Making home made cheese...have a few ?'s

[arabianequine]

What is the easiest cheese to make? Mozzarella? Is it any different using fresh goats milk or cows milk? I mean the process not the flavor. What do you need to make the easiest cheese?

Where do I get the stuff I need to make cheese?

I was told I need rennet and citric acid?

Does anyone make their own rennet?

 

[Junkmanme]

I recall seeing some recipes on the Garden Web Forums in the Cooking areas. You might check there.

Good Luck. I think you'll find what you are looking for there.

-Junkmanme-

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

You can heat un-separated fresh cows milk, add a teaspoon of vinegar, & it will curdle. Strain, press out exess moisture, & it makes GREAT cheese. You can also add spices or flavoring. I like adding cayenne, or bacon bits. That's about as easy as cheese making gets.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I bought my rennet from the Grape and Granary in Ohio
http://www.grapeandgranary.com/

I was pleased with the speed of shipment but haven't tried to make cheese yet with it.

 

[seymore0626]

I make several kinds of cheese every week. I've only been doing this for about 18 months. and learned most of it from" the cheeseforum.org," and " keeping the family cow", and Dr. Fankhouser's cheesemaking website.

Making cheese is like doing a chemistry experiment. It takes a lot of patience and lots of space and makes a big mess. I personally don't think that moz is a particularly easy cheese. There seems to be a lot of variation in recipes, and I failed many times before finding one that tasted great, and it has been a consistently good recipe. If you don't have a press, I would suggest a formage type of soft cheese from clabber. Clabber is an easy way to start. Homemade cottage cheese is easily done from clabber. There is also a homemade velveeta type cheese from clabber that is very easy and is a great melting cheese. We use it for omlettes, nachos, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, on veggies, and on and on.

Cheese takes alot of milk. Do you have a good source for fresh milk? You'll need basic supplies including rennet, cultures, cheese cloth (not the kind from the grocery), big pots, a good thermometer, and eventually a press and wax or a vaccum sealer. There a several companies that carrry lots of supplies. Just google it.

I love making cheese, and am amazed that I can turn five gallons of milk into something delicious that will last a year. My family make fun of me, but they love the cheese!!!!

Good luck!