John's Cheese #033 - Blue Cheese #3 (Stilton Style)

[Cartierusm]

Most of my "professional" recipes call for piercing at 6 weeks so the cheese should be firmer by then. Dave's recipe call for different.

If it were me I would take the cheese down to the local fencing studio and have them pierce it.

[LadyLiberty]

How are you going to "spear" these? I would hate for them to fall apart again.

Size 2 metal knitting needles?

[Likesspace]

L.L...
I have heard of quite a few people using knitting needles to pierce their blues.
Personally I wouldn't know a knitting needle from a greyhound bus so I can't offer any suggestions here.
I do know that everything I've tried is just a bit too big with an old stainless thermometer probe being by far the best.
If I could find something that is stainless steel and just a tad bit smaller than the thermometer probe I think I would have a winner.
I'll ask my wife about the #2 knitting needles to see if these might be the size I'm looking for.
Thanks for the idea!
Dave

[Cartierusm]

Tea, says use a teflon knitting needle.

[Cheese Head]

Just posted latest picture near start of this thread of my unwanted orphan Blue Cheese #3 out in the garage in solitary confinement, no blueing yet.

[Cartierusm]

John, it looks like it's listing to the left.

[Likesspace]

I think I'd use the cordless drill in your final pic for the piercing.
Power tools and cheesemaking. Mmmmm...sort of warms the heart, doesn't it?

Dave

[Cheese Head]

Carter, be nice, just because yours is all nice and square .

Dave, ha, ! Friend across the street just got a new drill press yesterday, maybe I'll have to ask him to inaugurate with my Blue Cheese #3 .

[Cartierusm]

Sorry, wasn't trying to be mean.

[Cheese Head]

Sorry, I was being playful, I know you are not mean, just changed my post above from tear to wink .

Actually all this roundness is getting a bit boring, I think we should come up with some more fun shapes, as long as they don't fall over!

[Cartierusm]

I said that in another thread, but I can't come up with anything too exciting. Tea mentioned heart shape, not too keen on that. There's round, square, rectangle, pyramid, pear shaped for some provolone and I've seen Pineapple Cheddar in a book. The only problem I see is it has to be a 2D shape so a follower will work. We could do animal outlines, kind of like cakes.

"Happy Birthday Dear" "Wow Dad that's one awesome looking cake" "Shaaa that cheddar, Baby!" "My friends were right you are stupid" "Your friends are stupid" and it continues until the police arrive.

There's star shapes, Oh I could do a star of David and sell them to Synagogue's.

[Tea]

Then you will have to go through the whole kosher routine.  sheesh!

[Cartierusm]

All that really means, in terms of religion as opposed to a government thingy, is that I need to have my facility and equipment blessed by a Rabii and use Kosher ingredients.

[Tea]

Yes I realise that, but from what I have heard, they can be quite difficult too.

Actually I was having a look on Cheeselinks yesterday, and they have a heart mould in.  It could onl be used to shape soft cheese by the looks of it, but just thought I would mention it.

[Cheese Head]

Success, just updated photos above with snap from this afternoon, blue mold appearing 1 day after covering with upside down bowl to increase humidity !