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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Rennet Surface White Mold (Penicillium candidum) Ripened => Topic started by: mbox on September 03, 2011, 04:51:04 AM

Title: Camembert - forgot something
Post by: mbox on September 03, 2011, 04:51:04 AM
Hi there i am new here and found this forum as i am in need of help...i made my camembert and it has the first white molds growing .... but i realised that i forgot to rub it with the salt before ( which many camembert recipies call for) .... any suggestions what i can do now about it ...should i rub the salt now ? Or should i just skip it?

Thanks for your replies , mbox
Title: Re: Camembert - forgot something
Post by: Cheese Head on September 03, 2011, 11:05:09 AM
Hi mbox in Thailand, welcome!

All cheeses need salt, several Wiki: Articles (https://cheeseforum.org/articles/wiki/) on salt's function, types, application methods etc. With P candidum white bloomy cheeses salting is a major factor in i) draining the cheese,ii) creating a rind,and iii) causing the mould to bloom (https://cheeseforum.org/articles/wiki-brie-camembert-cheese-making-recipe/).

Thus even though you already have a P candidum white bloom I'd still dry salt the cheese, after which it will probably give off quite a bit more water.

Also, see this similar thread (https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,3669.msg30931.html#msg30931).
Title: Re: Camembert - forgot something
Post by: mbox on September 03, 2011, 12:21:13 PM
Thank you John, I actually went ahead your feedback and did rub the salt on the cheese , i also saw that it lost a little bit of water already. I will use some P. Candidum diluted and spray it on .... its my second time i try camembert , last time i tried was 4 years ago which was a failure .....currently i have stilton and a Gouda also maturing ....hope it all comes out well.

cheers, mbox
Title: Re: Camembert - forgot something
Post by: Cheese Head on September 03, 2011, 03:02:27 PM
Cams are tricky, good to read that recipe & notes linked above, also lots of threads with tricks and traps in the Rennet Coag - P candidum Board.

I don't think you need to re-add P candidum, given correct humidity and aeration on bottom (mold doesn't like to have it's feet in water) it should re-bloom great.

Cheese making is fun but not simple, good luck with your other cheeses!