Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (1)

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Havarti has a buttery aroma, somewhat sharper in the stronger varieties, much like swiss cheese. The taste is buttery, from sweet to very sweet, and is slightly acidulous. It is typically aged three months, if aged longer the cheese becomes saltier and tastes like hazelnut. When left at room temperature the cheese tends to soften quickly.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (2)

    Yield

    4 Pounds

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (3)

    Aging Time

    ~3 Months

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (4)

    Skill Level

    Intermediate

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (5)

    Author

    Jim Wallace

Ingredients

  • 4 Gallons of Milk (Not UltraPasteurized)
  • 1 Packet C101 Mesophilic Culture
  • 2.8 ml Single Strength Liquid Rennet
  • Salt
  • Calcium Chloride (for pasteurized milk)
  • Dill or Other Herbs (optional)
Equipment

  • Good Thermometer
  • Knife to Cut Curds
  • Spoon or ladle to Stir Curds
  • Large Colander
  • Butter Muslin
  • M19 Large Tomme Mold
  • 8 & 16 lbs Weights
  • Draining Mat

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Instructions

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (8)

    Heat & Acidify Milk

    Heat four gallons of milk to 86F in a water bath, or stovetop. Add 1packs C101 culture and let the milk ripen for 45 minutes.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (9)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (10)

    Coagulate with Rennet

    Add 2.8 ml single strength liquid rennet diluted in 1/4 cup cool water, stir in gently for 1 minute. Let rest undisturbed for about a 36 minutes.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (11)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (12)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (13)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (14)

    Cut Curds to Release Whey

    Check for curd a proper firmness. To do this, insert a knife with the blade sideways and gently pull upwards, if the curd splits it's ready to be cut.

    Once the curds is ready, cut it into 3/8" cubes. Do this by making a checkerboard patter with a curd knife, then insert a ladle, or very loose wisk, to make horizontal cuts.

    After cutting, let the curds rest for 3-5 minutes.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (15)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (16)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (17)

    Cook & Scald Curds

    Gently Stir the curds for 15 minutes

    After initial stir, remove 1/3 of the whey from the pot then stir for another 15 minutes

    Next, add 15-25% (total milk volume) of hot water at 130¡F over 10 min.

    The temperature of the curds should reach 95-100¡F, depending on the final moisture content desired.

    Add 1 oz of salt and stir curd for another 15-30 minutes.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (18)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (19)

    Drain Curd & Add Herbs

    Drain the curds by transfering them into a large colander lined with buttermuslin.

    Once drained, add herbs to the curd and mix well, be sure to keep the curds broken up while mixing.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (20)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (21)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (22)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (23)

    Form & Press Curds

    Transfer drained curds into a cloth lined cheese mold and add 8 lbs of weight for 15-20 minutes. Turn the cheese and rewrap it. Then, increase the weight to 16 lbs for the next 2 hours. Turn and rewrap the cheese every 30 minutes.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (24)

    Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (25)

    Soak Pressed Cheese

    After pressing, the cheese cloth can be removed. Place the cheese back into the cheese mold and submerge it in a pot or bowl of 65¡F water overnight.

    Before the overnight soak the pH should be 6.0-5.8, after the soak, the final pH sould be 5.2.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (26)

    Salting

    You will need a saturated brine prepared for salting this cheese, find all of the details you need on brining here.

    A simple brine formula is:

    • 1 gallon of water
    • 2.25 lbs of salt
    • 1 Tbs calcium chloride
    • 1 tsp white vinegar
    • Bring the brine and cheese to 50-55¡F before using.

    Unmolded the cheese and tranfer it into to a saturated brine for 5-6 hours. Sprinkle the top surface with salt and flip the cheese half way through to brine evenly.

    After brining, place the cheese on a draining mat and allow the surface to dry for 1-3 days.

  • Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (27)

    Aging

    The cheese is now ready to age. While aging, turn the cheese daily and wipe down with a light brine (1 tsp salt in a quart of water) every 2-3 days.

    Keep temperature 59¡F with a relitave humidity of 90% for 5 weeks (young cheese) or 10-14 weeks (mature cheese).

    After the initial aging, bring the temperature down to 54¡F with a relitave humidity of 80% for one week.

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Havarti Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How is Havarti cheese made? ›

Havarti is made like most cheeses, by introducing rennet to milk to cause curdling. The curds are pressed into cheese molds which are drained, and then the cheese is aged. Havarti was traditionally a smear-rind cheese, but modern flødehavarti is not.

