A home cheese factory is a specialized household appliance, which will be very handy in the kitchen of every self-respecting housewife. Finding high-quality cheese at an affordable price is not so easy today - the finished product contains a decent amount of various additives such as preservatives or flavor enhancers. The final yield is about 10-20% of the original mass. It is possible to cook in the device not only hard or soft grades of cheese, but also nutritious cottage cheese. Restrictions in terms of varieties during cooking practically does not exist. The exception is only the hardest cheeses, the production of which requires specialized equipment.
Due to the fact that the dairies are a fairly new kitchen technique, not every housewife knows how to choose this appliance. In this regard, before proceeding with a direct analysis of the characteristics of specific models that are included in our review of the best home-made cheeses in 2019. This is where we start.
Summary of the rating:
What are the parameters for choosing a home-made cheese factory?
Home-made cheese factory is an excellent product that lovers of natural cheese will be able to appreciate. First of all, using this device you can save a decent amount of money, since in grocery stores cheese is quite expensive. Another of its advantages is the output of an exceptionally high-quality, and, consequently, tasty product. The fact is that cheese prepared in strict accordance with the recipe and in compliance with the technology contains a huge amount of vitamin and minerals useful to humans. Even its small amount in the daily diet allows you to fully cover the need for the necessary substances.
The choice of a cheese factory must be approached with maximum responsibility, as this product is purchased for more than one year. Be sure to look at the basis of what material the body of the product is made of. Ideally, it is made from reliable food grade stainless steel. It is not susceptible to the occurrence of corrosion processes and at the same time is not able to enter into chemical reactions with other substances.
Another important criterion is the working volume of the container for the preparation of the product. It should be borne in mind that some varieties of cheese suggest a small amount with a decent amount of milk. It is best to purchase products with some margin. In itself, the technological process of making cheese is the aging of milk for a certain time at a specific temperature. In this regard, the device must be equipped with a reliable control unit, it is also equipped with a timer that will calculate the required time period.
The tank itself should go with the device, equipped with a water jacket or without it (preferably with it), various forms for cheese, a lyre knife and other additional equipment. It will not be possible to do without special hoses, through which water will be supplied and discharged.When purchasing products, you should carefully make sure that the cheese factory can be used on any stove, including induction. If you neglect this moment, you will have to face a rather unpleasant situation when the product is purchased, and it is not possible to use it.
Take into account the overall dimensions so that the device can be comfortably placed within the kitchen. On sale you can also find products of small size, which is suitable even for compact rooms. Many professional cheese makers say that after each use, the appliance must be thoroughly washed and dried - do not close your eyes to this valuable advice.
When compiling our rating of the best home-made cheese dairies, we took into account all these points, relied on numerous user reviews and took into account the price / quality ratio of the device. We hope that after studying the characteristics of each model, you will be able to choose for yourself the most optimal products that will serve you for many years.
Ten best home-made cheese models
10. Maggio 11 L
Fairly compact, but very roomy domestic construction. The volume of its internal tank is 11 liters. It is equipped with an electric heating element, an automatic temperature control system. The design includes a built-in water shirt. The temperature regulator is quite reliable and accurate - the degree of milk heating shows up to tenths of a degree. Thanks to this element, you do not have to constantly measure the temperature and adjust the heating power. It is enough for the user to set the necessary indicator, and the device will support it throughout the entire cooking process. In this product you can cook not only cheese, but also other products - sour cream, cottage cheese, homemade yogurt, baby kefir. You can even pasteurize milk with it.
Together with this device, a special electric stand is included. It provides uniform heating of the water jacket, which will transfer its heat to milk, ensuring the stability of temperature indicators. Homemade cheese will always be of high quality, fresh and very tasty. Milk in a working container can be cooled for several minutes by running running cold water in a water jacket. The product is equipped with a transparent cover, which allows you to personally observe the process of preparation of the product. The whey drains almost completely - for this, a very convenient crane is located at the bottom of the structure. The average life of this product is about 10 years. For cooking, experts recommend using non-pasteurized milk.
