Questions about making hard kefir cheese

I am attempting to make hard kefir cheese in a cheese press. Unfortunately the cheese press I purchased did not come with specific instructions. I was able to find an article (http://www.culturesforhealth.com/hard-kefir-cheese-recipe/) but it is vague in certain respects. Therefore I have two questions about the process.

How much PSI should be outputted onto the kefir to make hard cheese?

By the time the milk has been turned into kefir, it has already been sitting out for perhaps 24-48 hours. Is it necessary to refrigerate the kefir while draining it and while pressing it into cheese, or can it sit at room temperature during this process?

cheese kefir

Best Answer

Welcome! According to this site , you should refrigerate the kefir while draining and pressing. (See excerpt below.)

While I can't find a specific reference to an exact PSI for the draining and pressing process, everything I read says to start with a plate on top and add more weight every few hours for the length of the process.

Place the colander and bowl in the refrigerator for 48 hours to allow all of the whey to drain. Set a plate on top of your cheese and allow it to sit for a few hours. Continue to add more weight every few hours by putting another plate on top of your cheese to press out the remaining whey.

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How do I make hardened kefir cheese?

Instructions:

Pour the milk kefir into the cheesecloth, cotton bag or tight cloth.

Hang above a bowl or jar and drain off whey for 12-24 hours. ...

Set a plate on top of the cheese and weigh the cheese down using canned foods or something similarly heavy.

How long does kefir cheese last?

Conserving Your Kefir Cheese Milk kefir will keep for about 1 week in the refrigerator. Kefir cheese can be stored for a few more days. It should keep its fresh, tangy smell and should not have visible mould.

How do you know when kefir is ready?

How do you know when the kefir is ready? When you nudge the jar and the milk is set like a thin gel (vs watery like milk), it is mostly ready. Kefir ferments usually top to bottom, so if it still looks like runny milk at the bottom, leave it for a couple more hours.

How long can you leave kefir grains in milk?

Put a tight lid on the container and place it in the refrigerator. The milk kefir grains should be safe and healthy for up to 3 weeks.

Hard kefir cheese

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Klaus Nielsen, Klaus Nielsen, Pixabay, Yan Krukov