Waxing your cheese can keep your hard cheeses a lot moisture in the end.
Applying wax can also help form a protective coating to inhibit bacteria and prevent cheese from drying during the aging process.
Below are the 3 essential waxing supplies and our recommendations:
Also read: Top 19 Home Cheesemaking Equipment & Tools
1. Cheese Wax
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Cheese wax is a specially formulated product used in the process of cheese making to protect and preserve cheese. It is used to cover the rind of the cheese which helps to prevent mold growth, retain moisture, and keep unwanted flavors or odors out while the cheese ages.
Cheese wax is typically made from a mixture of paraffin and microcrystalline wax. This combination gives the wax its pliability and prevents it from cracking during the aging process. The wax can be reused multiple times, making it an economical choice for cheesemakers.
Cheese wax comes in various colors, with each color often indicating a specific type of cheese. For instance, red is commonly used for Gouda, black for Cheddar, and yellow for Edam.
While cheese wax is safe for contact with food, it is not meant to be consumed. Before eating the cheese, the wax should be peeled off.
Note: Absolutely avoid using paraffin as it is too brittle and will damage the texture of your cheese. It may cause your cheese to crack leaving a path for air and unwanted molds to get in.
Tip: Cheese wax is reusable.
2. Wax Brush
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A wax brush, often used in furniture restoration and DIY projects, is a tool specifically designed to apply wax to surfaces. It typically has natural, durable bristles that can hold and evenly distribute wax over the surface of an object.
In cheesemaking, a wax brush is used to apply melted cheese wax onto the surface of the cheese. This helps to create a protective seal that prevents mold growth, retains moisture, and keeps out unwanted flavors during the aging process. The brush allows for a more controlled and even application of the wax, ensuring the whole cheese is properly coated1.
It’s important to note that a wax brush used for cheesemaking should be dedicated to that purpose only, as it can be difficult to completely remove the wax from the bristles, which could contaminate other uses.
Note: Stay clear of silicone brushes as they will melt into the wax.
Tip: Waxing brush will never be 100% clean no matter how much you clean so you should reserve your natural-bristle brush for waxing only.
3. Wax Pot
A wax pot for cheese is a specialized piece of equipment used in the cheesemaking process to melt cheese wax. This container is designed to heat the wax evenly and maintain it at the proper temperature, ensuring optimal consistency for application.
The wax pot usually has a built-in thermostat that allows you to control the temperature of the wax. This is crucial because overheating can lead to the wax burning or becoming too thin, while underheating can cause the wax to be too thick for proper application.
Once the wax is melted in the wax pot, it is then applied to the surface of the cheese using a wax brush. This creates a protective seal that prevents mold growth, retains moisture, and keeps out unwanted flavors during the cheese aging process.
Remember, safety is essential when using a wax pot. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never leave a heated wax pot unattended.
Note: Forget about using these pots for anything else as cleaning them thoroughly will be close-to impossible.
Tip: For brushing you will need to melt a 1-pound block, which will fit into a 1-quart saucepan.
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