homemade cheese curds

homemade cheese curds
  • 1 gallon whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon calcium chloride crystals
  • 1/2 cup water, divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon mesophilic culture
  • 1/4 teaspoon liquid rennet
  • kosher salt


  1. Pour milk into a sterilized pot. Place pot into a larger pot filled with a few inches of water. Heat milk, stirring occasionally, to 90 degrees F (32 degrees C). Remove from heat.
  2. Dissolve calcium chloride in 1/4 cup water; stir into the milk. Sprinkle mesophilic culture over the surface of the milk. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir gently for 1 minute. Cover and let culture ripen for 35 minutes.
  3. Dilute rennet with 1/4 cup water. Stir rennet into the milk mixture for exactly 1 minute. Cover again and let sit until a knife can cut cleanly through the curd, about 45 minutes. Cut curd into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes directly in the pot. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Cover curds and heat, stirring every 10 minutes, to 98 degrees F (37 degrees C), about 90 minutes. Squeeze curds together to check if they stick. Drain curds and transfer to a cheesecloth-lined strainer set inside a pot.
  5. Pour enough whey over the curds to reach about 3 inches at the bottom of the pot. Let drain for about 1 minute. Cover with cheesecloth and the pot lid. Heat the whey below to keep curds between 112 and 115 degrees F (44 and 46 degrees C); let drain for 10 minutes. Curds will stick together to form a slab. Cut slab in half, re-cover, and let drain for 10 minutes.
  6. Flip curds over and re-wrap. Drain for 10 minutes more, keeping the temperature still between 112 and 115 degrees F (44 and 46 degrees C). Cut the slab into smaller slabs and stack them inside the cloth. Return to the pot and cover. Continue draining, flipping and rearranging the slabs every 15 minutes at the same steady temperature, about 1 hour total.
  7. Unwrap the slabs and let them rest for a few minutes on a paper towel-lined plate. Cut into cubes and place curds in a zip-top bag. Add 1/2 of the salt; shake to coat. Add remaining salt and repeat.

09/12/2019
homemade cheese curds, recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

Comment on this content
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Place baguette..
4.1
7204
ginger beer
ginger beer
Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to..
3.9
5557
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-i..
4.4
4343
asparagus summer soup
asparagus summer soup
Cut asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces; reserve tips in a b..
3.4
4163
caribbean sangria
caribbean sangria
Place orange slices, peach slices, lemon slices, and lime sl..
4.2
4268
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken ..
3.7
4316
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl..
2.9
5280
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread olive ..
2.1
4796
flourless triple chocolate cookies
flourless triple chocolate cookies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 2 bakin..
3.4
4613
Deep Fried Cheese Curds
Deep Fried Cheese Curds
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, an..
1462
Real Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds
Real Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds
Heat corn oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degre..
1
707
Gluten-Free Fried Cheese Curds
Gluten-Free Fried Cheese Curds
Whisk milk, egg, flour, baking powder, basil, salt, and garl..
953
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.In..
1457
Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole
Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 2-quart casserole dish..
962
Homemade Fresh Cheese
Homemade Fresh Cheese
Pour the milk into a large pot, and heat until the temperatu..
1402
Healthier Homemade Mac and Cheese
Healthier Homemade Mac and Cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large..
990