HI,
I’m new to cheesemaking and i have set up a fridge specifically for maturing cheese.  I’ve got styrene foam on the shelf as an insulator which keeps the shelving underneath around 10degrees C.  My Question is what does everyone else use for keeping the cheeses at the right temperature?  Also what about humidity?

I use a freezer with thermostat controller. I keep it at 55 degress (F) and it is at 85% Humidity.

Hit and miss with mine, share space with the rest of my food.

I use a wine fridge I bought at Target for $110. Temp control is adjustable between about 8-16C.

For humidity I use a tupperware container with water in the bottom, a rack over the water for the cheese. I don’t seal the top, just put it on loosely so there is still a bit of air flow.

I use a very well used fridge salvaged from a trailer court that was cleaning out an old unit.  I added a temp. control thermostat and keep the temp set at 53.  The temp fluctuates from 52 to 58.  For humidity I keep a bucket of water in the bottom with a towel in the water and draped over the sides as a wick.  The humidity varies between 65 and 90 percent.

I have a large tupperware container in my cave. I put a container of water in it,  but at 50 degrees it was alway around 45% RH. I added a piece of cloth for a wick and now its steady at 96%. Thanks for the idea Green.

SAL

You’re quite welcome.  Actually I got it from someone else on the forum.  Just passing on the info.  That’s what its all about.

Talking Seagull - 17 July 2008 12:54 AM

I use a freezer with thermostat controller. I keep it at 55 degress (F) and it is at 85% Humidity.

Talking Seagull, I’m using the same system now and the temperature is fine.  I have problems keeping my humidity down.  After a few days there will be moisture on the walls of the freezer and the humidity raises to over 90%.  Have you had this problem and what have you done?

Right now my only solution is wiping down the walls and leaving it open for a while, but the humidity soon goes back up.

Could it be that your atmospheric humidity is unusually high?  Are you using supplementary water in your freezer?

DaggerDoggie - 21 July 2008 07:42 PM

Talking Seagull - 17 July 2008 12:54 AM

I use a freezer with thermostat controller. I keep it at 55 degress (F) and it is at 85% Humidity.

Talking Seagull, I’m using the same system now and the temperature is fine.  I have problems keeping my humidity down.  After a few days there will be moisture on the walls of the freezer and the humidity raises to over 90%.  Have you had this problem and what have you done?

Right now my only solution is wiping down the walls and leaving it open for a while, but the humidity soon goes back up.

My humidity is at a constant 85 %.  I am wondering if you don’t have a broken seal somewhere, or the area where the probe comes in is letting in too much outside air causing condensation.

Also are you using a freezer or a fridge?

I use a bowl of water in my cheese fridge as well.  Seems to work fine.

I use big plastic bag, or big shoe box and it is work the best for me

Talking Seagull - 22 July 2008 12:12 AM

DaggerDoggie - 21 July 2008 07:42 PM

Talking Seagull - 17 July 2008 12:54 AM

I use a freezer with thermostat controller. I keep it at 55 degress (F) and it is at 85% Humidity.

Talking Seagull, I’m using the same system now and the temperature is fine.  I have problems keeping my humidity down.  After a few days there will be moisture on the walls of the freezer and the humidity raises to over 90%.  Have you had this problem and what have you done?

Right now my only solution is wiping down the walls and leaving it open for a while, but the humidity soon goes back up.

My humidity is at a constant 85 %.  I am wondering if you don’t have a broken seal somewhere, or the area where the probe comes in is letting in too much outside air causing condensation.

Also are you using a freezer or a fridge?

Duh - sorry - you did say you were using a freezer.

Talking Seagull - 23 July 2008 06:15 AM

Talking Seagull - 22 July 2008 12:12 AM

DaggerDoggie - 21 July 2008 07:42 PM

Talking Seagull - 17 July 2008 12:54 AM

I use a freezer with thermostat controller. I keep it at 55 degress (F) and it is at 85% Humidity.

Talking Seagull, I’m using the same system now and the temperature is fine.  I have problems keeping my humidity down.  After a few days there will be moisture on the walls of the freezer and the humidity raises to over 90%.  Have you had this problem and what have you done?

Right now my only solution is wiping down the walls and leaving it open for a while, but the humidity soon goes back up.

My humidity is at a constant 85 %.  I am wondering if you don’t have a broken seal somewhere, or the area where the probe comes in is letting in too much outside air causing condensation.

Also are you using a freezer or a fridge?

Duh - sorry - you did say you were using a freezer.

It appears to seal quite well and, although when I first set it up I had a bowl of water in there, I quickly removed it when the humidity rose too high.  Now I can’t keep it down.  I do have fourteen aging cheeses in there so it must be the moisture from them.  Relative humidity in my basement is around 76%