer-


Probably should add this to the Failures Page instead ;)
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Boofer on October 14, 2013, 02:09:08 AM
Probably should add this to the Failures Page instead ;)
What?!! My slightly imperfect Gouda?!! Why, the impertinence! :D

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on October 15, 2013, 03:16:55 AM
Probably should add this to the Failures Page instead ;)
What?!! My slightly imperfect Gouda?!! Why, the impertinence! :D

-Boofer-

I was meaning my camebert haha
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Alison on October 17, 2013, 02:48:06 PM
Hi

Excuse my curiosity,

The moulds were all sanitised by leaving in the sink with iodine solution.

What does an "iodine" solution contain? I've noticed that if I use iodated salt on overcooked potatoes then the iodised salt makes a purple stain. I know that a P.camemberti "fur" is mostly made of chitin (a starch) - maybe the elemental iodine could colour it purple?

.... and the purists also insist on non-iodated salt for cheese...

regards alison



Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: leboy001 on October 22, 2013, 11:30:56 PM
Hi

Excuse my curiosity,

The moulds were all sanitised by leaving in the sink with iodine solution.

What does an "iodine" solution contain? I've noticed that if I use iodated salt on overcooked potatoes then the iodised salt makes a purple stain. I know that a P.camemberti "fur" is mostly made of chitin (a starch) - maybe the elemental iodine could colour it purple?

.... and the purists also insist on non-iodated salt for cheese...

regards alison

Its Iodophor. which according to wikipedia is "often used by brewers and winemakers to sanitize equipment and bottles. Its major advantage over other sanitizers is that when used in proper proportions it evaporates directly from solution to gas, and hence leaves no residues"

But i guess you could be right. I think however it is something else. Anyway i will give camembert 1 more go before i give up on it
Title: Re: Purple smears on camembert?
Post by: Spellogue on October 26, 2013, 09:37:47 PM
Anyway i will give camembert 1 more go before i give up on it

I hope you'll keep at it.  Camembert is a rewarding cheese.  You're results in future attempts are sure too improve with your ongoing research and efforts.