Buzz
My journey into cheesemaking began under the guidance of two women on a New Zealand farm. One vivid memory is their cheese cave, a standalone structure guarded by an enormous duck. The cheesemaker casually mentioned, 'We keep him well-fed with plenty of curd,' as if that explained his impressive size.
While I don’t have a duck guarding my setup, I’ve managed to create my own cheese cave. As my passion for cheesemaking grew, I realized the need for a dedicated space to age and store my creations. Building one is straightforward—just gather the necessary components.
Essential insights about cheese caves
Cheese caves serve two primary purposes: they foster the maturation of cheese by providing an ideal environment for mold growth, and they protect your cheese from unwanted contaminants. If you’re a cheese enthusiast but don’t intend to make your own, you can use your refrigerator’s humidity-controlled drawers to store already matured cheese.
A cheese cave maintains precise temperature and humidity levels, which can vary slightly depending on the type of cheese being aged. Generally, the ideal conditions are around 50℉ and 80% humidity. In contrast, a standard fridge operates at 35-40℉ and 65% humidity, making it unsuitable for cheese aging without adjustments.
Ensure your cave has enough space for proper air circulation around the cheese. Soft cheeses typically measure three to six inches, while hard cheeses can range from eight to 10 inches. Adequate ventilation is also crucial, though simply opening and closing the door periodically often suffices.
Shelving is essential for your cheese to rest on, but most fridge shelves, typically made of glass, aren’t suitable. Wire shelves are ideal as they allow air to circulate around the cheese, and in some cases, wooden shelves can also be used.
The Container
With a few adjustments, refrigerators can be transformed into excellent cheese caves, making them the go-to choice for most hobbyists. Their excellent insulation, cooling capabilities, and spacious design make them perfect for this purpose.
For beginners, I suggest starting with a mini fridge or wine fridge, though any functional fridge will work. Many opt for second-hand appliances. Wine fridges are particularly advantageous because they often regulate both humidity and temperature, requiring minimal additional adjustments.
If not using a wine fridge, aim for a mini fridge without a freezer. Freezers can disrupt the temperature and humidity balance, and removing them often damages the cooling system. The ideal setup is a single, empty compartment. When I built mine, the Danby was highly sought after due to its suitability. Be prepared to compete with beer fridge enthusiasts, as their requirements overlap.
Once you acquire the fridge, thoroughly clean it as if your life depends on it. A mold-friendly environment is the goal, but only the right kind of mold. Start with a pristine space by using bleach to reach every corner and crevice.
Next, remove all shelves, door racks, and baskets, which are typically easy to detach. These won’t be needed and can be repurposed elsewhere. The fridge should now be entirely empty.
Replace the removed shelves with wire racks, which are readily available on Amazon. Alternatively, you can use strong adhesive and furring strips to create custom supports for the racks.
Controlling the Temperature
Refrigerators operate by activating when the temperature rises above a certain point, cooling the interior to a preset level, and then turning off. To adjust this temperature, use an Inkbird controller. Plug the fridge into the controller, set it to 50℉, and let it manage the cooling cycle. I recommend watching the videos for detailed Inkbird setup instructions.
The Inkbird’s probes are compact and can be attached to the wall, with the wires running out through the door. No holes are necessary, as the fridge’s rubber gasket will seal around the thin wires.
Controlling the Humidity
The Inkbird controller can also manage humidity, but since refrigerators lack built-in humidity generators, you’ll need to add one. Most people opt for small cold mist humidifiers, which can be plugged into the controller. Ensure the humidifier powers on automatically when connected to electricity, without needing a manual button press. These devices require frequent refilling, but this aligns well with the daily checks needed for your cheeses.
While it might seem tempting to use wet towels as a humidity hack, avoid this approach. Wet towels can foster harmful mold, which contradicts our goal of promoting beneficial mold growth.
Adding Fresh Air
For smaller fridges, opening the door daily usually suffices for air exchange. However, for larger setups or more precise control, installing a computer fan in a side hole can ensure constant airflow. Use one fan for intake and another for exhaust to create a cross-breeze. Choose the smallest fans available and run them at the lowest setting to minimize humidity loss while maintaining air circulation.
Protecting the floor
I placed my cave on a liner to manage the excess humidity, ensuring it doesn’t damage my flooring.
With everything in place, your cheese cave is ready to use. It’s perfect for storing all types of cheese, not just homemade varieties. However, I highly encourage you to try making your own cheese—it’s an incredibly fulfilling experience.
