Feta Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

Feta Cheese Making Recipe (1)

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It's easy to make Feta with this easy to follow recipe with step by step photos. Feta is considered to be one of the oldest cheeses in the world. The earliest record of feta cheese dates back to the Byzantine Empire. It has been associated closely with Crete, located in present day Greece.

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (2)

    Yield

    4 Pounds

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (3)

    Aging Time

    ~1 Month

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (4)

    Skill Level

    Intermediate

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (5)

    Author

    Jim Wallace

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 4.5 Gallons of Whole Milk(not ultra pasteurized)
  • 1/4 tsp MM 100
  • 3 ml (just over 1/2 tsp) Single Strength Liquid Rennet
  • Cheese Salt
  • Calcium Chloride (for pasteurized milk)
Equipment

  • Good Thermometer
  • Knife to Cut Curds
  • Spoon or ladle to Stir Curds
  • M222 Basic Kit Mold
  • 1 qt Jar of Water for Pressing
  • Draining Mat

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Instructions

Our Feta recipe is made with whole fat cow milk but ewe or goats milk can easily be used to achieve more traditional flavors.

The recipe below is for 4.5 gallons of milk, if you would like to make a 2 gallon batch, simply reduce the culture and rennet and change the press weight as indicated below. This will make about 2.5 lbs of cheese.

Ingredients & weights for a 2 gallon batch

  • 1/8 tsp MM 100 or 1 packet C21 buttermilk culture and 3.5-4 oz prepared Y1 Bulgarian Yogurt (can substitute any good fresh bulgarian style yogurt)
  • 1/4 tsp single strength liquid rennet
  • For consolidating and forming the cheese use only a pint jar of water for weight (you can also choose to use no weight depending on the texture desired)
  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (8)

    Acidify & Heat Milk

    This Feta begins with 4.5 gallons of whole milk. It is the heated to 93°F. When the target temperature is reached add 1/4 tsp of MM100 culture and ripen for 40-60 minutes.(Note: if using pasteurized milk, also add 3 ml calcium chloride)

    Note: if you would like to make a 2 gallon batch, the ingredient measurments are listed above.

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (9)

    Coagulate with Rennet

    Once the culture has been added and allowed to ripen for about 40-60 minutes, add a bit over 1/2 tsp, or more precisely 1/2 tsp plus another 1/8 tsp (3 ml) of single strength rennet or 1/2-3/4 tablet rennet. Dilute either rennet in 1/4 cup cool non-chlorinated water.

    Stir slowly in an up and down direction for 1 minute.

    The milk will begin to thicken in about 10 minutes but allow it to set for 40 minutes from the time of rennet addition.

    The test for this will be to insert a clean finger into the curd and slowly lift until the curd splits. Observe the break and if it does not break clean or the whey is very milky, more rennet is needed the next time (it can not be added now). If the curd seems tough or the whey excessively clear, then less should be used next time.

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (10)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (11)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (12)

    Cut & Gently Cook Curd

    Cut the curd to 1/2 inch cubes over 5 minutes and slowly stir for another 20 minutes to release the whey while maintaining the original temperature. The firmness of your final cheese depends on the time stirred in whey. 20-30 minutes is right for the Feta I make here with the longer time for the richer late season milk.When the curds reach the proper dryness, allow them to settle to the bottom of the pot for 10 minutes.

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    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (14)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (15)

    Remove the Whey

    Prepare sanitized molds to receive the curds. I use our Basic Kit Mold for this and usually find that 2-3 molds will be required depending on the yield from your milk. No cloth is needed for these molds, but if using a mold with less openings you can use a draining cloth to assist the drainage.

    Remove the whey down to the curd level before transferring the curds to the draining mold. Very little acid will have been produced to this point.

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (16)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (17)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (18)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (19)

    Form the Cheese

    Allow the curds to drain overnight keeping them at 68-72°F for this time and turning in the molds frequently for the first 2 hours. Little or no weight is needed for this cheese, depending on how open/closed you like the feta texture. Here I use about 2 lbs (aproximately 1 qt of water) It will consolidate under its own weight quite well during draining. During this time the culture will continue to produce acidity and by the next morning or afternoon the cheese should be quite firm, consolidated and the smell of acid should be apparent (pH= 4.7-4.8).

    The curd mass can now be cut into smaller pieces (1/2-1 lb each) to facilitate salt absorption in brining. If you find the curds are still too moist at this point, some dry salt will help. Allow draining for another 6-12 hrs. (final pH will be 4.5-4.6)

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (20)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (21)

    Salting

    Now place in saturated brine for 8 hrs per 1 lb piece (4 hrs per 1/2 lb pieces).

    Brine can be made by adding 2.5 lbs of non-iodized salt to 1/2 gal of water then topping up to 1 gal with water (there should be salt un-dissolved in the jar). If the brine is fresh add 1/2 tsp calcium chloride to the gallon (this will keep the brine from pulling calcium from the cheese). The brine should then be kept at 50-52°F . The brine can be filtered after use and reused.

    Remove cheese blocks from brine and arrange on mats to drain. Allow assimilation of salt for 1-3 days at 48-56°F covered loosely with sanitized cloth to prevent contamination. Turn each block several times a day to encourage draining/drying. This step will dry the surface, harden the cheese and allow the brine to stabilize throughout the feta.

