Which Milk is Best for Making Cheese? What You Need to Know
Which milk is best for making cheese at home? How do you know? Does it even matter? When it comes to being self-sufficient, or at least more self-reliant, making your own cheese can be an important step. We know – it’s daunting, because there are a lot of unknowns! However, making your own cheese doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you take it step by step.
One of the first things you are going to need to know is what kind of milk you should actually be using to make your cheese! Not all milk is made equal – and that’s for both the animal it comes from and how processed it is.
You will get different results depending on the milk you use – whether it’s whole milk, skimmed milk, or anything else. Some kinds of milk are simply better suited to certain kinds of cheeses, too!
Which Milk is Best for Making Cheese?
Depending on the type of cheese you want to make, there are preferred milk types. However, we will mostly be focusing on the milk that is used to make the most popular kinds of cheeses – like cheddar.
The Best – Non-Homogenised Whole Milk
Non-homogenised milk refers to milk that still separates the milk from the layer of cream sitting on the top. You might not be able to find this milk everywhere, but if you can get your hands on it, this is guaranteed to be some of the best stuff you can use.
This is because of the extra fat that is in the milk (as seen by the layer of cream that rises to the top of the bottle). Since most cheeses have a high fat content, non-homogenised milk will boost it to its best.
Second Best – Regular Whole Milk
Regular whole milk is also a fantastic option for most cheeses. This milk is typically homogenous, so everything is mixed together, and the cream content is a bit lower. However, as this milk still has a high fat content (about 3.5%), it’s a good call.
You should be able to find whole milk in just about every supermarket you visit, or even your local corner shop. No one should struggle to get their hands on this.
What About Pasteurized Milk?
Anyone who is making any kind of hard cheese may want to consider going for pasteurized milk. This is because you will get consistent results, and the pasteurizing process ensures that the bacteria in the milk is killed. This means that the cheese will want longer before spoiling.
With that being said, it’s important to mention that the pasteurization process will also cause structural changes in some proteins within the milk. This results in it being more difficult for the proteins to bond together once heated up while making cheese. As such, they will usually require some time to rehydrate and rest before you will get curds forming properly.
Can You Use Skimmed Milk to Make Cheese?
Yes, you can use skim milk to make cheese at home, but this will not always be recommended. Skim milk might be a good option if you are someone who would like to keep cholesterol levels lower (and calories). However, using this kind of milk to make cheese gives you less control over things like the flavour and texture of the cheese.
You can use skimmed milk to make hard cheeses like Parmesan or Romano. However, this milk is often mixed with whole milk to create cheddar and other cheeses. So, it’s a great option for blending if you want to make a variety of cheeses.
Which Milk is Best for Which Cheese?
Below are some of the most popular types of cheeses to make at home, and their preferred milk type. You will note that the majority of cheeses work the best with whole milk. However, it is possible to use other kinds of milk, but the results might vary due to the differences.
- Cheddar – whole milk
- Mozzarella – any milk will work
- Halloumi – non-homogenised/full fat
- Brie – raw cow’s milk
- Ricotta – whole milk
- Paneer – whole milk
Which Animal’s Milk is Best for Making Cheese?
Cow’s Milk
This is the most popular type of milk for cheese making. The majority of cheeses you come across will be made from cow’s milk, so you are likely already familiar with it!
Goat’s Milk
Goat’s milk is another popular option for making cheese. Popular cheeses traditionally made from goat’s milk include the following:
- Valençay
- Humboldt Fog
- Chabichou
- Banon
- Cabécou
- Crottin de Chavigno
You could also make mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, Brie, and other kinds of cheese with goat’s milk, too. So, be sure to try out some different things and see which option you actually prefer.
Sheep’s Milk
Like goat’s cheese, making cheese from sheep’s milk is not as common as it probably should be. However, you can still experiment with sheep’s milk to try and make your own cheeses.
Popular cheeses made from sheep’s milk include the following:
- Feta
- Manchego
- Pecorino
- Roquefort
- Telemea
- Pag Cheese
- Etorki
Feel free to make your favourite cheeses like halloumi and mozzarella from sheep’s milk, too, as you could get some interesting results.
Water Buffalo’s Milk
Finally, water buffalo milk is frequently used for making cheese! While this is more common in Southeast Asia and Italy, you should try it out, too. The milk from these lovely animals is often used to make some of the most popular cheeses, such as ricotta, halloumi, mozzarella, and more.
Granted, this kind of milk might be more difficult to get your hands on, but it’s definitely worth trying. Take to the internet and see if there are any farmers who sell the product nearby. You might be surprised by what you can get!
If you live in the UK, you could check out buffalicious – they sell raw water buffalo milk. It isn’t as affordable as regular cow’s milk, but it’s a different experience.
Final Thoughts
The rules will change depending on what kind of cheese you would like to make. Overall, whole milk and non-homogenised milk are great options for the majority of cheeses thanks to their high fat content. However, skimmed milks will also work.
Pasteurized milks work particularly well for hard cheeses, as they will last the longest. All in all, it’s important to do some research on the kind of cheese you would like to make.
If you are feeling adventurous, try making your cheese out of something other than cow’s milk! This can open many new doorways, and you can have some new and exciting experiences.