I flipped my Stilton this evening and decided to put a few more holes in the top (what was previously the bottom) of the cheese. As I slid the skewer into the cheese my wife said “You just cracked it”.
Now at first I figured she meant that I had slid the skewer out of the side of the cheese but sure enough I had this large crack right down one side, from top to bottom.
I took a hot knife and tried smoothing the crack closed and did have moderate success in doing so. It’s certainly not perfect but it looks better than it did.
I’m a little bummed out since with this crack it will not be a true stilton. Stilton’s should have a completely uncracked smooth surface which is no longer a good definition of my cheese.
Even though this has happened I still have hopes for a very good blue cheese. This is quite possibly the prettiest cheese I’ve ever made. The 4’ diameter, 8” tall wheel is simply beautiful with it’s streaks of white and blue colors.
If nothing else, the crack will allow the blue to penetrate the interior of the wheel better than it would have with only the piercing. At least that’s the theory I’m using right now.
I’m still excited about this cheese. I need to get my humidity level up a little more since the cheese doesn’t seem as moist as it did just a day or two ago. I don’t want to get it too wet but I don’t want it to dry out either.
On the brighter side of my cheesemaking day, my swiss is really coming along. It is swelling (not overly so, but I do see some puffing of the wheel) and the elasticity is still excellent. The only problem that I am having is with surface mold which I continue to wipe each morning and evening with either a brine cloth or vinegar.
Even the rind on the side of the wheel is still very elastic. This is a first, since usually the side rind gets extermely hard. I can literally press down a good quarter to half an inch on the top and bottom of the wheel and watch it srping right back up when released.
I’m envisioning a nice, creamy, smooth texture with at least medium/small eyes. Of course I also sometimes envision myself as a cross between Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe, so this might not be a true representation of what the final cheese will turn out to be.
Next up…..Brie on Friday night.
Wish me luck and everyone have a great weekend.
Dave