Start of secondary aging of Camembert cheese The cheese is now covered with a colony of white mold caused by penicillium, so we let it dry for half a day, then wrapped it in oven paper and placed it in ice cups to begin the secondary aging process in a wine cellar at a temperature of 7 to 8 degrees C. The ice cups will maintain the humidity, which will allow the white mold to multiply further. I am looking forward to the next two weeks.
Ripening of Camembert Cheese After Camembert cheese is made, it typically develops a mottled white appearance due to the growth of Penicillium camemberti and Geotrichum candidum molds. The molds ripen the cheese for a minimum of three weeks, allowing the flavor to develop. This ripening process continues while the cheese is being packaged, and the stickiness of the Camembert increases as the ripening process continues. The milk from which Camembert is made contains lactose, which is converted into lactic acid by bacteria in the cheese. The mold on the surface of the Camembert breaks this lactic acid down into carbon dioxide and water, which lowers the acidity on the surface of the cheese, creating a concentration gradient of lactic acid, which moves more lactic acid toward the surface of the cheese, where it is also broken down, and the cycle continues. After a while, the pH in different parts of the cheese becomes uneven, which begins to affect the structure of the cheese. As the lactic acid decomposes, the surface pH changes from about 4.6 to a maximum of 7.0. This change in pH affects the solubility of calcium phosphate. In cheese, calcium phosphate holds together clusters of milk casein proteins called micelles. As the pH of the cheese increases, the solubility of this calcium phosphate decreases and it begins to precipitate near the surface of the cheese. This causes a concentration gradient of calcium phosphate in the cheese, which draws more calcium phosphate from the center of the cheese. This is an important factor in making the cheese soft.
熟成開始6日目 G. candidumによる毛足の短いカビの他にP.candidumによるやや毛足の長い白カビのコロニーが見え、カマンベールチーズ独特の香りも強くなってきた。今週末には二次熟成に入れそうです。
Sixth day of ripening In addition to the short-haired mold caused by Geotrichum candidum, a colony of white mold with slightly longer hairy legs caused by Penicillium candidum is visible, and the distinctive aroma of Camembert cheese is becoming stronger. It looks like it will be ready for secondary ripening this weekend.
Second day of ripening The entire cheese is now covered with a thin layer of small mold caused by G. candidum. In soft cheeses, G. candidum grows from the first day of ripening, while P. candidum begins to grow after one week. In five days, white mold caused by P.candidum should cover the cheese. I am looking forward to it.
Secondary aging of Camembert cheese (made on 5/27) with Thistle Rennet added as a protease has started. After air-drying the rind, some cracks appeared and a little melted cheese came out from inside. It is the 10th day of ripening and the cheese seems to be liquefying considerably.