Cheese & Spam

[Roget]

I did some cold smoking yesterday.
I smoked 15 lbs. of cheese & 1 lb. of spam.

This is the first 4 trays
I always cut mine into small portions before smoking in order to get more surface area.


I didn't get a picture of the second smoke. V started wrapping it before I thought to get one.

These three pictures show all I smoked yesterday.
I had 3 varieties of cheddar, swiss, farmers, havarti, jarlsberg, pepper jack, & Spam.   






I know many, if not most, say to wait 4-6 weeks before eating the smoked cheese.
I have eaten it after a month, but I prefer to wait at least 2 or three months.
I think it just gets better & better the longer it sets.
I actually think it is at it's best after about 4-5 months.

I ran completely out before I smoked this, so I'm pretty sure this batch won't make it that long.

[Edward176]

Wow, looks real good! When you say "I actually think it is at it's best after about 4-5 months" I'm wondering how you keep/store it? Do you freeze it or wrap it and leave it in the fridge? I too have made smoked cheese and find it tastes more "flavourable" after a week or even 2 but I just wrap it in Cling Wrap and leave it in the fridge. And how long will it keep in the fridge?

[Roget]

Wow, looks real good! When you say "I actually think it is at it's best after about 4-5 months" I'm wondering how you keep/store it? Do you freeze it or wrap it and leave it in the fridge? I too have made smoked cheese and find it tastes more "flavourable" after a week or even 2 but I just wrap it in Cling Wrap and leave it in the fridge. And how long will it keep in the fridge?

I wrap it in plastic wrap, then vacuum seal it & into the fridge.
It will keep indefinitely as long as the air doesn't get to it.
After so long it might get a little mold on it.
I have kept it in the fridge for more than a year without it molding.

Don't freeze it. Frozen cheese is not good.

[randy1]

Looks really good so out of all those which do you like the best think I might have to try some . Randy

[Roget]

I have smoked a lot of cheese & like the cheddar & Swiss the best.
My son also likes cheddar best, but my wife likes a softer cheese. something like the Jarlsberg.
Gouda is also very good, but I didn't do any this time.