We’re ready to make cheese!

The dairy inspector tested our pasteurizer yesterday.  There was a moment of uncertainty, as he told us we needed a mercury “indicator” thermometer that we didn’t have.  We called the company that sold us the instrumentation, and they explained– first to me and then to the inspector– that the digital thermometers they provided actually contain two sensing units, eliminating the need for a separate indicator (and for mercury in the cheese plant).  They also gave the inspector contacts at the State of Wisconsin, which accepts the package we bought.

In the end, our inspector passed our pasteurizer.  Now we’re ready to make cheese.  Tomorrow, we’ll be making our first fresh cheese: Chevre, a soft goat cheese, made from pasteurized milk.  Hopefully by next week, we’ll have more cheese for sale!