My first cheese.. a worrying looking Stilton?

[graysalchemy]

Blue brie is very fashionable amongst the southern Jessies, you know.  ;)

Don't worry my beer accompanying the cheese will have a head on it and I will be wearing a flat cap.  ;) ;)

[Geodyne]

Quite right! And don't forget to have a little moan. It's your birthright! ;)

[rumtom]

Bit of an update. I've reduced the humidity slightly so hopefully the bluer cheese will stop melting. The lighter cheese now has a strong smell of ammonia.

Not sure what more I can do about this. I bring them out to air each day so hopefully the reduced humidity will help

[Geodyne]

Reducing the humidity a bit more and airing a bit longer each day ought to help with the ammoniation.

[Tiarella]

Bit of an update. I've reduced the humidity slightly so hopefully the bluer cheese will stop melting. The lighter cheese now has a strong smell of ammonia.

Not sure what more I can do about this. I bring them out to air each day so hopefully the reduced humidity will help

Ammonia is heavier than air so some people put the cheeses on the lid with the box upside down over it and just ajar enough that the ammonia can slide out along the bottom rather than filling the mini-cave up like a bathtub.

[rumtom]

Thanks for the suggestion, will give that a go.

I'm trying to move them as little as possible at the moment as they've become quite soft.
I think I might just have to eat them before they get any worse!

[SpargePervert]

I find that cracking the lid open a smidge really helps get the humidity down,  I also put a small pot of salt in the "cave".  This seems to help absorb some of the moisture in the air,  ie after a few days the salt will be damp but there will be no build up of moisture on the walls / lid of the cave. 

[SpargePervert]

Ammonia is heavier than air so some people put the cheeses on the lid with the box upside down over it and just ajar enough that the ammonia can slide out along the bottom rather than filling the mini-cave up like a bathtub.

Ahah, great idea Tiarella.  Good advice.  :D

[rumtom]

Thanks for the suggestions, I've been airing the cheeses for a while each day and the ammonia seems to have reduced.

I've also lowered the temperature slightly and added pots of salt which have brought the humidity down a lot. Unfortunately the stiltons were already quite soft so have slumped a bit under their own weight but reducing the humidity seems to have halted it.

Hoping to cut into them next weekend. Fingers crossed for something decent!

[Tiarella]

Just remember to take photos when you cut into them.  I'm suffering cheese withdrawal since my goats aren't milking these days.  I want to see photos and hear details about the taste.   :D

[rumtom]

Well, I've finally cut open the less blue of the two stiltons. Photo attached as requested!

A few veins running through it, really tasty (although slightly too salty).
The second stilton needs a bit more time at a lower humidity but I'm really pleased with the first one.

Just need to look at ways of storing it now. Not that it will last long!

[John@PC]

Congrats rumtom and a cheese for your Stilton.  My experience is that when you cut a blue it only gets better as long as you keep it at a high humidity or wrap it. 

[Tiarella]

Thanks for posting photos!  But the taste......?  How do you like it?  Are you psyched to have created your own Stilton?   ;D

[rumtom]

Thanks for the advice. I've wrapped it in parchment paper and am storing it in a container in the fridge, so hopefully it will keep well.

I'm really chuffed that it turned out so well after putting so much work into it. It looked like it was going wrong at one point.

The saltiness is particularly strong on some parts of the cheese, which is a bit annoying but the flavour is really good on other parts.

I'll be cutting open the next cheese next so expect more photos! Then I'll be starting work on my next cheese.

I really appreciated everyone's help and suggestions. It was great to find such a helpful place to get information, and to see everyone else's projects!

[jwalker]

Don't worry about how long it will keep , just eat it ! :P :P :P

John said he cheesed you , but I don't see any cheeses , ( he must not have pushed the cheese button hard enough ;D) , so let me give you one now !

EAT that sucker , and enjoy , you deserve it , good cheese !!

Your "chuffed" :-\ ? , that must be and English thing , I like it !

CHEEZ ON !!