Rennet testing

[bansidhe]

I apologize in advance as this has surely been addressed on this forum but I could not find the answer I am looking for.  I am very new to this.  I have tried three basic cheeses and just cannot seem to get a clean break.  I have tried three kinds of milk and am using rennet I just got from NE cheese Making.com. So I was looking for ways to test rennet.  I have found three different sites.  Each are essentially the same BUT the amount of rennet added to the 8oz of milk is different in each.  Two have 1/4 tsp in 1/2 cup water.  But One of those says 2tsp of the solution and another says 2TBSP.  Another says 1/4tsp rennet to 2TBSP water.. and you add that.  As you can see the amount of rennet in each test is quite different!   The first adding ~0.007tsp, the second 0.02 tsp and the lactone the entire 0.25 tsp.  Which is it?  Thanks!

[MacGruff]

Look at the label on the bottle that you got, My experience from that particular vendor is that they tend to be a bit more dilute than most. So, if it says - on the label! - to use 1/2 a teaspoon for two gallons of milk, I tend to use 3/8. Then, read about the flocculation method on this forum of how to calculate when to cut the curds.

Have fun!

[bansidhe]

Thank You.  I actually tried the test mentioned on the NE cheese making site on two different milks.  After 6 minutes, the milks were completely liquid.  Not set at all.  I'll try on one more milk I KNOW is gently pasteurized milk and see just to check again.  But one more question:  You say it tend to be dilute from that vendor, so if it says use 1/2 tsp you use 3/8.  But 3/8 is less than 1/'2.  If it's more dilute why would you use less?  Thanks!

Oh I have read about the flocculation method but I want to do this simple test first on small amounts of milk.  thanks again!

[Chetty]

I got a bottle of rennet early this spring that froze during shipping, it failed the tests you refer to. 

[bansidhe]

Hmmm.. Interesting.   Thanks!

[scasnerkay]

"Get Culture" has the test I use...
https://www.getculture.com/Coagulant-Test.html

[bansidhe]

That's great!  Thank You!

[MacGruff]

Oops. That is what happens when you type fast and do not go back and look things over. I meant 3/4!! Not 3/8. My bad.