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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Forming Cheese => Topic started by: amiriliano on August 20, 2014, 02:12:06 PM

Title: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: amiriliano on August 20, 2014, 02:12:06 PM
So does anyone have a good trick minimizing the amount of marks left on wheels from cloths. I've tried muslin and Plyban. Plyban seems to be a bit better but I can never smooth out the cloth completely.

Any ideas?

Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: Spoons on August 20, 2014, 06:08:37 PM
Plyban is a good start. Then do a "naked" press in the mould without the plyban for a few hours if it's a hard cheese. If it's  a semi-hard cheese like a gouda or havarti, you don't even need to apply pressure. Just put your cheese naked in the mould and put them in the cave for a few hours if you want to slow down the acidification right before the brining.
Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: Boofer on August 21, 2014, 02:07:17 AM
If it's a cheese that gets rubbed or washed during its affinage, those lines magically fade.  8)

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: amiriliano on August 21, 2014, 01:48:26 PM
Very interesting. What about curds falling out through drain holes if I press them "naked"?
Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: Spoons on August 22, 2014, 02:44:14 PM
Yes, the cheese will get nipples. So don't press too hard during a naked press. For semi-hard cheeses, you don't need to press at all, just leave it in the mould with the lid on and place it in the cave for a few hours to slow down acidification.
Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: Boofer on August 23, 2014, 05:36:04 AM
Quote from: Spoons on August 22, 2014, 02:44:14 PM
Yes, the cheese will get nipples. So don't press too hard during a naked press.
::)

We used to call them "nubbins". ;)

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Avoiding muslin/Plyban/cloth marks
Post by: amiriliano on August 23, 2014, 11:08:36 PM
The only issue is with something like cheddar where I have to apply significant pressure...