Making Mozzarella

Stretching the cheese

I've had cheese making on my food project list for quite a while now, and this weekend when I mentioned that I was bored, Pete told me to make some cheese.  I didn't think I could find the supplies in town, but it turns out that there is a Brew & Grow not far from us and they had the 30 Minute Mozzarella kits in stock.

The kit -- you can get one at cheesemaking.com

As it turns out, making mozzarella is super easy!  From what I can gather, the one problem that can mess up your final product is over-processed milk.  Milk producers are now overheating their milk, even milk that is not labeled as ultra-pasteurized, so they can keep it on the shelf longer.  (Well, there is a lot more to it, but suffice it to say, this is yet another byproduct of the dysfunctional food system in this country.)  This messes up the proteins in the milk somehow which can cause your cheese to refuse to firm up. 

Finished cheese in an ice bath

If you are from the Chicago area, Oberweis milk is safe for cheese making -- that's what we used and it worked beautifully.  As you can see, my cheese set up, although I need a lot of practice with shaping  :)

Slices of our finished cheese -- yum!

One gallon of milk makes quite a bit of cheese, although I forgot to weigh the final product.  We've been eating it straight up, tossed with pasta and tonight Maddie and I are making homemade pizza.  It was a fun project and I'll definitely be making more cheese in the future.

Comments

[Rowena PHilbeck]

Looks like fun. I will have to try it. My son and his wife have milk goats and they should be ready soon for milking and making cheese, ice cream. Can't wait to try it. I will have to find if their is a kit around here for making mozzarella. I LOVE any type of cheese..YUM

[Annie]

Good for you! I've always wanted to try this.

[Tsoniki Crazy Bull]

That looks great! I don't have that on my list to do, but it looks really fun.

[Donna]

I just may have to try that. Fresh mozzarella tastes so much better (I occasionally get it from Whole Foods. First thing I thought of when I read not over processed was Oberweis. I'm not much of a milk drinker but mmmmm, Oberwies is so good. And their ice cream is great & their whipping cream is soooo much better than any you can get anywhere else.