Description
This is a food grade water-based polymer emulsion coating. It is used for coating hard cheese to help resist fungal attack whilst the cheese is ageing. Unlike a wax coating or vacuum sealing this product allows the cheese to breathe while maturing. It is the clear stretchy film that you often find on aged commercial hard cheeses. The products specifications state that it should be applied to a cheese with a ‘less than 40% moisture content’. For the home cheese maker this practically means that it is best applied to a hard cheese that has been air dried and then allowed to develop a young natural rind prior to its application. The cheese still needs to be turned periodically as it ages to ensure the moisture content of your cheese stays evenly distributed.
The emulsion is applied to the cheese surface by direct hand spreading or with a sterile brush or pad. I use my hand. A little goes a long way. I drop around 1tsp (sterilised prior to use) of the product onto the top of a 2kg round of hard cheese and then spread it over the top and sides with one finger, allow this to air dry which can take 10 minutes or even longer, turn the cheese over and then drop a much smaller amount on the base and spread to cover. It is easy to see where you have been as the product is a viscose white, only turning clear once dry. It has a working time of around 5 minutes. You can also use this product to seal a cut surface of a large round of cheese to protect the curd from fungal attack and excessive drying out. Do not leave the emulsion container open to the air, close it as soon as you have taken out the emulsion you need. Store the container in a cool place. Clean up with warm soapy water.
Product specifications state that typically 1 litre of Cheesemakers Emulsion will cover 5 square metres. The 220 g pottle is therefore expected to cover around 1 square metre and the 400 g pottle around 2 square metres.
The dried coating is not intended to be eaten with the cheese, but it is easy to cut with a cheese wire or knife. Discard it with the cheese rind.
The wet adhesive contains anti-fungal agents which the products data sheet states can cause skin contact irritation in some individuals. If this applies to you wear gloves or apply with a brush and wear eye protection. If you do get it in your eyes rinse out with continuously running water for 15 minutes. Once dry the product poses no known chemical hazard. It is graded a GRAS product – Generally Recognised As Safe – as this type of coating has a long history of use in cheese making.