Benefits:
- Quite reasonable cost;
- Good quality production;
- Needs a minimum amount of free space in the kitchen.
Disadvantages:
- Appearance could be made more stylish.
9. Bergman 12 L with heating element
This is a fairly modern equipped, designed for the full-fledged preparation of natural cheese at home. The volume of the working bowl in this model is 12 liters. In one work cycle, a maximum of about one and a half kilograms of cheese can be obtained. The mass of the product is small - it is about 7.5 kg. Both external and internal walls are made of high-quality stainless steel, all seams are perfectly smooth, so they are almost imperceptible. The water shirt here is non-removable, due to which the design turned out to be more solid and durable, which greatly improves its quality and duration of operation. Like the previous model, this dairy is quite acceptable to use as a pasteurizer for milk. The fittings of the cranes are screwed in good faith, do not start to leak even during intensive use and prolonged use.The automation unit and electronic type thermometer, which is located in a special hole, are supplied with the product.
The automatic unit is equipped with a special probe, which is lowered into the milk using a clip. The cheese factory should be connected to the central water supply before direct milk filling. It must be remembered that the lower tap is designed to supply water. The device is mounted on a stove and the water in the jacket is brought to the required temperature. The whole process of cooking products is reduced exclusively to control the degree of heating, in which the automatic control unit will be a good helper. As users note in their reviews, this device is a great example of value for money.
Benefits:
- It is made from materials, qualitative and safe for human health;
- There is an audible alarm to complete the process of making cheese;
- Not too heavy and dimensional.
Disadvantages:
- You have to manually constantly stir the milk.
8. Bielmeier Sorrento Set 9 L
The device is intended for heat treatment of milk and similar products, with its help it is possible to kill various pathogenic bacteria, while the nutritional value of the product is fully preserved. This equipment heats the liquid evenly and fully. With its help, you can get cheese, which will turn out much tastier and healthier compared to the store. It is worth noting that the cost of such food will be significantly lower. According to users, this unit is perfect for people who are just beginning to comprehend the art of cheese making for themselves. The inner and outer containers are made of enameled stainless steel, and the enamel is strong enough - it cannot be damaged even with metal cutlery.
Together with this device, the user receives a package of French mesophilic starter culture MM101 (Danisco), the rennet is also supplied, a special form for obtaining the original cheese head, which is made from polypropylene materials. The mass of the head will be about 300-400 grams, depending on the variety. The power of the heating element is 1 kW, due to which the energy consumption is not too large. Together with the cheese factory there is a recipe book - if you strictly follow its instructions and observe the proportions, you will eventually be able to get the required variety of both hard and soft cheese. All parts are made on the basis of modern European standards. The design has small overall dimensions, so it is perfect even for a small kitchen.
Benefits:
- Small size;
- The products are exclusively natural;
- Capacity for a water shirt is absolutely tight;
- A decent volume of the working tank.
Disadvantages:
- It will take some time to adapt to this technique.
7. Fansel 15 L
Like all the other models that we previously examined in our review of the best home-made cheeses, this design is equipped with the function of pasteurizing milk and any other liquid. This equipment can be used for simple and quick cooking of cheese and other dairy products. The model is arranged in an elementary and understandable way, so even a novice will be able to figure it out in a few minutes. Two electronic-type thermometers are supplied with the product at once. One of them is designed to control the temperature of the water in the water jacket, and the other will display the temperature of the milk in the working container.
The model is made of food grade stainless steel AISI 304, the thickness of the bottom of the product is 4 mm. The internal volume is 15 liters, so that at one time you can get about one and a half kilograms of real cheese. The maximum operating temperature of the unit is 120 degrees. The diameter of the cheese factory is 280 mm at a height of 300 mm, its weight is 6 kg, and this is far from the highest rates.As you can see, the cheese factory is compact in size, which allows you to use it even in a small kitchen. Of course, this device will have to be adapted for some time, however, after just a few procedures, the user will be able to determine the most optimal parameters for preparing the product.
