Ready To Take Your Cheese Making To The Next Level?
There’s been a massive rise in the popularity of homemade cheese in the past few years. More individuals are realizing that the health benefits that come with trading in store-bought cheese for homemade cheese are immense.
Not only do you get the benefit of knowing what’s in the cheese based on what you’re feeding the animal, but your cheese will be free of preservatives and other chemicals that are in the cheeses that line the shelves at the supermarket.
However, wanting to make homemade cheese and actually going through with it are very different things. Many people may be wondering where exactly to start their cheese-making journey.
That’s why today we’re giving you an overview of the essential tools and dairy supplies you’ll need to start your journey. .
Cheese Pot
First things first – you’re going to need a pot. In fact, this is probably the most important tool when it comes to cheesemaking.
It also happens to be a tool that can be found easily, you just have to make sure it meets some conditions. We recommend using a stainless steel pot but other non reactive pots will also work.
The size of the pot will depend on how much cheese you’re making. It’s probably easier to buy a pot set that includes different sizes that way you’ll be prepared no matter what. After putting in all your ingredients there should still be space at the top of the pot in order to be able to mix everything easily.
Knives
You’re going to need more than one type of knife for your cheesemaking adventures. The first is a curd knife. A curd knife has a long blade that is rounded at the top and usually made of stainless steel.
The second knife you’ll need is a chef’s knife. You can click here to take a look at a good example of a chef’s knife if you need some inspiration. These knives will help during and after the cheesemaking process. However, to ensure superior quality and precision click for Damascus chef knife and embark on your cheese-making journey with confidence. Not only will these knives make the process easier, but they’ll also ensure that your cheese-making is precise and consistent.
Thermometer
Making sure your cheese is at the right temperature throughout the entire process is what is going to ensure the best quality of cheese.
They sell specific dairy thermometers that are easily attachable to your cheese pot for an easy read. Remember it’s important to get a thermometer specific to cheese because of how it’s calibrated when it is being made. They do come made in different materials like mercury or digital – any material will work as long as it is a cheese thermometer.
Skimmer
A Skimmer is a perfect tool to add your ingredients in properly. It’s used to stir in curds and to transfer the curds into the colander and molds we’ll be talking about later on.
You can use either a plastic or stainless steel skimmer, both will get the job done!
Measuring Materials
Just like a Skimmer, Measuring Materials are important to get your ingredients mixed together properly. You’ll need a measuring cup and a measuring spoon kit.
Any material will do just be sure to check that the material whether plastic, glass, or stainless steel – is noncorrosive. In fact, you might find you already have these materials for your everyday baking needs.
Colander
A colander is a bowl-shaped material with holes used to drain liquids from cooked food. You’ll absolutely require one with cheesemaking. It’ll be used to drain the whey from your cooked cheese curds.
Colander’s do come in different sizes, and we recommend going with a medium-sized one for cheesemaking.
Cheese Molds
Cheese Molds are exactly what they sound like. These are what you’re going to use to pour your cooked cheese in and let it cool in your desired shape. These are usually made of steel or plastic and come in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
Cheese mold preferences are completely up to you! It’s always good to figure out what type of cheese you’re making because different molds work better for different cheese depending if they’re soft or hard.
Wax
Lastly, Wax is a big material that’ll be useful while making cheese. Cheese wax is often used for hard cheese during the aging process. It also helps maintain the proper moisture level.
There are plenty of different brands, colors, and materials when looking for cheese wax and ultimately the decision is up to you. After some trial and error, you’ll most likely garner favorites and will have an easier time shopping for supplies.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to material for cheesemaking. Start here, and take this info to the next level with even more research. That way you can make the perfect cheese even on your first try.
I am going to admit that I am not ready to take my cheese making to the next level unless the grocery store starts to put its selection on the second floor.