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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Hard Cheddared (Normally Stacked & Milled) => Topic started by: Zinger on April 22, 2009, 01:31:37 PM

Title: Help! Somebody talk me out of it.
Post by: Zinger on April 22, 2009, 01:31:37 PM
I'm nearing the two month mark on my first cheese, which is a cheddar. The pressure to let it age further is almost more than I can stand and I'm contemplating trying it at the two month mark. Would this be a terrible crime? Will the flavor be that much better enhanced at three months, or should I give it a shot?  ???

Z
Title: Re: Help! Somebody talk me out of it.
Post by: thegregger on April 22, 2009, 01:53:12 PM
Go for it!  You can always cut off a small portion and continue to age the rest.  Plus, I'm curious, too!

Greg
Title: Re: Help! Somebody talk me out of it.
Post by: MrsKK on April 22, 2009, 02:26:01 PM
Because I was too impatient to wait it out, I cut my early cheese wheels before waxing and aging them.  I cut the wheel in half and waxed one half, then cut the rest into quarters and waxed them.  Then I aged the first quarter for one month, the second quarter for two months, and hopefully the half was still around at three months.

Once I got around to making cheese more often, I didn't have to divide my wheels that way.

I now use lard to coat my cheese, rather than wax.  So I cut the wheel in half, then coat the cut side with lard and allow half to continue aging.  It works quicker than trying to wax the cut side, but you could do that, too, I would think.

If you try your cheese, please let us know how it turned out for you.  This is definitely a delayed gratification hobby/obsession!
Title: Re: Help! Somebody talk me out of it.
Post by: thebelgianpanda on April 22, 2009, 03:51:16 PM
I haven't used lard to seal, but resealing with wax is a snap and I haven't had any adverse reactions so far.  So yes, try it, maybe keep a wedge around unsealed so you can show off to friends and family if it is good already (and it should be), and age the rest.  Best of all worlds :)