The Stilton Process

General Cheese making discussion

Postby clivmar » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:35 pm

Many thanks Dave.

Clive
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Postby Mike D » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:26 am

Thanks for the temp info Dave. I'll try to get my cellar cleared this week (I really need to as I have 60 bottles of home brew lager to store and I'll be racking off 30 bottles of white wine this week too. :lol: )

When I'm maturing my cheese, I was keeping it in a large cake tin with a tight fitting lid (I kept the lid slightly ajar) Is this correct??

@ Clive
I did two cheeses for my first attempt. One Stilton and one Lancashire; the Lancashire was superb and didn't really last a week. I can take or leave Stilton, but the O/H loves the stuff, so I did it for her really. I'm going to give it another go this week.
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Postby saucisson » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:51 pm

Yes, a slightly ajar lid is a good way to do it. You want to keep the humidity up at the 85-90% level, but watch out for condensation dripping onto the cheese, wipe that off the lid if it occurs.

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Postby BlueCheese » Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:57 pm

If its in a tight container then it will liquefy, not a nice way to go unless u want a dip.
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Postby Mike D » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:33 am

I have just started clearing out my cellar, and have been monitoring the part I will be using for the cheese/wine/beer storage area. The temp of this part of the cellar is around 18 deg C - a bit high for cheese maturation. However, whilst I was clearing out various piece of junk, I came across a large electrically powered cool box I used to use in the car when camping - this is the type that cools or heats according to how you plug it in. Although it is 12v, I have a mains transformer to power it. I think I'll use this for the cheese maturation as I can control the temp on it and it should form a stable atmosphere.

I'll let you know how it goes.
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Postby BlueCheese » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:58 pm

carefull, usually they will only vary 10deg from the outside temp unless its real good, so basement would be the best place were temps dont vary.
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Postby saucisson » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:03 pm

Should be OK if you keep it in the cellar :)

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Postby Mike D » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:04 pm

Both of you anticipated where I'd be placing it. :D

This is the exact thing http://www.travelgearblog.com/archive/igloo-kool-mate-40.html

I don't have the instructions or spec anymore so I'll plug the thing in and leave it for a few days with the thermometer inside so I can see what is happening with it. Might just turn out to be a great "cave", if it is no good for cheese, I can always fill it with beer :shock:


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Postby saucisson » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:15 pm

Sounds like a good plan :D
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Postby Mike D » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:19 pm

I always try to have an "escape" route planned!! :wink:

It is better to admit defeat too if it involves colder beer!! :lol: :lol:
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Postby Mike D » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:21 pm

Well, I have rescued my Koolmate 12V cool box, plugged it in and it still works!!

Had it running for about 4 hours now and I placed my digi thermometer inside for 30 mins and it came out with a reading of 4 deg C and an external air temp of 18 degs. Is this too cold for cheese to mature??

It also has an adjustable shelf in it, so I could keep beer in the bottom and cheese in the top, (So I didn't waste the opportunity of the 4 deg space, I filled it bottled lager that I have recently brewed :D :D :D )

Cheers,

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Postby BlueCheese » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:16 pm

depends on the cheese your making, see instructions of recipe :)
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Postby saucisson » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:37 pm

These things frequently just run flat out, with no thermostat as such so they will give X deg C below ambient.

If you want to set it to, say 10 deg C, trying putting a timer on it so it is on for 30 minutes, then off for 30 minutes and see what temperature it stabilises at.

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Postby Mike D » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:52 pm

That is a great idea Dave. Same principle as a domestic fridge or cooker I presume, but with no thermostatic control over temp.

I'd better start writing down some notes for future reference. :roll:

Cheers,


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Postby saucisson » Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:34 pm

I can't claim that one for my own idea :D

I picked it up on here or on a similar quest :lol:

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