Blue cheese<\/a><\/td> | 3-5% of cheese weight<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n For soft cheese, it's easy to sprinkle on a measured amount. With hard cheeses, it's trickier to predict exact salt absorption through brining. Testing samples during aging helps monitor saltiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start on the lower side, then increase salt to find the optimal level that gives great flavor before it becomes overly salty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Why Non-Iodized Salt is Essential<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNow that you understand the fundamentals of salt's role in cheesemaking, let's drive home why it's absolutely essential to use non-iodized salt like cheese salt or kosher salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As explained earlier, iodine inhibits the good bacteria necessary for proper cheese aging. Using iodized table salt can prevent your cheese from developing full flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So while cheese salt may seem interchangeable with plain old salt, this tiny difference actually has a huge impact on your results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spending a couple dollars on a box of cheese salt instead of grabbing the Morton's from your cupboard will save a whole batch of ruined cheese!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>When to Add Salt in the Cheesemaking Process<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKnowing when to add salt is also key for quality cheese. Here's a typical process for incorporating salt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n- Add culture (good bacteria) and rennet to warm milk<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Allow curds to form<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cut curds and let sit 10-15 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Slowly increase temperature while stirring<\/strong> - expels whey<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drain all whey once curds reach desired firmness<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add salt and mix thoroughly with curds<\/strong> - helps expel remaining moisture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hoop curds into mold and press (for hard cheese)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brine salted cheese (for hard cheese)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Salt helps lock in moisture content by allowing partial reabsorption of the expelled whey. This leaves the curd with a controlled water content needed for proper aging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timing when salt gets mixed in is vital - too early prevents adequate whey removal but too late risks uneven absorption.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Storing Cheese Salt Properly<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAvoid problems with clumping by storing cheese salt correctly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n- Keep in air-tight container<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Store in cool, dry place<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ensure no exposure to moisture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use clean dry spoon for scooping<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Close tightly after each use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Like regular salt, cheese salt wants to absorb water. Keeping it sealed in an airtight container prevents clumps from forming.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nProper storage keeps cheese salt free-flowing so it's ready to use for your next cheesemaking adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Why is Morton Kosher Salt not good for cheesemaking?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSome types of Morton Kosher Salt contain anti-caking agents that may inhibit good bacteria growth. Only additive-free kosher salt is suitable as cheese salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>Can I use Himalayan Pink Salt?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYes, Himalayan pink salt is minimally processed retaining many nutrients. Since it has no additives, it performs well as cheese salt. The pink color adds visual interest too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>Is regular sea salt ok for making cheese?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSea salt is fine as long as it doesn't contain iodine or flow agents. Unfortunately many mainstream brands add anticaking chemicals. Your best bet is using specialty additive-free sea salt bought from a cheesemaking or homesteading supply shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>What is a good cheese salt brand to buy?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nQuality brands to look for include The Ingredients Plus Cheese Salt and Hoosier Hill Farm Cheese Salt. As long as the label clearly states no additives, any brand that fits the criteria will work wonderfully. Buying from a trusted cheesemaking supplier gives peace of mind the salt purity meets requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>Why is pickling salt good for making cheese?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nLike cheese salt, pickling salt contains no iodine or anticaking agents in order to allow proper fermentation by beneficial microbes. Using pickling salt for cheesemaking achieves the same quality results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nUnderstanding exactly why cheese salt is an indispensable ingredient is key for crafting amazing homemade cheese. The right salt controls moisture, boosts flavor, and allows good bacteria to grow - all critical for delicious artisan cheese you'll be proud to share.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile substituting basic table salt may seem harmless enough, this seemingly small change sabotages the work of those tiny microbes that transform plain curds into complex, tasty cheese. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you've ever looked at a cheesemaking recipe, you've likely noticed that salt is a common ingredient. But often the recipes call specifically for \"cheese salt\" instead of regular table salt. So what exactly is cheese salt and why does it matter for making cheese? Cheese salt refers to a type of salt that does […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58835"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58835"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58858,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58835\/revisions\/58858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aglassandahalffullproductions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} |