Please give your own way or suggestions as I am struggling to find the best place to store/ripen while waiting for White Mould to arrive!
At the moment I store in a old fridge with the temp up as high as possible so it's not too cold but I'm finding that the mould development takes 3 weeks! I'm guessing it's too cold in there for it.
Thanks in advance Kat :)
You can put it on the fridge door,its usually few degres warmer.
Basically you need it keep it at 12-17c. three weeks is way too much.
I have mine in mini fridge at temp of 45 to 52 degrees inside a clean microwavable steamer container. I have a small digital temp sensor that I have bought for less than 10 bucks from Sur La Table . The sensor is inside and connected to the digital meter on the outside of fridge attached with velcro and even has alarm if the temp is too high!
My container has a raised shelve inside. I have paper towel underneath to catch the the drippings for the first couple of days and I wipe the cover daily of moisture and change paper towel daily if they are wet. I put my Camembert on top of the cheese mat or sushi roll mat and turn them daily and dab off the moisture on the cheese.
It takes about a week and a half depending on moisuture and range of temp of the fridge. I usually leave the container out on the counter on room temp for about 30 to 45 mins after they get their daily care and put them back in the fridge again. Once the white bloom has developed wrap them in cheese paper and get ripe 4- 6 weeks. I always works for me.
Make sure you have the two molds the Geo and Penicillum when you make the cheese.
Geo is good to have but not a mendatory culture to buy.
Mine usually just "pick it up" or maybe there is some geo blended in my PC powder.
I ripen mine on the kitchen bench in a plastic box with raised rack for cheese to sit on lid to keep humidity high, then put the whole lot into a Styrofoam box with lid (I use an old broccoli box from a fruit and vege shop). Add an ice brick (change morning and night) and have monitored temp with digital thermometer. leave it there for about 2 weeks...then wrap and leave for another 2 weeks in regular fridge. Haven't tried in the height of summer but so far so good