Benefits:
- Reasonable cost;
- Small dimensions;
- Convenient operation;
- Two electronic thermometers at once.
Disadvantages:
- No timer provided.
6. BearMayer Optima +
These models are available with an internal tank capacity of 10 or 12 liters. A removable bowl is supplied with the unit, which, if necessary, is very easy to remove and rinse without touching the housing itself. Like all dairies in our review, this design works on the principle of a water bath. One of the key positive aspects of the equipment is that it can be installed on any hob during heating, regardless of the type of heating element. The operating temperature of the product is in the range from 5 to 99 degrees. A rather convenient electronic thermometer is supplied with the cheese factory.
According to the manufacturer, in one session you can get about 1-2 kg of pure product. The cheese factory, if necessary, is connected to the mains, which ensures uniform mixing of raw materials, and the number of engine revolutions can reach about 60 revolutions per minute. The dimensions are compact, so hoses, a drain valve and an expansion tank are not provided in the design. Together with the device, the buyer receives everything necessary for the proper and competent preparation of cheese. If necessary, it will be possible to purchase various additional accessories. According to the owners of such devices, the product looks quite attractive, has a small mass, which makes it easy to transport.
Benefits:
- It is made from quality materials, which also have a very attractive appearance;
- There is an electric drive that saves the user from manual mixing of raw materials;
- Saves a decent amount of time;
- Compact dimensions.
Disadvantages:
- Pretty expensive.
5. Dr. Huber
It consists of two main elements - the outer casing and the bath-insert, the volume of which is 17.6 liters. From the inside, special marks are applied to the bathtub to determine how much of the product is flooded. It is also equipped with a very convenient handle that allows you to transport it from one place to another. The volume of the boiler, which is the basis of the water jacket, is 21 liters. The bottom is made of ferromagnetic materials, which allows you to install the model on any type of heating stoves, induction is no exception. The boiler has special channels for filling and draining water. The cheese factory is made on the basis of polished stainless steel. According to the manufacturer, the largest working volume of the internal tank is about 15-16 liters, due to which the final product yield can reach about 2-2.5 kg.
It is worth noting that this equipment can be attributed to professional equipment. This dairy has a thicker boiler wall. A reinforcing board is provided around the circumference of the neck, which is manufactured using hot forming technology using a gate. The bottom here is triple - an aluminum sheet is pressed between the stainless steel sheets, distributing the heat as evenly as possible. All these points are most important if the dairy will be operated intensively enough. Even with daily use, the device can last about 10-12 years.
Benefits:
- There is a removable inner bath;
- Labels are provided by volume, which allows dosing of raw materials with high accuracy;
- Can even be installed on an induction surface;
- The bottom heats up very evenly;
- Manufacturer's warranty is 3 years.
Disadvantages:
- Bathtubs are interconnected without a seal, so absolute tightness cannot be achieved.
4. Berta 25 L
The design is made of high alloy steel, which is in strict accordance with all the main requirements for utensils for cooking, and sanitary standards. This model is designed for both professionals and home use. It is characterized by rather large overall dimensions, therefore, it is possible to obtain a decent volume of finished products in one approach - up to 2.5 kg of cheese, depending on the variety. The product is able to withstand decent physical loads, so the walls are reinforced, have a metal thickness of 2 mm. This is more typical of professional units.
A water shirt is also used here. The device itself includes a double tank with a water jacket, an electrical control unit and a thermometer. The working area is closed with a tight lid. According to user reviews, this equipment is very popular, quite often farmers purchase it for themselves, having at their disposal a decent amount of fresh milk. Even with high regular loads, the product does not lose its reliability at all. However, some additional items will need to be purchased separately.
Benefits:
- Perfect for both home and professional use under high loads;
- The design itself is pretty high quality;
- Attractive appearance.
Disadvantages:
- It is not so easy to find recipes for this particular cheese factory, especially since the instructions given are clearly not enough.
