So, smoked some cheese today, and I must have got it a little too hot.....
At that point, have I ruined the cheese? Or is it still good after it firms up?
Cheese will be alright let it firm up and package it and wait the 30 days good luck,
it is still ok. just wait for a while till it mellows out and enjoy.
I half melted some cheddar one time and didn't care for eating the finished product it on it's own but it was still really good shredded and added to other items. You can always make pizza, chili cheese dogs or nachos out of the cheese that melted.
QuoteI half melted some cheddar one time and didn't care for eating the finished product it on it's own
Depending on the cheese and how hot it got. Cheddar does not melt then cool well, seems gritty after melted and cooled. Also some cheeses will allow a lot of oil to drip out if too hot and they get dry and crumbly. So yes if it got too hot and was a cheese that a lot of oil came out then it can be not as good and as you said can still be used in other ways. But if only slightly melted it should be fine. :)