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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => STANDARD METHODS - Aging Cheese => Topic started by: jbrun85 on February 16, 2012, 07:59:13 PM

Title: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: jbrun85 on February 16, 2012, 07:59:13 PM
Hey guys,

I have a question and I can't seem to find it addressed anywhere on the forums. It's probably there, but buried where I dont expect it.

Basically, I work for a summer camp and this means that for a 2 month period each year, I live away 3 hours away from home. I am fairly new to the cheese making process but I love it and am planning on making quite a few cheeses in the coming months. (I have a lot more time now that football season is over!)

In an ideal world, I'd love to make the cheeses, go away to camp this summer, not think about them and allow them to just hang out and age. I am currently only making pressed cheeses (2lb wheels) that I cover in wax (cheddar, colby, etc.) I'm not entirely concerned about the humidity level due to the wax, but I am concerned about flipping the cheeses.

Will not being flipped for such a long period cause problems for the cheeses upon my return? Do I really need to pack up the whole operation and bring it with me?
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on February 16, 2012, 10:33:02 PM
Can you get a neighbour to turn them?
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: Tomer1 on February 16, 2012, 11:42:22 PM
Many commercial plants dont turn their cheese blocks at all.
I think you'l be fine.
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: zenith1 on February 17, 2012, 12:41:19 AM
and you have to watch out for CPS(cheese protective services)....
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on February 17, 2012, 01:53:38 AM
Or you can buy something like this (http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/153daa/) to turn your cheeses while you are away. It may turn to evil quickly and eat all your cheeses though  >:D
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: DeejayDebi on February 18, 2012, 04:40:48 PM
You may get slight indentations  from your racks or whatever they are sitting on, and posibly mold buildup but they should be okay if they are not a latic cheese.
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: jbrun85 on February 19, 2012, 10:51:54 PM
thanks for help guys! Sounds like I should do ok. Deejay... What do you mean by mold build up? Also, Lactic cheeses are soft ones right? I'm thinking about ones like derby, cheddar, colby, etc.
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: Boofer on February 19, 2012, 11:05:25 PM
You also might be better off if you were able to vacuum-seal instead of waxing. Wax has been known to allow mold to grow.

Or consider using natamycin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natamycin).

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: kookookachoo on February 25, 2012, 12:03:18 AM
You also might be better off if you were able to vacuum-seal instead of waxing. Wax has been known to allow mold to grow.

Or consider using natamycin ([url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natamycin[/url]).

-Boofer-


Forgive the dumbness..and it's probably obvious, but I wanted to be sure...Boofer, do you add this to the brine then?  Is that the best way to go?

Steff
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: Boofer on February 25, 2012, 12:09:44 AM
You also might be better off if you were able to vacuum-seal instead of waxing. Wax has been known to allow mold to grow.

Or consider using natamycin ([url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natamycin[/url]).

-Boofer-


Forgive the dumbness..and it's probably obvious, but I wanted to be sure...Boofer, do you add this to the brine then?  Is that the best way to go?

Steff
Sorry, Steff, never used it so I don't know the particulars. Not dumbness, just ignorance because we don't know the answer. I would expect that linuxboy or Francois would be better informed. If I was to be so inclined I would find out how to use it. Not on my immediate horizon.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Leaving cheese alone for extended periods
Post by: DeejayDebi on February 25, 2012, 08:22:01 PM
thanks for help guys! Sounds like I should do ok. Deejay... What do you mean by mold build up? Also, Lactic cheeses are soft ones right? I'm thinking about ones like derby, cheddar, colby, etc.

When you leave cheese unattended sometimes the wild molds can grow and cover your cheese. Vacuum sealing is one way to protect them. 2 months alone in the dark will encourage mold growth. You can wash it off when you get home but I can always taste and smell it.