After the problems I had making the Pepper Jack, I decided to make a plain Jack.
2 gallons low-temperature pasteurized non-homogenized Jersey milk
3/8 tsp CaCL
3/8 tsp Rennet
1/4 tsp MA 011
1 tsp salt
saturated brine
I followed pretty much the same process as in my Pepper Jack make, except that I used a flocculation multiplier of 3 instead of 3.5. I also measured my rennet more carefully and my initial flocculation time of 15 minutes was what I was targeting.
The only big problem I had was that the cheesecloth stuck badly to the bottom of the wheel of cheese. When I removed it, it broke the rind and exposed some curds. I discovered that this problem can be avoided by using plastic cheesecloth (e.g., plyban) or by spraying the cheesecloth with vinegar whenever it starts to stick.
This cheese is not rock hard like my previous Pepper Jack. It is softer and more springy. I have higher hopes for this cheese as compared to the Pepper Jack.
The dramatic photo of the cheesecloth damage is heartrending.
But my new cheese cave sort of makes up for it. The Jack is the smaller red cylinder on the middle shelf, right next to its 4 gallon brother Pepper Jack clothed in yellow wax.
2 gallons low-temperature pasteurized non-homogenized Jersey milk
3/8 tsp CaCL
3/8 tsp Rennet
1/4 tsp MA 011
1 tsp salt
saturated brine
I followed pretty much the same process as in my Pepper Jack make, except that I used a flocculation multiplier of 3 instead of 3.5. I also measured my rennet more carefully and my initial flocculation time of 15 minutes was what I was targeting.
The only big problem I had was that the cheesecloth stuck badly to the bottom of the wheel of cheese. When I removed it, it broke the rind and exposed some curds. I discovered that this problem can be avoided by using plastic cheesecloth (e.g., plyban) or by spraying the cheesecloth with vinegar whenever it starts to stick.
This cheese is not rock hard like my previous Pepper Jack. It is softer and more springy. I have higher hopes for this cheese as compared to the Pepper Jack.
The dramatic photo of the cheesecloth damage is heartrending.
But my new cheese cave sort of makes up for it. The Jack is the smaller red cylinder on the middle shelf, right next to its 4 gallon brother Pepper Jack clothed in yellow wax.