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

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

What are Havarti cheese ingredients? ›

Ingredients: Cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, annatto(color). Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 oz (28g), Servings Per Container: Varied, Calories 100, Total Fat 7g (9% DV), Sat.

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.

How long do you age Havarti cheese? ›

It's typically a pretty short aging process—around three months. This ensures the signature creaminess and mild flavor. However, some varieties are aged a year or more. This causes the cheese to develop a firmer texture, slightly saltier taste, and often a distinct nuttiness reminiscent of hazelnuts.

What cheese is closest to Havarti? ›

The following cheeses are among the best substitutes for Havarti: Gouda: Offers a similar texture and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. Tilsit: Known for its creamy and somewhat fruity taste.

What gives Havarti cheese its flavor? ›

Made from the milk of Danish cows, this cheese ages with grace and develops stronger tones of hazelnut over time. Havarti is beaming with personality – a Danish delicacy in every sense.

What is the gas in Havarti cheese? ›

The tiny openings in havarti are the product of microbial metabolism – the carbon dioxide gas released by the bacteria in the cheese which gives havarti its flavor. As the cheese ages, it hardens around the bubbles of carbon dioxide, resulting in small openings that are visible when the cheese is cut or sliced.

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.

What causes holes in Havarti cheese? ›

Why do various cheeses such as Swiss and other cheeses have holes? The answer is bacteria and gas. During the aging process seceral bacterial strands develop in cheese.

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.

Can Havarti go bad? ›

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.

What is Havarti cheese best used for? ›

Havarti is a table cheese that is suitable for slicing, grilling, or melting. When left at room temperature the cheese tends to soften quickly so it is great on a cheeseboard alongside hard cheeses. It is delicious melted into pasta dishes including macaroni cheese or incorporated into a grilled cheese sandwich.

What is the difference between Gouda and Havarti? ›

Havarti has a buttery and gentle creamy taste, is semi-soft and has a mellow aroma. It adds the perfect touch to a wide variety of foods, especially when melted to sublime perfection in a grilled cheese sandwich. Gouda has a rich, buttery and slightly sweet flavor and a smooth, creamy texture.

What is the name of the cheese that starts with Havarti? ›

Our family of Havarti cheeses features every flavor, from mild to spicy, for a distinct adventure in every bite.
  • Creamy Havarti.
  • Dill Havarti.
  • Jalapeño Havarti.
  • Horseradish Havarti.
  • Butterkäse.

Is Havarti good on pizza? ›

Rich in flavour, smooth in texture and even better on pizza, Havarti ranks among some of the most popular cheeses of all – and for good reason.

Can you mix Havarti and mozzarella? ›

I love that havarti cheese has a buttery aroma and taste, while mozzarella has a unique stretchability. By combining these two cheeses together, you get the best of both worlds!

Is Havarti cheese gluten free? ›

​ Havarti is gluten free. Havarti should be safe for patients with celiac and other gluten-related disorders.

Is Havarti cheese from a cow? ›

Havarti is a cow's milk cheese with a buttery, slightly acidic flavor and smooth texture. Artisanal varieties are still produced in its native Denmark, with similar mass-produced versions for slicing typically manufactured in the United Kingdom and North America.

Is Havarti cheese lactose free? ›

Havarti has a low to non-detectable level of lactose, making it a great choice for lactose-intolerant people. It's mild in flavor, similar to jack cheese, and goes great on a sandwich or melted on an omelet.

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