Finally delivered my new cheese cave. 14 cubic feet. I need to find/make some wooden shelves for it. Making sure everything works good before installing the external thermostat permanently. ;)
I would add that anyone choosing to do this be certain you don't drill through a hidden cooling coil when drilling for the temperature probe.
Very nice! What kind of wood will you make the shelves out of?
Looks nice! :-)
I hope that it will be home for many great cheeses to come.
:-) Danbo
Sweet new cave Al, I look forward to see what cheeses you fill it with.
John
Nice addition Al. Single door refrigerators without an ice compartment are a bit scarce without going commercial. What brand/model is it?
Nice Al! Can't you use the shelves that come with it? I am looking for wood for my new cave too. I can only find paulownia and I don't know if they will last. What wood are you planning to use?
It's actually a Frigidaire Upright Freezer. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frigidaire-13-83-cu-ft-Frost-Free-Upright-Freezer-in-White-FFFU14F2QW/205555907 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frigidaire-13-83-cu-ft-Frost-Free-Upright-Freezer-in-White-FFFU14F2QW/205555907) I could use the existing shelves but if I can find some 17" X 22" butcher block and insert some 1/4" stainless steel pins in the ends I could make my own. I like the idea of cheeses aging on wood and the solid construction may help in keeping down any cross contamination of the molds. We'll see how it goes.
Congrats!! Looks like that will make an awesome cheese cave. Look forward to seeing your progress with it as well.
Right now I'm hoping the RH rises. My old cave held steady at 85%. Hoping this one gets there without a humidifier. The old one had the coils in the shelves which pretty much made rain in the cave. This one doesn't. One saving grace is that the distance from the bottom to the bottom shelf should accommodate the hanging of salumi to cure. It pretty much requires the same conditions as cheese.
Quote from: Al Lewis on November 20, 2016, 02:02:25 AM
It's actually a Frigidaire Upright Freezer. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frigidaire-13-83-cu-ft-Frost-Free-Upright-Freezer-in-White-FFFU14F2QW/205555907 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frigidaire-13-83-cu-ft-Frost-Free-Upright-Freezer-in-White-FFFU14F2QW/205555907) I could use the existing shelves but if I can find some 17" X 22" butcher block and insert some 1/4" stainless steel pins in the ends I could make my own. I like the idea of cheeses aging on wood and the solid construction may help in keeping down any cross contamination of the molds. We'll see how it goes.
Solid wood shelves may adversely affect the air circulation within the freezer. You may want to use wooden slats with spaces between them.
Good show, Al.
I just recently added a 4.4cu ft freezer-less refrigerator to the Boofer Cave Network. Now maybe I can avoid the condensation problem that comes with a small fridge with a freezer. Sounds similar to your cooling coil shelves. :(
-Boofer-
Wow. That is really a good price!
Quote from: Kern on November 21, 2016, 01:12:18 AM
Solid wood shelves may adversely affect the air circulation within the freezer. You may want to use wooden slats with spaces between them.
The shelves would not fit snugly so there would be space around them. Have to see what's available.
Well nothing new on the shelves but I am making a new Alpine Cheese to christen the new cave. BTW Here's my storage area for cheese and charcuterie stuff. LOL
:D
are those camembert's wooden box on the background?
Where did you get those?
Yes they are Ann. I got mine for about $1.00 each but I guess they've jacked the prices way up on them. If you call Ralph at https://cheeseandyogurtmaking.com/cheese-box-small-2-2-inch-diameter-x-2-7-inch-height.html he should be able to get you some at a good price. Just tell him you want the large ones, 5 1/4". I'm sure he'll help you out.
Al, how long did the prior cave last? I think I had the same one with coils in the shelves and a rainfall inside... My freezer convert cave lasted about one year, and died in the middle of the night with the alarm waking me! I have been skittish about freezers since then...
It lasted, I believe, 4 years Susan. I'll check the post I made when I bought it. Yep! 2012
Quote from: Al Lewis on November 25, 2012, 06:26:05 PM
Well I've just started out making cheese, as a hobby, in a small way. Prior to actually making anything I decided that I needed a place to age the cheese in place before I could make it. After looking at every small fridge in the area I stumbled upon a 6.9 cubic foot Igloo upright freezer (Best Buy $179.00). It seemed perfect for my needs as far as size and configuration. I also picked up a Johnson controls remote thermostat for $45.00 and installed it in the freezer by drilling a hole through the back and running the probe into the freezer and under the center shelf. I then sealed the hole with silicone. To this I added a thermometer/hygrometer of the non-electrical variety which I attached to the inside of the door with industrial double back tape. I set the thermostat for 56 degrees and let the freezer sit for several days to normalize. Much to my happiness when I checked on it the temperature was right at 56 and the hygrometer read 85%. Been making cheese like crazy since and am really enjoying it. ;D
The compressor died on mine. I am wondering what the expectation can be for compressors in general in inexpensive refrigerators or freezers. Do you think that running a freezer on a different cooling cycle than what it was designed for will shorten the compressor life? Perhaps what we are faced with is just buying a new unit every few years - hopefully not more often than that. I find myself in analysis paralysis in trying to decide what to buy!
Presently running 2 small refrigerators (3.5 and 4 cuft) with temp controller on one to keep it at about 55 degrees, and the other is just turned to as little chilling as possible, which keeps it at about 45 to 50 degrees.
It would be nice to just run one unit. Well, I might be tempted to keep a separate one and make some blues!
I bought the small one in the pic, back in the corner, for my baby bries Susan. This freezer was originally $600.00, I believe, but I got it on sale at Home Depot for $400.00 plus I get an extra 10% off as a retired veteran. I don't think it will shorten the life span of a good freezer. The Igloo I had had write ups about the compressor going out after 3-4 years. Unfortunately I didn't find those until way after I bought it. I'm pretty sure this Frigidaire with last. At my age it won't take much for it to outlast me anyway! LOL ;D Don't know what stores you have around but if you check Lowes and Home Depot they often have upright freezers on clearance due to new models coming out. You can get some really good deals on these 14 cu ft models because no one usually buys them. I have a 22 cu ft I use for food. This thing would't hold the pork in my freezer let alone everything else the wife stuffs in there. LOL Good idea on the blues. I may store mine in the little fridge when I do them next. They are terrible for cross contamination. I would add that anyone choosing to do this be certain you don't drill through a hidden cooling coil when drilling for the temperature probe.
How is the humidity working out on this cave Al?
Watching with interest!!
It's right at 80% on its own. Looking at options to kick that up a bit.