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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Hard Cooked (Swiss) => Topic started by: Bernardsmith on December 28, 2017, 01:16:56 AM

Title: Asiago - and brine
Post by: Bernardsmith on December 28, 2017, 01:16:56 AM
The recipes I have for asiago suggest that I wash the cheese twice a week using a "simple brine" . Should this brine be fortified with vinegar and Ca Cl or is it simply salt and water? Last question: how strong should this brine be? (I had brined the asiago in an 18% solution after I had pressed it. Thanks
Title: Re: Asiago - and brine
Post by: H-K-J on December 28, 2017, 06:57:56 PM
If you still have the brine you used I'm sure you can use it.
I don't think you need a saturated brine or you could make up a wine brine.
Title: Re: Asiago - and brine
Post by: Bernardsmith on December 28, 2017, 07:39:38 PM
Many thanks H-K-J.
Title: Re: Asiago - and brine
Post by: Al Lewis on December 29, 2017, 05:50:05 PM
The 18% brine you made for the initial brining should have had white vinegar and CaCl in it.
Title: Re: Asiago - and brine
Post by: Bernardsmith on December 31, 2017, 06:52:18 PM
Right - so is that what is meant by a "simple brine"? I guess I wondered if the recipes meant just wash with salted water....
Title: Re: Asiago - and brine
Post by: Gregore on January 01, 2018, 07:36:23 AM
 A wash brine is usually 3 to 4.5 percent salt by weight  some times with PLA 

18 percent will be too salty for a wash , unless you want very little to grow on the rind