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I've read the intro sections in several books but can't recall, and I'm not spotting it in my quick skims tonight, so how about it?  When heating the milk the FIRST time, prior to adding any cultures, is it important to heat slowly?  I know the 2-degrees per minute for heating it to curd cooking temperatures, but what about the initial heating?  Can I heat quicker if I don't over-do it, e.g. milk pot over a double-boiler, go ahead and heat the double boiler water faster and keep stirring the milk?  Or do I ALWAYS heat gently... ?  (Yes, I'm a newbie... I'll probably have to say that a thousand times!)

Thanks,
Brian

As fast as you can without scorching and without creating large temperature gradients.

Reason for slow curd cooking is to avoid case hardening, so that the curd releases moisture evenly.

Rather than over a double boiler, if you can put your milk kettle inside a larger kettle so that it forms a water jacket for the milk.  That way the milk will warm more quickly, but you will have a good method of controlling the temperature and maintaining the temp throughout the make.

Thanks!  Maybe I'll put a trivet underneath the pot when using the pot in a pot (MrsKK's version) to isolate the milk from direct heat as well.

Brian

That's a good idea if your outer pot has a smooth bottom.  Mine is a canning kettle and has a corrugated bottom, so the inner pot is never in direct contact with the heat.

WHY does it need rapid heating?

It doesn't "need" rapid heating, but there are no time/temp restrictions on the heating of the milk, as in later stages when recipes call for raising the temp by 2 degrees per 5 minutes, for instance. 

You want to heat fairly rapidly and then add starter to outcompete any unwanted bacterial contaminants. If you heat slowly, undesirable bacteria start growing and have a better chance of getting a foothold.

Quote from: Sailor Con Queso on February 21, 2011, 01:22:16 AM
You want to heat fairly rapidly and then add starter to outcompete any unwanted bacterial contaminants. If you heat slowly, undesirable bacterial start growing and have a better chance of getting a foothold.

...For aged cheeses, heat fast without scorching.  For fresh or "immediate consumption" cheeses, I can be a little bit lazy 

Thanks for all the answers!  I learn more every day.  It amazes me what kind of experts we have here...

Brian