Hi there cheese fans! Making hard cheese doesn’t have to be errrr hard :). Below I’ve made a list of all the hard cheeses that beginners can make at home (just click the links!), including the recipes to make all of them! I’ve also included a few more advanced technique hard cheeses in the list for the more advanced cheese makers!
Making Hard Cheese At Home For Beginners
1. Farmhouse Cheddar
Description: This is a popular choice for beginners due to its simplicity and the fact that it doesn’t require specialized equipment like a cheese press or a cheese cave. It has a short aging period of about 3-5 weeks.
2. Colby
Description: Colby is a mild-flavored cheese that is relatively easy to make and has a shorter aging period. It is also a good candidate for smoking.
3. Gouda
Description: Gouda can be brined and is another beginner-friendly hard cheese. It has a mild flavor and can be aged for a shorter period.
4. Monterey Jack
Description: This cheese is a great first-pressed cheese for beginners as it requires minimal weight for pressing and can be pressed under a cutting board with a gallon jug as a weight.
5. Edam
Description: Edam is a semi-hard cheese that is relatively easy to make and has a mild flavor. It is a good option for beginners looking to expand their cheesemaking skills.
6. Manchego
Description: Manchego is a Spanish cheese that is relatively easy to make at home. It has a distinctive flavor and can be aged for a shorter period.
7. Caerphilly
Description: Caerphilly is a good first cheddar-like cheese that’s ready to eat in about 3 weeks of aging and is really tasty.
Advanced Hard Cheese To Make At Home
8. Parmesan
Description: Parmesan cheese, also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, is a hard, granular cheese that is typically aged for 12 to 36 months. It is known for its rich, nutty flavor and is often used grated over pasta dishes, soups, and salads.
9. Vacchino Romano
Description: Vacchino Romano is a type of Romano cheese made from cow’s milk, which gives it a milder taste compared to its sheep’s milk counterpart, Pecorino Romano. It is a hard, salty cheese that is perfect for grating and can be used similarly to Parmesan.
10. Emmental
Description: Emmental cheese is a Swiss cheese known for its characteristic holes, or “eyes,” and its nutty, slightly fruity flavor. It is a medium-hard cheese that can be challenging to make due to the need for specific bacterial cultures and precise aging conditions.