Home Made Mozzarella for sale?

[putzer22]

Hi Joey,
I didn't think to take pictures, but I just made a batch tonight. It seems to have turned out ok. I'm not an expert by any means, but it sounds like it could be a rennet issue. I haven't made to much cheese of any sort, but I have read that junket is not as potent. If you can't find cheese rennet you could try doubling the amount you use. I wouldn't think the citric acid would very much. Are you mixing the dry citric acid in water? The rennet as well, do you disolve that in water too? That will help it distribute better in the milk. I just re-read your recipe. You might want to try less citric acid. It may be that the acidity is too high too quickly and the curd doesn't form right.

I used a gallon of whole, store-bought, pasteurized, homogenized milk, 1 1/2 tsp of citric acid (in a cup of water) and 1/4 cheese rennet tablet (in 1/4 cup water). This time, I also used about 1/8 tsp lipase (in 1/4 cup water) to see how that would make the flavor. My curds were pretty soft this time but it still seems to have worked. Your could see some of the shape of the 'cubes' but they break apart easily. After adding the rennet and lipase, I waited about 5 minutes before cutting the curds. You also might try waiting longer if you don't get a clean break. The milk doen't set too firm but when you run a knife through it and either press next to the cut or slightly jiggle the pot you should see a slight separation along the cut. If not, I would try waiting a little longer.

Anyway, much of my curd mass looked similar to yours as I scooped it, the curds are pretty soft. But the heating accelerates the whey separation. If it doesn't come together well heat it for another 30 sec.....and repeat as necessary. It starts out a bit like cottage cheese, but should get shiny and dough-like and stretchy after a few cycles. I add about a teaspoon of salt when I am almost done and knead it to work it in then form a ball and put itn the ice water.

[JoeyVelderrain]

Originally Posted by putzer22

Hi Joey,
...but should get shiny and dough-like and stretchy after a few cycles.

this is the part that I can never achieve. I did dissolve the rennet, citric acid and lipase in water, I even used non chlorinated water since I read somewhere that this may make a difference.
you may be right about the ph being off. I'll have to try it again, the wifey is getting tired off $4 gallons of milk being wasted, going to have to wait until she's out of the house a few hours.

[stoveup]

A great site for cheese making instructions is Fankhauser's Cheese Page which has step-by-step instructions for making fresh mozz along with trouble shooting information and a lot of other information.

One thing to consider is the milk you are using. According to Fankhauser, ultra-pasteurized milk will not work so if you are using the ultra-pasteurized stuff that could be your problem.

Fankhauser uses and recommends using Junket, which is merely a brand name, not - as I once thought - a type of rennet. There is also a good discussion of rennet types on Fankhauser's Cheese Page.

[JoeyVelderrain]

wow, what a great website! very informative thanks!
it has given me the confidence to try it again.

[stoveup]

Let us know how it works out. Good Luck!