Does this look ok? - Washed rind

[rgreenberg2000]

So, I've been following Alp's "treatise" on washing, and I think it's going ok.  Then again, I don't really have any experience, so I thought I'd give ya'll a look at my cheese and see what you think.  This is my Hispanico, and what I was going for was a thin rind from the washing.  I've been washing the bottom and sides each day, and giving it a flip.  I don't have a really creamy schmier, but it is very tacky before I wash, then gets a bit gooey when I actually do wash it.  It has a bit of a dirty sock odor, but not much (which is fine.)

Anyway, here's what it looks like after 10 days of washing:



Thanks for looking, and any insight into if I seem to have got this right!

R

[awakephd]

I confess that I have had decidedly mixed success in producing washed rinds ... but I also have only tried a few times, here and there, so I've never given it a consistent effort. So take my comments with a grain or two of salt!

The spots look like maybe you've washed off some blue mold - ? I'm not really seeing a pink color, but the tacky feeling and the smell you describe is encouraging. I'd say you're on the right track.

[River Bottom Farm]

Unless those spots are something you added to the cheese you are fighting mold growth. The linens look like they are there in a yellow or golden form so that's good. To help with the mold growth I would change your wash and add more salt to the wash. Linens like salt and molds don't so the surface would then favor linens and fight molds. That said there is nothing wrong with the molds and the cheese is still edible so good for you !

[rgreenberg2000]

Thanks, gents!

RBF, I was going to add some wine to the wash, as well as ensure that my salt levels are up to where they need to be to try to combat the mold growth.  I'm not too scared of anything I'm seeing at this point, and can confirm that I've got some yellow/gold in the mix which is good.

I'll keep at it, and see where it takes me.  If nothing else, I'll get some experience with washing that will serve me the next go around (and, in all likelihood, will end up with some good cheese to eat, too!)

R

[River Bottom Farm]

I hope you have good luck with it! I have had a little trouble controlling yeast to my liking when using wine in the wash (cheese starts to taste too much like a loaf of bread) but it is an easy way to add some of the floral you are looking for so it's a bit of a trade off.