    Failure to do this can easily result in an unstable cheese when placed in the storage brine, in which case the calcium is stripped from the curd and the surface deteriorates in a matter of days.

  • Feta Cheese Making Recipe (22)

    Feta Cheese Making Recipe (23)

    Brine Storage for Feta

    The brine for Feta storage is an 8% brine. Add sufficient 8% brine to cover the cheese, and ripen at 48-50°F for up to 30 days. Subsequently store at 46-42°F until consumed.

    Finally prepare a storage salt brine of 6-8% (6-8 oz of salt in 3 qts of water will fill a 1 gallon jar to hold this batch), place Feta into a large container with lid and fill with the brine. Make sure the container has minimal head-space to avoid mold development. The feta can be aged in this brine for just a few weeks or up to a year or more at 45-55°F. Younger cheese will be milder in flavor.

    This tends to be a high salt cheese and if the salt is too high for your taste simply soak for several hours (up to a day) in milk before using.

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Feta Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is in the brine for feta cheese? ›

Brine can be made by adding 2.5 lbs of non-iodized salt to 1/2 gal of water then topping up to 1 gal with water (there should be salt un-dissolved in the jar). If the brine is fresh add 1/2 tsp calcium chloride to the gallon (this will keep the brine from pulling calcium from the cheese).

Can feta be made from cow's milk? ›

Traditionally feta is made using sheep milk, but commonly, it can be made using sheep, goat or cow milk, or any combination of the three. Feta has a salty and pleasantly tangy taste.

What is the difference between feta and Greek feta? ›

Feta is a white cheese matured in brine, originally from Greece. Greek Feta has no rind. Its texture is soft, compact, and springy, easy to slice, cube, or crumble. As mentioned above, authentic Feta is exclusively Greek cheese, as the EU has granted it a PDO status.

Why does feta taste different in Greece? ›

The difference is not so much in the “how”, the cheese-making process, but in the quality and specific features of the raw material i.e. the provenance of the milk from specific and local sheep/goat varieties kept and fed in the specified locales, which is why there are PDO feta cheeses with quite distinct ...

What is traditional Greek feta made of? ›

Traditionally, feta cheese is made with 100% sheep's milk or with up to 30% of goat's milk mixed in. The cheesemaker adds rennet to coagulate the milk, producing a curd that is separated from the whey and pressed into molds to drain off excess moisture.

How long can I keep feta in brine? ›

How Long Does Feta Last? According to Sommer, feta packed in liquid salt brine can last for as long as 6 months if stored correctly: You can keep the cheese in its original container, but be sure that the block is completely submerged in brine and that care has been taken to avoid contamination.

What is a substitute for feta brine? ›

If you do let the good stuff go down the drain and still have some cheese left, there's still a way to rescue your leftovers. To make your own brine, combine 1 tsp. of kosher salt for every cup of water, until you've made enough to submerge the feta entirely.

What kind of milk is Athenos feta cheese made of? ›

We take extra time and care to create the perfect creamy, tangy taste you know and love. Available in 8 ounce and 16 ounce chunks. Ingredients: Cultured pasteurized part-skim milk, salt, enzymes, natamycin (natural mold inhibitor).

How healthy is feta cheese? ›

While feta cheese provides you with an excellent source of nutrients like calcium and protein, it also contains high amounts of sodium and saturated fat. Feta is lower in fat than many other cheeses, however, and is considered a reasonable option to eat in moderation.

What are the three types of feta? ›

When cooking with feta, it is imperative to understand the differences between Greek, Bulgarian and French. Henderson defines the three as such: “A definitive similarity of these cheeses lies in the ripening process by which blocks of cheese are held in a saltwater brine.

What is the creamiest feta cheese? ›

Danish feta is made from cow's milk and has a milder, creamier texture. Feta purists argue that 'Danish-style' feta, made using the ultrafiltration method, isn't authentic, but many people prefer its creamier, smoother texture. You may prefer to use Danish-style feta for recipes aiming for a smoother end product.

What country makes the best feta cheese? ›

It's not just folklore that Greeks make great feta cheese. Tradition—and Protected Designation of Origin requirements—ensure cheese that is rich and uniquely flavorful. Greek feta must be at least 70 percent sheep's milk (which has twice as much fat as cow's milk), with any remainder made up of goat's milk.

Is feta cheese healthy? ›

When it comes to cheese, feta is a healthy choice. Not only is it packed with protein and fat – both essential nutrients for helping you to feel full and energised – it's also good for your gut. Probiotic yeasts in feta may lower the PH in your stomach, which is key for a healthy gut.

How come feta cheese doesn't melt? ›

Feta doesn't melt due to its low pH (~4.7). While the high amounts of acid means calcium is dissolved from the structure, a pH this low causes proteins to interact strongly with each other. Muenster cheese has a moderate moisture content with a good amount of fat and some acidifcation.

Can vegans eat feta cheese? ›

The answer here is a pretty straightforward no. As feta cheese is made from the milk of sheep and sometimes goats it isn't suitable for anyone on a fully plant-based diet. Vegans will not only abstain from eating meat, but also all animal products or other foods that are made with the use of byproducts too.

Why is feta sold in brine? ›

Buying in brine on the other hand, will do amazing things for feta's texture (think smooth and creamy), its taste (think sharp and tangy), and its shelf life (think weeks instead of days). Brine is the key to a chunk-free whipped feta dip.

References

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