3. Mr. GRADUS 40 L
In the third place of the best home-made cheeses of the year was a very capacious model, the working volume of the bowl of which is as much as 40 liters. It allows you to perform a number of technological operations: to warm or cool milk, pasteurize it, form and cut a cheese clot, stir the curd or cheese grain until the second heating starts, and so on. The model itself was developed last year, manufacturers, for the sake of optimal ergonomics, slightly changed the overall dimensions of the bowl - it became wider compared to the previous model and slightly lower.
Such a design is far from suitable for every kitchen. First of all, due to the mass, which is as much as 80 kg. Ideally, this unit is best placed in a separate room and on a special underframe - in this case it will be most convenient to use it. All the elements responsible for heating and automating the cheese process have excellent reliability. The fact is that the company in the production uses parts from imported manufacturers Legrand, Ariston, Schneider, Evco and others. In order for the heat to be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the product, the wall thickness was increased to 2 mm. The maximum temperature difference between a water jacket and milk during cooking does not exceed 15 degrees.
Benefits:
- A large number of various useful functions;
- Reinforced construction;
- Attractive and stylish appearance;
- Long period of operation.
Disadvantages:
- Very large overall dimensions and weight of the product.
2. Dairy with 35 l computer
In wide sale, the product appeared closer to the end of last year. It was originally developed for novice entrepreneurs who set themselves the goal of producing and selling craft cheeses and various natural products. The mass of the product is not very large - only 31 kg, despite the fact that the overall dimensions are decent - 770 mm in height, diameter 525 mm, inner diameter of the working bowl 409 mm. This universal product is made of the highest quality stainless steel, equipped with a reliable and durable electric motor, powered by a standard power supply. If necessary, during the loading of raw materials it can be shifted to the side. The design has a special valve that allows you to drain excess serum.Not too high height makes the cheese factory convenient for regular and intensive use.
In the kit there is also an electronic control unit equipped with a timer. If necessary, temperature indicators can be adjusted in the specified parameters. The whole process is fully automated. After cooking, an appropriate sound signal is heard, and it is quite loud. The temperature is controlled by the presence of a special sensor. A beginner can also use this cheese factory, since the cooking process is automated here - just select the required temperature regime, observe the proportions and turn on the device. The mixing element has a reliable and convenient speed controller. Thanks to him, it is possible to thoroughly knead the raw materials in case the cheese manufacturing technology requires it.
Benefits:
- Fully automated device;
- You can get a large number of different products;
- An inspection hatch is provided in the lid, so the user can always see at what stage the process of preparing cheese or other products is.
Disadvantages:
- High price;
- Decent dimensions.
1. Bielmeier 29 L with automatic tap
Recognized leader in our ranking of the best cheese producers. The product is intended for the thermal processing of milk and the production of various dairy products. The working volume is quite large, therefore, the design can be used not only at home, but also within farms or small production facilities. The design provides an adjustable thermostat, so the user is always able to set the most suitable temperature. All the nutritional value of the products incorporated into the cheese factory will be fully preserved. Inside the working bowl is covered with high-quality enamel, resistant to physical stress and other influences.
Like many other models of our rating, it is characterized by high versatility. In the process of preparation, harmful substances are not released either into the environment or into a future food product. The cheese factory is equipped with automatic protection against overheating, moreover, after direct application it is quite easy to clean. She has a special timer for a maximum of two hours. The depth of the bowl is 440 mm with a working volume of 29 liters. The power of the heating element is 1.8 kW. The case is characterized by good tightness, but all the same, it will take some time to adapt to this cheese factory.
Benefits:
- Quite an adequate price for a device with such high performance;
- Long term of operation;
- Universality in terms of area of use;
- Interesting and attractive appearance.
Disadvantages:
- Have to get used to the product.
In conclusion, a useful video
Our review of the best home-made cheeses has come to an end. We tried to collect as much information as possible on each model so that you could find the optimal design for yourself. If you have certain questions - feel free to ask them in the comments, not one of them will be left without attention.