Pricing up milk today, I am wondering if it is possible to use milk powder?
Or do you have a cheaper option than $4.50 for 600ml or $4.05 for 1 litre. I think the 600ml was Lewis Road and unsure on the other brand. TIA :)

unknowndisorder - 2019-08-27 17:56:00

Somewhere in your general area (per profile) there's a fruit shop that has full cream organic milk in a special chiller - take your own bottle. There's several like that here, too, and that's what I prefer to use for cheesemaking... it's not pasteurized, so makes "real" cheese. Ringing around might help find it, just can't remember but think it was Glen Innes or Henderson...

Failing that, I'd use the best value full cream milk before I used milk powder, for cheesemaking purposes, anyway.

Edited by autumnwinds at 6:52 pm, Tue 27 Aug

autumnwinds - 2019-08-27 18:50:00

You need top quality whole milk to make good cheese, and I don't think milk powder would work.

Jersey Girl milk (also sold under the Lewis Road label) is superb for soft cheeses and halloumi, and although it is more expensive than cheap milk the cheese still works out significantly cheaper than buying good haloumi, ricotta, mozzarella etc.

davidt4 - 2019-08-27 19:19:00

Thank you both, will try and work out which shop :) Autumnwinds - are you meaning Glen Eden or Glendene, rather than Glen Innes? (DH is based in GI, so that would work as well).

unknowndisorder - 2019-08-27 19:39:00

unknowndisorder wrote:

Thank you both, will try and work out which shop :) Autumnwinds - are you meaning Glen Eden or Glendene, rather than Glen Innes? (DH is based in GI, so that would work as well).

Sorry, it's a while since I've driven around that area.... The one closest to the Waikumete Cemetery.... It's on the way to Henderson, anyway, from Green Bay.... Hope that helps?

autumnwinds - 2019-08-27 19:43:00

davidt4 wrote:

You need top quality whole milk to make good cheese, and I don't think milk powder would work.

Jersey Girl milk (also sold under the Lewis Road label) is superb for soft cheeses and halloumi, and although it is more expensive than cheap milk the cheese still works out significantly cheaper than buying good haloumi, ricotta, mozzarella etc.

I agree with you....
The quality of the milk that goes in has the major effect on the cheese produced.

autumnwinds - 2019-08-27 19:45:00

Glendene is top of Waikumete hill and Glen Eden is across the railway line.
Going to Henderson from Green Bay, it must be Glen Eden, at least that is the way I would go/have gone. (We are in Te Atatu) :)

We haven't made cheese before, and I am just wanting to play lol :) I figured someone here would be making cheese :) (and did Google as well) :)

unknowndisorder - 2019-08-27 19:51:00

A lot of, well some... of the places that sell brew kits also have some of the cultures for cheese making, and they also have the Millie's cheese recipe books.... and on TM a lot of things can also be found

But starting from googling recipes is great, too. You can get a great result with the easy ones (ricotta, mascarpone, etc) and them work up to the more complex ones. (With the side fun of making sauces and things like tiramisu...). If you have Flybuys, consider getting a Millies kit from there.... and some plastic companies have a great round container with a seive inside that's great for cheesemaking.

It's fun, and often way cheaper than buying from the supermarket.
It's also a science, with measurements being fairly critical, and cleanliness is absolutely critical. It's also pretty essential to have a good thermometer to get temperatures exact - one with a clip is great for keeping on the side of a pot. Enjoy! It may become an obsession, but there's worse things that can happen.

autumnwinds - 2019-08-27 20:44:00

I bought a Millies kit several years ago and made halloumi, feta and ricotta using Anchor silver top milk. I did the sums on expenses and compared with the cost of buying Zany Zeus equivalents the kit paid for itself within six months.

davidt4 - 2019-08-27 21:18:00

Just thought I should update - we went out to Taupaki and bought milk from a vending machine out there. $3.50 a litre. Made enough Haloumi for 3-4 meals, from memory, and will be making more this weekend.

We got more weight than expected, so know we didn't do it right, but hopefully have a better way of draining the whey out of the curds this time.

We did buy a Millie's kit, so other cheeses will be made at some point (I don't eat much dairy products, but DH does).

Now also curious if anyone has flavoured Haloumi with things like cumin seed (used to be the only cheese I would sort of eat was cumin Gouda, but only because I love cumin lol). I know about putting rubs on, but thought maybe through the curds could work?

unknowndisorder - 2019-10-17 17:55:00

The only flavouring I add to haloumi is dried mint, which is traditional. I dust the finished pieces with it rather than incorporating it into the curds.

davidt4 - 2019-10-17 18:28:00

davidt4 wrote:

The only flavouring I add to haloumi is dried mint, which is traditional. I dust the finished pieces with it rather than incorporating it into the curds.

thank you, will keep it plain for the moment :)

unknowndisorder - 2019-10-17 18:35:00

I used to make cheese a lot, I used to get my milk from a local dairy farmer, we arranged I would turn up early in the morning during milking time with my buckets and he would fill them from the vat - cash exchanged, fabulous cheese made. Much cheaper than any other option.

sellontrademe - 2019-10-18 18:53:00