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I have a simple Hanna pH meter that I use to check on the pH and TA of fruit wines and meads I make for pleasure. I understand that if I want to test the pH of my curds I need to make sure that as much of the whey has been extracted or expelled as I can manage. But I have always assumed that pH meters need solution to measure. How do you measure the pH of curds? Do I need to take a sample and blend it with a quantity of distilled water much like I test the soil in my yard? If I stick the probe of my meter in a piece of curd is there inevitably enough moisture to measure the pH?

Yup.. That's about it... Have a wet (soaked in water for 5 min) ph meter handy, pick up a curd, give it a squeeze and firmly press on your ph meter probe and let the meter stabilize to read.... Simple.

It works.. Thanks but it is a bummer trying to clean the probe afterwards

When the curds are matting on the bottom of the pot, I've been known to just jab my meter deep into the curds and read it from there...

Is there an effective and inexpensive method of cleaning the bulb of the pH meter? Given the design of my Hanna meter , tiny strips of curd seem to adhere between the tube and the bulb. Thinking of soaking the tip in a solution of Starsan (used as a sanitizer in brewing), or in PWB (a harsh cleaner used in brewing that can remove protein in brewing kettles and the like)

You need to use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the proteins.

You can buy a special cleaner for just that or if your lazy like me you can use  eye contact cleaner designed to clean proteins .

It will not remove the big chunks but will keep it reading out the correct ph.

Gregore - many thanks for that tip. I will try that. I see that Hanna sells some kind of cheese protein cleanser but it costs and arm and a leg..

You can buy it on line on eBay for what some might consider a reasonable price , and it should last for  a year or more of weekly cheese making  , you should get your self some 7 and 4 solution while your at it .

Store the meter with 4 ph solution , though some times I am lazy and use the 7 for storage

By the way the cleaner is 2 or so ph

I will check out ebay... but what is the active chemical used to clean contacts? Is it not hydrogen peroxide? Starsan is hydrogen peroxide.

 Sorry about the late response  I never noticed your question


If you look on the label it will say for reduction of protein build up or some such  not sure which of the multitude of ingredients is the one . The product was called Re-nu

If you've got the money, you can get one of these:

http://hannainst.com/categories/food-care-ph-electrodes.html

You can stab them right into the curds.

Mike .... I posted the blue tooth version of that  ph meter on another thread here .  It is wicked cool