CheeseXML 1.00
Feta-style fresh cheese (NMSU)
Ingredients
| Whole milk, not ultra-pasteurized | 2 gal |
| MT1 mesophilic starter | 0.25 tsp |
| Liquid rennet | 1 tsp |
| Non-iodized cheese salt | 8 tbsp |
Process
| # | Steps | Plan | Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heat the milk to 32 °C Heat the vat to the culture temperature published for this make. | Heat · Milk preparation · Temperature: 32 °C | |
| 2 | Add culture Sprinkle the starter, rehydrate, then rest at temperature. | Step code · Ripening · Temperature: 32 °C · Time: 50 min (45–60 min) · Addition: Amount: 0.25 tsp; Rest: 2 min | |
| 3 | Add rennet, then wait floc × multiplier Dilute the coagulant, stir about 1 minute, remove the stirrer, then wait until a clean break (floc time × multiplier). | Step code · Coagulation · Temperature: 32 °C · Time: 36 min · Flocculation: 12 min × 3 · Stir: Duration: 1 min · Until: Clean break · Addition: Amount: 1 tsp; Dilute in: 0.25 cup | |
| 4 | Cut the curd Cut vertical, rest, then horizontal to the published grain size. | Cut · Cutting · Size: 15 mm · Brining: Water: 1 gal; Salt: 8 tbsp; Temperature: 12 °C · Curd cuts: Cut: Size: 15 mm; Wait: 5 min; Cut: Size: 15 mm · Settle: Duration: 5 min | |
| 5 | Heal the grain Let the grains rest so the cuts seal. | Step code · Healing · Time: 5 min · Settle: Duration: 5 min | |
| 6 | First stir Stir gently so the grains separate and do not mat. | Stir · Stirring · Stir: Duration: 5 min | |
| 7 | Draw whey and hoop Draw whey to the grain and fill the hoop. | Drain · Draining · Flips: Turn: After: 5 min; Turn: After: 15 min | |
| 8 | Salt / brine Salt the wheel as published — brine or dry salt. | Step code · Salting | |
| 9 | Age Cut, drain in molds, then brine in whey with 8 tablespoons salt per gallon of whey. | Age · Aging |
Feta-style fresh cheese (NMSU)
Brined cheese · Difficulty: 3
Batch scale
Scale factor:
Description
NMSU E-216 “Feta-style” fresh cheese: 2–3 gallons pasteurized non-homogenized milk, MT1 mesophilic, rennet, then whey brine (8 Tbsp salt per gallon whey). The guide notes EU PDO: only Greek traditional feta may use the name.
Recipe details
- Style
- Brined cheese
- Country
- Greece
- PDO
- No
- Schema version
- 1.00
- Type
- Home recipe
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Created
- 2026-09-09
- License
- CC-BY-4.0
- Author
- CheeseXML 1.00 reference set
- Units
- US
- Milk
- Cow milk, Pasteurized, Not homogenized
- Milk volume
- 2 gal
- Expected yield
- 2 lb
- Yield ratio
- 0.119826 ratio
- Active time
- 90 min
- Total time
- 24 h
- Scale
- For milk volume: 2 gal
Ingredients
- Whole milk, not ultra-pasteurized — 2 gal
Role: Base milk · Kind: Whole milk
- MT1 mesophilic starter — 0.25 tsp
Role: Culture · Kind: Culture
Preparation: Time: 2 min; Instruction: Sprinkle on the milk surface and rehydrate 2 minutes before stirring in.
- Liquid rennet — 1 tsp
Role: Coagulant · Kind: Rennet
Preparation: Dilute in: 0.25 cup; Instruction: Dilute in cool non-chlorinated water.
- Non-iodized cheese salt — 8 tbsp (Details: Salt: Brining; Iodized: No)
Role: Salt · Kind: Salt
Equipment
- Heavy-bottomed pot
- Dairy thermometer
- Curd knife
- Slotted ladle
- Cheese hoop / mold
- Brine container
- Butter muslin / cheesecloth
Process
Heat the milk to 32 °C
Heat · Milk preparation
Heat the vat to the culture temperature published for this make.
Temperature: 32 °C
Add culture
Step code · Ripening
Sprinkle the starter, rehydrate, then rest at temperature.
Temperature: 32 °C · Time: 50 min (45–60 min) · Addition: Amount: 0.25 tsp; Rest: 2 min
Add rennet, then wait floc × multiplier
Step code · Coagulation
Dilute the coagulant, stir about 1 minute, remove the stirrer, then wait until a clean break (floc time × multiplier).
Temperature: 32 °C · Time: 36 min · Flocculation: 12 min × 3 · Stir: Duration: 1 min · Until: Clean break · Addition: Amount: 1 tsp; Dilute in: 0.25 cup
Cut the curd
Cut · Cutting
Cut vertical, rest, then horizontal to the published grain size.
Size: 15 mm · Brining: Water: 1 gal; Salt: 8 tbsp; Temperature: 12 °C · Curd cuts: Cut: Size: 15 mm; Wait: 5 min; Cut: Size: 15 mm · Settle: Duration: 5 min
Heal the grain
Step code · Healing
Let the grains rest so the cuts seal.
Time: 5 min · Settle: Duration: 5 min
First stir
Stir · Stirring
Stir gently so the grains separate and do not mat.
Stir: Duration: 5 min
Draw whey and hoop
Drain · Draining
Draw whey to the grain and fill the hoop.
Flips: Turn: After: 5 min; Turn: After: 15 min
Salt / brine
Step code · Salting
Salt the wheel as published — brine or dry salt.
Age
Age · Aging
Cut, drain in molds, then brine in whey with 8 tablespoons salt per gallon of whey.
Aging
Duration: 7 d; Stage: Name: Whey brine; Duration: 7 d; Temperature: 12 °C
Storage
Temperature: 4 °C; Shelf life: 30 d
Allergens
Allergen: Milk
Safety
Use milk that is not ultra-pasteurized. Pasteurize unknown raw milk. Sanitize equipment.
Source
Title: Making Homemade Cheese, Guide E-216 — Feta-style; Creator: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension; Year: 2016; URL: https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_e/E216/
Tags
Tag: Vegetarian