Here are a few essential items to get you started with making cheese at home.
For the Beginner Cheesemaker
- A heavy-bottomed pot large enough to hold a significant amount of milk. If you can find one with a non-stick bottom, even better.
- A strainer to separate the whey from the curds—ideally a freestanding one to keep your hands free.
- A slotted spoon for stirring and transferring curds to the strainer.
- A long knife for cutting the curd.
- A measuring cup.
- A kitchen thermometer.
- Cheesecloth.
- A large mixing bowl.
- Molds for shaping the cheese—either improvised or made for the specific cheese you’re aiming to create.
- Supplies to clean and sanitize your equipment and workspace—cheesemaking is about good bacteria, not bad ones!
For the Aspiring Pro Cheesemaker
There are many tools you can invest in to improve your precision and achieve more professional results.
An Electric Vat
This replaces the traditional “pot & stovetop” setup, allowing for higher production volume, greater accuracy, and improved efficiency.
Specialized Molds
These molds are specifically designed for each type of cheese and help give your final product a professional look and better overall quality.
Setting Up an Aging Room
But that’s another story. If you're ready to dive deeper into this exciting step, you can learn more about it here.