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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Semi-Hard "Sweet" Washed Curd => Topic started by: High Altitude on August 22, 2013, 07:03:13 PM

Title: First Dill Havarti
Post by: High Altitude on August 22, 2013, 07:03:13 PM
So I LOVE Havarti and decided it was time to try one!  Used Mary Karlin's recipe and everything went "by the book". 

It has been aging for 15 days, and has recently started to form a white coating that feels kind of grainy, like Kosher salt.  What is that?  Is it this geo everyone talks about?  Is it something I should be wiping off?

Posting pics from after the make, and a closer shot of a larger white "growth" spot developing along the edge.

Any advice is appreciated.  Should I be wiping off this white stuff and bagging for the remainder of aging (which in this case may only be a month or two)?

Thanks!
Title: Re: First Dill Havarti
Post by: Pete S on September 21, 2013, 04:13:24 AM
  Was it salt from the brine leaching out. How did it turn out. I am going to try that next
                                                                                                                                     Pete
Title: Re: First Dill Havarti
Post by: High Altitude on September 21, 2013, 07:36:04 PM
Pete, I never did figure out what the white stuff was.  Because it developed over a few weeks, I think it must have been something "growing" as opposed to salt.  I wiped it off fairly easily and then vacuum-packed it.  Still have not tried it though it IS ready now!  I will probably open it soon to taste it on the young side, and age the rest til company arrives in November.  Will post new pics as soon as I cut  ;D.
Title: Re: First Dill Havarti
Post by: Pete S on September 21, 2013, 08:02:43 PM
 It must be a mold , but I don't know of a mold that is grainy    Pete
Title: Re: First Dill Havarti
Post by: JeffHamm on September 21, 2013, 09:18:51 PM
Sounds like geo.  It can sometimes feel like sandpaper.

- Jeff
Title: Re: First Dill Havarti
Post by: High Altitude on September 22, 2013, 12:12:50 AM
Thanks Jeff...that's what it was then...like sandpaper.  Anyway, once cleaned & bagged, it looks so pretty that I almost don't want to eat it now  ::))!