I made 2 batches of Caerphilly in October, trying to make only one change between them, which was to use a different starter. The first one used Flora Danica, and the second (almost 2 weeks later) used 4001. It would be fun to split the screen to see how they are different, but you have to read one and then the other.
Both weigh in at 1#, 12 oz. Both are creamy and very good. I cannot say that one wins over the other. Both will go to the potluck at work tomorrow, and we will see what the crew thinks... My son voted for 4001 slightly ahead of FD.
Caerphilly #9 /10-13-13
Recipe indicates about 40 mins of stirring, but Flora Danica alone seems to take longer than that to acidify the curd sufficiently. This is consistent the past 3 makes. Cheddaring also seems to take longer until the target for milling is reached, a little over an hour in this case.
2 gallons non-homogenized pasteurized whole milk 6.6 pH
¼ tsp Flora Danica (new package)
1/2 tsp calcium chloride in ¼ cup water
1.5 ml single strength calf rennet in ¼ cup water
2 T salt
Flocculation multiplier 3.5
pH targets: 6.5 rennet, 6.4 drain, 6.1 milling
12:40 Temperature at 88 degrees. Culture in, with a little over 60 mins resting at temperature. Temp got up to 90 degrees while resting, took the lid off and cooled it back down.
2:00 Measured pH at 6.5, T=88. Calcium chloride stirred in
2:05 Stirred in rennet. Flocc time of 13.5 mins (3.5 x 13.5 = about 47 mins)
2:55 Curd cut to about 1/2 inch, resting 10 mins, then gently lifted to break larger pieces which were not adequately cut. ( T = 87)
3:20 At 90 degree target temperature, continued moderate stirring.
4:55 Whey pH 6.4. Curd looked right on gripping some and squeezing it. Drained into cheesecloth bag, resting for about 10 mins. Returned curd mass to pan and cut into 1 inch slices, turned, rested 15 mins and repeated 4 more times, pouring off whey as it collected each time.
6:20 Whey pH was 6.1. Curd was milled, and salt added. Into hoop in pot to be kept warm with 10 #
7:00 Rind not well formed enough to flip. Hoop put into press, with about 18 # for 30 mins
7:20 Redressed, sprinkled with salt, and back into press about 27 # whey pH measured at 5.8.
8:00 Whey pH 5.6 Redressed, sprinkling with salt and into press about 45 #
8:30 Whey pH 5.6, redressed and back into press with 65 #
10:30 Redressed, with about 65 # for overnight.
6:00 am Into the cave!
Caerphilly #10 /10-27-13
Previous make with FD culture the time from cutting to hooping was 3 hours 25 mins
This make with 4001 time from cutting to hooping was 2 hours 20 mins
2 gallons non-homogenized pasteurized whole milk 6.6 pH
¼ tsp MA4001
1/2 tsp calcium chloride in ¼ cup water
1.5 ml single strength calf rennet in ¼ cup water
2 T salt
Flocculation multiplier 3.5
pH targets: 6.5 rennet, 6.4 drain, 5.6 milling
3:35 Temperature at 88 degrees. Culture in, with almost 60 mins resting at temperature.
4:30 Measured pH at 6.5, T=86. Calcium chloride stirred in
4:38 Stirred in rennet. Flocc time of 12.5 mins (3.5 x 12.5 = about 44 mins)
5:23 Curd cut to about 1/2 inch, resting 12 mins, then gently lifted to break larger pieces which were not adequately cut. ( T = 86) Slowly stirred at temperature about 10 mins.
6:00 At 90 degree target temperature, continued moderate stirring. Whey pH 6.4!! Curd very soft….
6:13 Temp = 92 degrees, whey pH 6.4 Drained 1/3 of whey to try ad slow pH drop. Began stirring more vigorously to try and get curd to expel whey.
6:35 Whey pH 6.4. Curd looked somewhat soft still but whey pH going between 6.3 and 6.4. so time to drain. Drained into cheesecloth bag, resting for about 10 mins.
6:45 Returned curd mass to pan and cut into 1 inch slices, turned, rested 10 mins and repeated 4 more times, pouring off whey as it collected each time.
7:45 Whey pH was 5.7. Curd was milled, and 1/2 salt added. Rested 10 mins and second addition of salt added.
8:00 Into hoop in pot to be kept warm with 10 #
8:15 Hoop put into press, with about 18 # for 20 mins
8:35 Redressed, sprinkled with salt, and back into press about 27 # Still fairly open knit.
9:00 Redressed, sprinkling with salt and into press about 45 # whey pH at 5.9? Knit looking better.
9:40 Redressed and back into press with 72 # for overnight. Nicely knit now, whey coming off at 5.8 pH
6:00 A.M. Whey pH 5.5, weight 2 #..... Into cave
In the image, the cheese on the left is MA4001, and the right is FD...