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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => STANDARD METHODS - Aging Cheese => Topic started by: bobbymac29649 on July 26, 2013, 01:12:00 PM

Title: Pressed Cheese - Sliced Off Surface Moist?
Post by: bobbymac29649 on July 26, 2013, 01:12:00 PM
I started my first Caerphilly on Sunday.  After getting it out of the press it was a little lopsided (Yes, the old balancing barbell weights on top of the follower!).  I trimmed a small bit off so it would be level.  I'm sure it would have tasted just fine had I left it alone but I'm too OCD to leave it like that. 
On Monday I put it in the brine for 24 hours.
Took it out on Tuesday afternoon.  It's been sitting on a cheese mat since and it's nice and dry except for where I trimmed it.
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I've been flipping during the day but there's been no change to this one area.
You can see on the right side where it is a bit darker.  This area was not trimmed.  The entire cheese has darkened a bit since drying except the one trimmed spot.
Do I just let it sit or is there something I should do?
UPDATE:  It's now been five days of drying and the one area is still not dry.  (See picture #2).
Do I just continue to let it sit out at room temp (72), wax it, rub it with coconut oil, put it in the cave, what?
Thanks!
Title: Re: Pressed Cheese - Sliced Off Surface Moist?
Post by: Smurfmacaw on July 26, 2013, 02:17:40 PM
Personally I wouldn't have tried to cut it.  I don't think there is any real harm to a little tilt to it.  My last caerphilly had the follower slip a bit and came out lopsided.  It'll taste fine and is a good  reminder to check it periodically.  How much weight are you pressing it under? 

Title: Re: Pressed Cheese - Sliced Off Surface Moist?
Post by: dthelmers on July 26, 2013, 02:27:07 PM
I think a couple of folks here have made cheeses with tops on a rakish angle. Stylin'.
Title: Re: Pressed Cheese - Sliced Off Surface Moist?
Post by: bobbymac29649 on July 26, 2013, 03:12:49 PM
  How much weight are you pressing it under?
10 lbs for 30 minutes, flipped and redressed
18 lbs for six hours, flipped and redressed
25 lbs for six hours.

I used a plastic coated 10 lb barbell weight then added another 8 lb weight on top.  They kept slipping off and at 12:30am I wanted to go to bed.  I found a 25 lb one that didn't have a plastic coating. 

Did I ruin it by cutting it?  Is there anything I can do?