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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Blue Mold (Penicillium roqueforti) Ripened => Topic started by: Hande on December 16, 2010, 09:47:44 PM

Title: My first blue
Post by: Hande on December 16, 2010, 09:47:44 PM
Hello,
I'm a new rookie "cheesemaker" and I read this forum almost every day.
I have get a lot of information, thanks to you everyone  ;D

Now I have made blue cheese by RC books p.166.
I ripening it in plastic countainer with cover. And humidity is 85-90 % and 53F.
I keep boxes open every day 2 times 15 min, so they can get fresh air.
They have been 3 weeks ripening now and I'm not sure are they okey, because the smell is powerful and not any pleasant.
Is that normal ?
And is the temperature too high ?

ps. sorry my bad English  ???

(//)
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on December 17, 2010, 02:43:17 AM
Looks great. At that age, the cheese is still giving off lots of ammonia. That's normal.
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Hande on December 17, 2010, 07:47:58 AM
Thanks Sailor
Glad to hear. I'm just keep go on with those 'boys'

Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: MrsKK on December 17, 2010, 01:14:56 PM
Your blue looks beautiful, IMHO.  I've just started my first blue cheese and am excited at the prospect.  Just have to get a plastic container to ripen it in and I'm all set.
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Hande on January 05, 2011, 10:37:36 AM
Hello,
Now blues start to smelling good  :)
Those are 6 weeks now.
I taste it and hey, that tastes good. But they are still young and go back to ripening.
Perhaps little bit more piersing.

Hande

(//)


Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Cheese Head on January 05, 2011, 01:02:15 PM
Hi Hande, how did you remove the external mold growth?
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Hande on January 05, 2011, 03:16:02 PM
I just scrape with small knife.
First they look like alien, but after scrape looking good.
Next time I make bigger wheels, those was in 4" hoops.

Hande


Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on January 06, 2011, 01:18:57 AM
You scraped off all of the good stuff. :o
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Boofer on January 06, 2011, 07:30:08 AM
Quote from: Sailor Con Queso on January 06, 2011, 01:18:57 AM
You scraped off all of the good stuff. :o
So that rind is all edible?

-Boofer-
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Hande on January 06, 2011, 11:01:06 AM
Sailor, yes meaby I take too much out rind.
Next time I be more smart and left more or hole rind.
I lost lot of taste now.

Hande
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on January 06, 2011, 08:44:39 PM
Boof - The rind is the best part. Since I vac bag, the rind stays really soft and the flavor is intense. I have chefs that scrape off the rind and use it in recipes. That still leaves them with the entire cheese to sell in their restaurants. One of my favorite appetizers is Stilton stuffed figs. Slice a fresh fig, stuff with Stilton rind and/or cheese, wrap with Prosciutto, pin with a toothpick, heat in the oven until warm. Mmmmmm..... I have yet to find anyone that doesn't love this easy appetizer.

I'm serving this for a meeting of the American Culinary Federation next Wednesday.
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: george on January 07, 2011, 11:53:16 AM
Oh, Sailor, I was just thinking about that dish yesterday!  Realizing how much I'm going to miss the fig tree at my old house when I start doing more Stiltons.  *sigh*

On the other hand, I like it so much half the time I don't even bother to warm it, just room temp.
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Brie on January 08, 2011, 04:00:22 AM
Hande--your cheese looks perfect. We all do our own thing with rind development--and you will learn what what tastes best for you. For blues--I let the rind run wild for Stiltons and Gorgonzolas; yet for the smaller  varieties (such as your recipe), I tend to scrape every three weeks or so. Whatever route you decide, let them breathe out of their contained environment at least once a week for about a half hour. Blue mold needs oxygen to develop. Why not make a batch and allow one to develop a natural rind and scrape the other? Great experiment! Good luck and keep us posted!
Title: Re: My first blue
Post by: Hande on January 08, 2011, 12:57:45 PM
Brie, thank you  ;D, Next time, when I get bigger mold I try Stiltons and don't touch rind.


Hande