Cheese Press?

[Island Creek Farm]

I was wondering if any of you had input on cheese presses? They have some nice Italian made stainless wine/fruit/cheese presses on ebay that seem affordable...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220640806609&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


But I also like the Enterprise fruit presses (cast iron) that can be used for sausage stuffing/fruit pressing as well. It seems like they could be used to press cheese...after all, it's just something to apply pressure, isn't it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1-2-Gallon...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eaedaa064

any input would be appreciated!

 

[freemotion]

I have never used either of these types of presses....however....I have made a fair number of pressed and aged cheeses and I think this type of press is far from ideal. Notice the way the ad words the part about cheese....something like "maybe even cheese."

Cheese needs a steady, even pressure applied over many hours, so a press that has adjustable weights and a follower (so the weight sinks, maintaining constant pressure as the cheese shrinks) is needed for consistant results. If the cheese is not pressed properly, it just won't keep well.

I made my own press for $0, in an hour, from scraps I had on hand, and it works great. Not something I can keep on display, but it works! I've made all my molds, too, from straight-sided food-grade plastic containers, a drill, and a saw. And not much skill, either!

 

[patandchickens]

Agree with everything Free says above. The point is not pressure, the point is being able to maintain it steadily for hours and hours, and in a way that it doesn't start to slip sideways and distort your cheese. (A good follower will help reduce the tendency for that to happen but the press also contributes.

And I too use a homemade rig, assembled from boards and books and whatnot that I already had lying around. Completely happy with it. I would suggest you do that; or if you don't mind stimulating the economy, buy an ACTUAL cheese press, I believe some are available for $150 or so.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat