Product Description

This comprehensive guide to farmstead cheese explains the diversity of cheeses in terms of historical animal husbandry, pastures, climate, preservation, and transport— all of which still contribute to the uniqueness of farm cheeses today.

Discover the composition of milk (and its seasonal variations), starter cultures, and the chemistry of cheese. The book includes:
• A fully illustrated guide to basic cheesemaking
• Discussions on the effects of calcium, pH, salt, and moisture on the process
•Ways to ensure safety and quality through sampling and risk reduction
• Methods for analyzing the resulting composition
You will meet artisan cheesemaker Peter Dixon, who will remind you of the creative spirit of nature as he shares his own process for cheesemaking. Alison Hooper, cofounder of Vermont Butter & Cheese Company, shares her experience—both the mistakes and the successes—to guide you in your own business adventure with cheese. David and Cindy Major, owners of Vermont Shepherd, a sheep dairy and cheese business, tell the story of their farm and business from rocky beginning to successful end.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60474 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

From Booklist
Not so very long ago the term "American cheese" meant a bland product good for little except melting atop a hamburger patty. Thanks to the efforts of a host of cheese makers around the country, American cheese has begun developing a range of tastes and textures to rival the great cheeses of Europe. To guide those who wish to participate in this burgeoning industry, Kindstedt has developed a manual that covers in detail the scientific and technical bases for turning milk into cheese, describing each of the eight steps of the process. Even the nonprofessional can profit from Kindstedt's discussion of the chemical principles that underlie cheese making, the variations in the final product that are affected by temperature, acidity, salt, and coagulating media. Kinstedt pays particular heed to the importance of sanitation. Other contributors address the art that creates flavor from the science and commercial principles that sustain the cheese maker. Libraries in dairying communities will find this comprehensive book especially useful, and extensive bibliographic data aid students. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Review from Booklist
by Mark Knoblauch
Not so very long ago the term “American cheese” meant a bland product good for little except melting atop a hamburger patty. Thanks to the efforts of a host of cheese makers around the country, American cheese has begun developing a range of tastes and textures to rival the great cheeses of Europe. To guide those who wish to participate in this burgeoning industry, Kindstedt has developed a manual that covers in detail the scientific and technical bases for turning milk into cheese, describing each of the eight steps of the process. Even the nonprofessional can profit from Kindstedt’s discussion of the chemical principles that underlie cheese making, the variations in the final product that are affected by temperature, acidity, salt, and coagulating media. Kinstedt pays particular heed to the importance of sanitation. Other contributors address the art that creates flavor from the science and commercial principles that sustain the cheesemaker. Libraries in dairying communities will find this comprehensive book especially useful, and extensive bibliographic data aid students.

An in-depth, "user friendly" guide to cheesemaking

Midwest Book Review
Knowledgeably written by Paul Kindstedt (a professor of the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Vermont) in conjunction with The Vermont Cheese Council (a nonprofit organization that supports Vermont cheesemakers), American Farmstead Cheese: The Complete Guide To Making And Selling Artisan Cheeses is an in-depth, "user friendly" guide to cheesemaking, from means of ensuring safety and quality in one's cheese and analyzing cheese composition, to marketing plans and business strategies of successful commercial cheesemakers. American Farmstead Cheese does cover some technical scientific concepts, particularly when discussing the science of cheese creation, but the language strives to be as accessible as possible to the lay reader and an index allows for quick and easy reference. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this in-depth resource, which is an absolute "must-have" for anyone involved in or contemplating the cheesemaking business, and a delightful addition to the libraries of cheese connoisseurs.

Review
"This is a must have for anyone who is a cheesemaker, cheesemonger, or simply a cheese lover. Encompassing everything from the finer points of artisanal affinage to the historical significance of cheese in society, this book has it all. Mr. Kindstedt certainly knows his curd!"
Terrance Brennan, The Artisanal Group

Customer Reviews

Not what I expected
This book is good for what it is, but not what I expected. I was expecting to buy this book and be able to make cheese, but that's not the case.

It will definitely help the start-up cheesemaker to manage the cheesemaking process, but it does NOT include any recipes. It does not include many specific techniques for particular cheese types. It is also not really geared for very small (home) cheesemakers, but it should be a good book for small commercial cheesemakers.

An in-depth, "user friendly" guide to cheesemaking
Knowledgeably written by Paul Kindstedt (a professor of the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Vermont) in conjunction with The Vermont Cheese Council (a nonprofit organization that supports Vermont cheesemakers), American Farmstead Cheese: The Complete Guide To Making And Selling Artisan Cheeses is an in-depth, "user friendly" guide to cheesemaking, from means of ensuring safety and quality in one's cheese and analyzing cheese composition, to marketing plans and business strategies of successful commercial cheesemakers. American Farmstead Cheese does cover some technical scientific concepts, particularly when discussing the science of cheese creation, but the language strives to be as accessible as possible to the lay reader and an index allows for quick and easy reference. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this in-depth resource, which is an absolute "must-have" for anyone involved in or contemplating the cheesemaking business, and a delightful addition to the libraries of cheese connoisseurs.

Very technical, but quite interesting
When this book says it's the complete guide, it's not kidding. It gets into every aspect of making cheese, even the chemical science behind it. I recommend it to anyone who is seriously going into cheese-making. For others, it just might not be an easy read. This is probably a text book in a university.