Starter from previous batch question

[JohnKimble]

Hello everyone.  Almost finished with my first blue.  I have a few questions about future innoculation with a cut from this wheel. 
1.  When making innoculation cubes in an ice tray, do I blend the sample with milk or water and then freeze?
2.  How long will these cubes last in the freezer?
3.  When starting another wheel, do I need to add mesophelic culture, or will the innoculation cube do that job as well as providing the penecillium?

Thanks for the help!  Picture attached of the wheel a few weeks ago.

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum.

Yes mix it with milk and incubate for a day and then freeze that to make sure population is greater. My yogurt starter in the freezer lasts more than 6 months.

Inoculation cube should provide you with everything but still check the pH before adding the starter and after an hour just before adding the rennet. If you see a drop in pH, your starter is working.

If you don't have a pH meter, prepare your mother culture the day before cheesemaking and incubate in 250ml milk to see if it curdles.