Having a few batches of Farmhouse Cheddar under my belt, I’m going to move on and try some different cheeses.  I think next will be a Colby, its relatively short aging time appeals to my impatience.  Then, just to push the patience envelope, I believe I’ll do a Leicester.  Any helpful hints on these two???

I followed the same road.

On my Colby (my second cheese)- I made a 3+ pounder.
When you are “airdrying” keep the humidity high enough by placing a bowl over the cheese so it won’t crack. Allow some circulation by having the bowl hang over whatever the cheese is on.

Also, if you are adding coloring - which I think is a necessity with Colby, be generous and get a nice dark color.

My next one is going to be the Caerphilly.  I was going to do it last weekend, but the mishap with the swiss postponed it for a week or so.

Thanks T.S., I’ll take your advice on both counts.  Will the bowl increase the drying time significantly?  How about a fine mesh colander over the cheese?  That’s what I normally use to keep insects off it.

I just kind of left it on half the time….and dried the normal number of days.
On the colander, I don’t know…

Talking Seagull - 30 May 2008 03:56 PM

I followed the same road.

On my Colby (my second cheese)- I made a 3+ pounder.
When you are “airdrying” keep the humidity high enough by placing a bowl over the cheese so it won’t crack. Allow some circulation by having the bowl hang over whatever the cheese is on.

Also, if you are adding coloring - which I think is a necessity with Colby, be generous and get a nice dark color.

The Colby is done.  I finally opted for the colander, as it is very fine mesh and would restrict but not cut off air flow.  Its drying well with no cracking.  Hate to admit it but I chickened out on the coloring and stayed with the recipe direction - 2 drops per gal.  I should have gone with your advice, because its really pale.  Hopefully it will darken somewhat during aging.

LOL, dont thingk so from other peoples experience and when I used to use turmeric as a colorant. Again, it depends on the manufacturers concentration that they use.