How to Make Cottage Cheese

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Use fresh cultured buttermilk to coagulate pasteurized skim milk (the buttermilk will also do wonders for raw skim milk). Use one-half cup of the culture per gallon of milk, stir in well and place the mixture in a warm place for 24 hours.
Use fresh cultured buttermilk to coagulate pasteurized skim milk (the buttermilk will also do wonders for raw skim milk). Use one-half cup of the culture per gallon of milk, stir in well and place the mixture in a warm place for 24 hours.
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When the curd of your developing cheese is about ready, check it by breaking one of the particles with your fingers. If it's still too moist, it will appear glossy inside and should be cooked a little longer. The curds will hold their form when done, look like new-popped popcorn and have a meaty consistency.
When the curd of your developing cheese is about ready, check it by breaking one of the particles with your fingers. If it's still too moist, it will appear glossy inside and should be cooked a little longer. The curds will hold their form when done, look like new-popped popcorn and have a meaty consistency.
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After a good coagulation has occurred, cut the curd into one-half to one-inch cubes by passing a long knife vertically (both crosswise and lengthwise) through the jelling milk. This sets the size of the final curd.
After a good coagulation has occurred, cut the curd into one-half to one-inch cubes by passing a long knife vertically (both crosswise and lengthwise) through the jelling milk. This sets the size of the final curd.
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Hold stirring to a minimum during the heating process and try not to break the curd. A gentle one-minute stir at five-minute intervals works best for me.
Hold stirring to a minimum during the heating process and try not to break the curd. A gentle one-minute stir at five-minute intervals works best for me.
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When the cheese has firmed sufficiently, pour the curds and whey into a colander draped with cheesecloth or into a large strainer. Keep your face back as you do this because the steam can be very hot.
When the cheese has firmed sufficiently, pour the curds and whey into a colander draped with cheesecloth or into a large strainer. Keep your face back as you do this because the steam can be very hot.
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Take care to follow the directions given in the text for washing your new batch of cottage cheese. Your final results depend directly on how the curds are rinsed and cooled. Use plenty of water at the right temperature and always stir gently.
Take care to follow the directions given in the text for washing your new batch of cottage cheese. Your final results depend directly on how the curds are rinsed and cooled. Use plenty of water at the right temperature and always stir gently.
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Use your homemade cottage cheese to make a delicious cheese torte.
Use your homemade cottage cheese to make a delicious cheese torte.

You can turn that surplus homestead milk–after the calf has been weaned and ole Bossie seems more productive than ever–into nutritious cottage cheese that’s rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins and free from harmful additives or preservatives. If your milk comes from the supermarket in cardboard containers, you can perform the same trick in smaller quantities any time of the year. Either way, you’ll produce cottage cheese right in your own kitchen with a minimum investment of time, effort and expense . . . and after you’ve whipped together two or three batches, you’ll find it no more trouble than preparing a favorite dessert.

Cottage cheese, in reality, is nothing more than unripened cheese formed by the natural action of lactic acid (with or without the help of a milk curdling agent called rennet). Correctly made, this dairy product is highly digestible and–as might be expected–the home-produced variety has a tantalizingly mild-acid flavor that is far superior to the taste of commercial brands.

Be sure to click on the Image Gallery link about for photos and descriptions that will help as you make your first batch of cottage cheese.

The Four Keys to Cheesemaking

Four things are extremely important to the production of noteworthy cottage cheese: (1) clean utensils, (2) fresh skim milk of good quality, (3) fresh buttermilk and (4) proper techniques.

  • Published on Sep 1, 1972
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