Aside from just following a recipe, is there a formula a person can use to determine amount of weight and time for pressing cheese?

No. their are so many variables, one is how much of the whey did naturally get out after cutting. We home makes dont get that much consistency with the process. I thingk the best way is the finger test method, how much give does the wheel have as to how much moisture it has, only repetition will give u the gut instinct to what to do.

With pressing in mind, I do know that I had to stack several layers of weight on my Colby last night.  What a PIA.  I am going to go to Dunham’s Sporting Goods and buy a few weight lifting plates so that I can properly regulate the weight and distribution.  Barbells, ammo boxes, bags of cat food just don’t get it.  LOL!

LOL, desperate measures, although your cats might like the extra cheese flavor

When the pile tipped over last night, (fortunately no damage to furniture or cheese) it sure did scare the willies out of me and the cat.  LOL, right then I knew that I would have lower center of gravity weights for pressing by the next batch.  Live and learn.

LOL, I know what u mean, luckily I have everything in the kitchen, worse when watching vids.

Ammo boxes? Bags of cat food? Next time send photos. Classic….

LOL, I’ll try to upload some photos soon, but with dial up and getting cut off every 2 minutes it is a pain.

I am a certified NRA instructor, hence my handle 9mmruger, that is why I have ammo boxes.  Don’t use em much, but I do have them.

I’d rather make cheese.

Have a great day Heathers.

cheers.

I’ve been using stacks of cast iron weights. It works good but messing with the weights can get to be a pain after while. Probably not as much of a hassle as using other random household items. I’m ordering a mechanical press in a couple of weeks…..

Make cheese, not war, new TShirt logo

I tried weights one time, and they kept sliding off.  I have several large indentations on my wood floor in the kitchen now.  If anyone has any suggestions to avoid this, let me know, please!  I was wondering about a wooden dowel attached somehow to the follower, then the weights put on the dowel.  I haven’t gotten to the hardware store yet for the dowel, but it’s a thought.