So I made my first hard cheese (colby) on Friday. I have been letting it air dry, how do I know when to wax it? It has a more hard/dry coating on it since it has been drying, but there are a couple spots that are still soft & lighter in color (not sure if I am explaining this right! :crazy) Should I wax it now, or let the smaller spots dry?
Hi Janelle, Welcome to the board! I think your avatar is adorable You should let your cheese dry thoroughly before you wax it. In the process of drying it is developing a rind. You want a nice rind on your cheese, hard, dry and uniform in color. Christy
Thanks That is my baby boy, my first after 2 girls, and he is a sweetie :blush2 Ok, it is getting a rind, I will wait until it is more uniform. Do I need to worry about mold while it is air drying??
Typical drying time is 5-10 days. Remember to turn your cheese often to encourage an even rind. If mold develops, don't worry about it, just remove it by cleaning the area with salt water on a brush or sterile piece of cheese cloth. Christy