Who makes the best Havarti cheese? ›

Carr Valley Cheese Havarti: For a classic havarti that shines in its simplicity, you can't do better than Carr Valley's havarti. This creamy cheese is mild, buttery, and smoother than jazz. Pair with raspberry jam or fresh pears for a decadent duo.

What is the best way to use Havarti cheese? ›

Havarti pairs well with beer, wine, savory and sweet dishes. Put this cheese on your next charcuterie board and we guarantee it will be the first cheese you are having to replenish. Havarti does not stop at being the workhorse on the charcuterie board; it also melts like a dream.

What is the white powder on Havarti cheese? ›

It's likely that the white substance on the outside of your cheese is calcium lactate. Calcium lactate is common in aged cheese. It is basically a natural calcium buildup that occurs over time during the aging process, and it sometimes will become visible on the surface of the cheese.

What are the seeds in Havarti cheese? ›

about. Castello Caraway Havarti Cheese is made with distinctive caraway flecks for a gentle hint of earthiness that develops more character as it matures.

What are the 4 main ingredients used to make cheese? ›

To sum up, cheese is made with four basic cheese ingredients: milk, starter culture, coagulant, and salt. How these ingredients are combined determines how strong or mild the flavor will be.

What are the 4 ingredients of a basic cheese? ›

Natural cheese is made from four basic ingredients including milk, salt, a “good bacteria” and rennet, an enzyme. From there, cheesemakers can adjust the basic recipe by adding other ingredients to make all of the cheeses we know and love.

How cheese is made step by step? ›

The fermentation of milk into finished cheese requires several essential steps: preparing and inoculating the milk with lactic-acid-producing bacteria, curdling the milk, cutting the curd, shrinking the curd (by cooking), draining or dipping the whey, salting, pressing, and ripening.

What cheese is closest to Havarti? ›

Another cheese known for its wide range of uses, Cheddar, is closely related to Havarti, especially when aged. Stronger in taste and aroma, this cheese is ideal for melting and emits sharp notes of hazelnut and a slight tartness.

What is special about Havarti cheese? ›

Havarti is a semi-soft, Danish-style cheese made from cow's milk and can be easily sliced, grilled or melted. Havarti has a smooth surface, a creamy texture and a sweet, buttery flavor. Young havarti cheese is very mild flavored while older varieties have a saltier, slightly acidic flavor with hints of hazelnut.

What pairs well with Havarti cheese? ›

Raw Havarti Cheese with Figs and Honey

Havarti, be it young and sweet or aged and nutty, pairs well with fresh fruits like crispy apples, honey, and figs, as well as the preserves and honey.

Do you need to refrigerate Havarti cheese? ›

Havarti. As with most semi-soft cheeses, Havarti will keep for at least two weeks stored in the warmest section of your refrigerator, such as the cheese or vegetable drawer. Once opened, carefully wrap with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Can you cut mold off Havarti cheese? ›

It is believed that eating moldy cheese is safe, but that also depends on the cheese variant you are consuming. In the case of Cheddar, Havarti or Brie you can just cut out the mold and consume the cheese rather than throwing it all away.

Can you freeze Havarti cheese? ›

While many cheeses lose their texture from having been frozen, the cooking properties and flavors largely remain no different, even after several months in the freezer. If you are planning to use your cheese for cooking purposes, Cheddar, Havarti and Gouda are great at handling storage at freezing temperatures.

Is havarti cheese made from cows or goats? ›

Havarti was quick to rise in popularity, and has become a staple in Danish cuisine. Made from the milk of Danish cows, this cheese ages with grace and develops stronger tones of hazelnut over time.

Why is havarti cheese so creamy? ›

The fat globules are small and well dispersed which makes for a creamy texture and makes it easily digestible, as well. Lipase (a “sharp” flavor) is much less in sheep's milk than cow's which leads to that soft flavor.

Why is havarti cheese so good? ›

A rare luxury in the United States, Havarti is an interior-ripened cheese with a very creamy texture and, not surprisingly, a creamy, buttery flavor. It has a smooth surface with no rind and a springy, elastic, semi-firm texture which makes it ideal for slicing.

Is havarti cheese healthier? ›

While it is high in fat, it is important to remember that not all fats are bad for you. In fact, the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in Havarti cheese can actually help promote heart health. Plus, the calcium content strengthens bones and teeth. However, like all foods, moderation is key.

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