Okay, now I’m really scratching my head. I’ve been making a 2# farmhouse cheddar in a 6” mold, and then I realized the recipe is supposed to be for a 4” mold. So today I tried it with a 4” mold—actually a 1-pound coffee can—and the entire recipe won’t even fit into the can. I mean, it’s sticking way out the top and a double handful of curds is still in the bowl. I went ahead and started to press it, but is this right?
The batch itself doesn’t seem any bigger than my previous batches (which were pressed in a 6” mold) were. I mean, I wasn’t measuring it, but the curds seemed the same. In a 6” mold I’ve been pulling out a cheese 2” tall after the final pressing. How tall should a 2# cheese be when it comes out of a 4” mold?
If you’re just using a 1 lb. coffee can, then its not tall enough. My 4” mold was 11” tall. You’re going to get a lot of compression so that the cheese you end up with will be much shorter than the curd mass at the outset. How about you press what you can until it compresses, then add more curd to the top until you get it all in the can?
But, wait…the 4” mold New England Cheesemaking sells is only 5” high. The description says
4-1/2’Wide x 5"High with follower and open bottom. A food grade polypropylene cheese mold imported from France. This mold will work with any of our presses and is used when making up to a 2 pound cheese from 2 gallons of milk.
Maybe because it’s 4 1/2 inches wide, not 4”? The coffee can is only 4” wide. Still…the coffee can is 6” tall.
Valereee….
I think you have to take the descriptions of the molds with a grain of salt.
I have an 8” mold that is supposed to be good for a 5 to 10 gallon cheese.
Now on a swiss or a parmesan, I’m sure that I could fit a 10 gallon curd in it.
On a Cheddar, probably about an 8 gallon curd and on a Gouda or a Colby I think I would be really pushing it with a 6 gallon curd.
It’s the same with my 7-1/2” Tomme mold. It is supposed to also be good for a higher volume that I could ever fit into it, except for the cheeses with a very small curd size.
I think I would go with Rich’s suggestion of pressing for a while and then refilliing the mold with the leftover curd. It probably wouldn’t take long at all before the remainder would fit.
By the way, it’s realy nice having a person, such as yourself, on this board.
It’s obvious that you have a passion for this hobby which will no doubt help you in your cheese making endeavors.
Oh, Valereee, I’m with you on the money thing.
I posted a comment on a different board that if I spend any more money on cheesemaking supplies I’ll have to tell my wife I spent the money on a prostitute and a motel room. I’m sure she could handle that expenditure much easier than hearing that the money went on more cheese supplies.
Ah! Yeah, that’s what I need to do. For one thing, getting the cheese out of a 4” coffee can is no joke. Something a little less grippy would be nice.
If you have a plumbing wholesale locally they should stock what is called PVC ‘Repair sleeves’.
These come in 4” and 6” pieces, smooth on the inside, that slide over pipes of the same diameter to effect repairs, ideal for moulds.
The price of oil pushed up the price, but still cheaper then commercial moulds.
Oh, great suggestion! And then, what, I just get out a hacksaw?
Thanks!
newbie - 04 February 2009 01:37 PM
valereee - 04 February 2009 09:27 AM
Ah! Yeah, that’s what I need to do. For one thing, getting the cheese out of a 4” coffee can is no joke. Something a little less grippy would be nice.
If you have a plumbing wholesale locally they should stock what is called PVC ‘Repair sleeves’.
These come in 4” and 6” pieces, smooth on the inside, that slide over pipes of the same diameter to effect repairs, ideal for moulds.
The price of oil pushed up the price, but still cheaper then commercial moulds.
Oh, great suggestion! And then, what, I just get out a hacksaw?
No need. Perhaps I didn’t make the information plain enough.
The ‘sleeves’ are 4” in diameter and 3 1/2” high. The 6” is 6” high. That’s it, perfect for moulds, no cutting necessary, just drill some drainage holes.
“Repair Sleeves” I had to ask and order them!
newbie, I don’t think a 3.5” high mold will work for me—the 6” high 4"wide coffee can was WAY overstuffed, I ended up leaving a lot of curds in the bowl. Do you fit an entire 2# cheese into your 4” x 3.5” mold?
If the small one doesn’t fit your need then step up to a 6” one. at 6” high it will be better than the coffee can you use.
I use the 4” for soft cheese such as Brie.
