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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Semi-Hard "Sweet" Washed Curd => Topic started by: steffb503 on March 02, 2019, 12:01:09 PM

Title: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: steffb503 on March 02, 2019, 12:01:09 PM
So, I spaced on my 4 hour pressing time on my Leerdammer cheese. It is a 10 gallon make and it has pressed overnight.

how  can I expect it to be different from the others that pressed for only 4 hours?

Any adjustments I should make to it going forward, brining, aging?

thanks
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: awakephd on March 02, 2019, 02:26:51 PM
I am not familiar with Leerdammer. Is it a cheese that is brined or salted only after pressing? Or is salt added to the curds before going into the press?

If it is pressed first, then salted, a longer time in the press means more time for acid to develop. This will make the flavor sharper, more like a cheddar, and it will make the texture more crumbly.
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: steffb503 on March 02, 2019, 03:56:02 PM
It goes into the brine after pressing.
So no way to compensate. Oh well I must pay closer attention.
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: cheesehead94 on March 02, 2019, 04:02:39 PM
In all likelihood it will still be a tasty cheese, probably just not exactly what you were expecting.
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: Boofer on March 03, 2019, 08:46:00 AM
Quote from: steffb503 on March 02, 2019, 12:01:09 PM
So, I spaced on my 4 hour pressing time on my Leerdammer cheese. It is a 10 gallon make and it has pressed overnight.

how  can I expect it to be different from the others that pressed for only 4 hours?

Any adjustments I should make to it going forward, brining, aging?

thanks
Do you monitor pH when you press? If you intentionally or accidentally left the cheese in the press overnight and it was an active culture, the pH could have dropped drastically, resulting in a sour, crumbly cheese. I have had 4-gallon makes reach my target pH of 5.3-5.4 within hours. I check every 15-30 minutes after the first hour of pressing.

Is the one that was pressed for four hours also a 10 gallon make?

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: awakephd on March 03, 2019, 03:37:39 PM
For cheeses that are salted after pressing, I check the pH fairly often, usually aiming for 5.3 or so.
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: steffb503 on March 03, 2019, 06:11:58 PM
Thanks all. I will make sure I pay closer attention.
I have not been able to quite understand how to use my PH meter. Every year I say i am going to master it , but never really do.
Title: Re: Leerdammer Pressing Question
Post by: awakephd on March 03, 2019, 11:17:14 PM
What kind of meter do you have?