Beginning Cheese Making: 2-3 Ingredient Process to Create Delicious Cheese at Home

It is inevitable that you will eventually want to try your hand at making cheese. If so, this article will give you the basics of how to make a delicious cheese from home. Cheese can be made with just two or three ingredients: milk, cultures and rennet. These simple ingredients will ripen the milk, form curds and whey and add flavor to the finished cheese!

The cheese making process is fairly straightforward. First, you will want to heat the milk in a double boiler or similar set up until it reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). You can use any type of clean fresh milk for cheese-making but make sure that your source does not add anything during their pasteurization process.

The cheese culture comes next and this addition helps to start the breakdown process of lactose into lactic acid which gives cheese its tangy flavor. Once added, stir thoroughly with an up and down motion for about one minute then let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes while keeping warm using low heat from the stove top if needed. Then pour some rennet over curd particles before stirring gently again with an up and down motion for one minute.

Once finished, leave cheese in an undisturbed location with a covering cloth or lid until it sets which typically takes about 12-24 hours. After this time period has passed, remove cheese from the container using your hands (wear plastic gloves) along with wire cutters as needed then place into a cold water bath where you will allow curds to sit overnight. This step helps form the final product’s shape and texture so don't skip this important step if possible! Then drain off excess whey by tipping over cheesecloth lined colander before placing cheese onto a cutting board or cheese mat.

Cut cheese into desired shapes, sizes and thickness before transferring to a storage container with wax paper between cheese pieces so they don't stick together during the aging process. Age cheese for about three weeks at 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit (about 12-13 Celsius) allowing it to form its own protective rind then store in your refrigerator until ready to use! Cheese will keep fresh for up to two years if properly stored but typically lasts around six months when kept refrigerated.