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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Rennet Surface White Mold (Penicillium candidum) Ripened => Topic started by: curiouser_alice on December 10, 2017, 12:09:50 AM

Title: First Brie
Post by: curiouser_alice on December 10, 2017, 12:09:50 AM
My Brie looks terrific, and has been aging in wrap for a while.  It's starting to feel soft in the center, even though by the calendar it's not supposed to be ready until December 27. 
Can I cut it to check, or will that mess everything up? 
I'd rather it be ready around Christmas, as I have my Brie loving daughter coming home then.
Any advice appreciated.
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: GortKlaatu on December 10, 2017, 01:16:44 AM
How long is "a while?"
How many weeks are you calculating that it would be "ready" Dec 27?
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: curiouser_alice on December 10, 2017, 01:33:32 AM
It's been aging for about 3 weeks.  Finished on Nov. 14 and bloomed on both sides in about a week, then was wrapped more or less on Nov. 21.
I think I'd better wait a bit more.
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: Al Lewis on December 10, 2017, 04:11:26 PM
Typically they take 6 weeks if aged in a fridge.  In a warmer cheese cave much faster. I keep mine in a mini fridge at 42°F.  I had originally bought it to age blues separate from the rest of my cheeses but couldn't get the temp high enough.  Works great for brie and other fresh cheese though.
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: curiouser_alice on December 11, 2017, 02:21:26 AM
Hm.  This is in a 55 degree fridge/cave.  So it may age more quickly?
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: GortKlaatu on December 11, 2017, 05:06:11 AM
Yes, it will.  I age mine at 54 degrees and at 4 weeks they are ready.  In fact, beyond that and they over-ripen too fast
Title: Re: First Brie
Post by: curiouser_alice on December 11, 2017, 07:29:17 PM
okay, then I am going to move it to the regular fridge.  That should slow it down some.  Thanks for the replies!