Anyone making their own cheese at home? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #1 06-03-2008, 03:33 PM

I want to make cheese at home using the raw milk I buy from my local dairy. I can buy milk for $7 per gallon and my dairy sells "Raw Milk" cheeses that are good but range from $12-$20 per pound. Making it myself would be much more cost effective.

Anyone have any good resources I should check out? I found tons of stuff on the internet, but have no way of knowing what's good info and what I should avoid.

I've seen simple recipes for making Ricotta cheese that just require heating the milk and adding vinegar to start the curds. I'd like to make a mozzarella and a cheddar.

Is there a steep learning curve if I try to do this without a live demonstration of techniques?

Mistress · #2 06-03-2008, 05:20 PM

I can't say what first came to mind, lest my ladylike demeanor be tarnished in the eyes of my Forum fellows.

Chad300tdt · #3 06-03-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

I can't say what first came to mind, lest my ladylike demeanor be tarnished in the eyes of my Forum fellows.

I can't believe it came from you ... I was expecting Aklim to check in and hijack this thread.

MTI · #4 06-03-2008, 05:41 PM

I looked into cheese making a long time ago and ran into the issue that other than a hobbyist curiosity, it was going to be a financial dead end. It's very much like brewing your own beer, sewing your own clothes or building your own car, for that matter.

Here's a Link to Alton Brown's Cottage Cheese Recipe

It takes 45 minutes, a gallon of skim, some half and half, vinegar and salt to make 2 cups of cottage cheese. Now, it's really good cottage cheese, but that's not saying much.

Chad300tdt · #5 06-03-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

I looked into cheese making a long time ago and ran into the issue that other than a hobbyist curiosity, it was going to be a financial dead end. It's very much like brewing your own beer, sewing your own clothes or building your own car, for that matter.

Here's a Link to Alton Brown's Cottage Cheese Recipe

It takes 45 minutes, a gallon of skim, some half and half, vinegar and salt to make 2 cups of cottage cheese. Now, it's really good cottage cheese, but that's not saying much.

Thanks for the recipe.

I don't mind the effort and want to do it to have "raw milk" cheeses at a better price.

I already brew my own beer, make my own kefir, yogurt and kombucha, made all the curtains for my house and have practically re-built my car. The organic garden is being worked on and I'm getting set up to raise some chickens too.

Nate · #6 06-03-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Thanks for the recipe.

I don't mind the effort and want to do it to have "raw milk" cheeses at a better price.

I already brew my own beer, make my own kefir, yogurt and kombucha, made all the curtains for my house and have practically re-built my car. The organic garden is being worked on and I'm getting set up to raise some chickens too.

Do you own a HAM radio?
Srry for the hijack...

I think it's friggin sweet that on a forum like this you can ask a question from outside left field and get answers ;p

Good luck, have fun with the cheese.
~Nate

Chad300tdt · #7 06-03-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Do you own a HAM radio?
Srry for the hijack...

I think it's friggin sweet that on a forum like this you can ask a question from outside left field and get answers ;p

Good luck, have fun with the cheese.
~Nate

LOL. If it weren't for cell phones and GPS, I'd definitely have a CB in my car.

That's one of the many reasons I love this forum.

Thanks Nate.