Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit Review

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit: A Deep Dive into Home Dairy Dreams

As someone who’s spent over a decade wrestling with gear in every conceivable environment – from sterile lab benches to dusty workshop floors, rugged field sites to the unforgiving outdoors – I approach new equipment with a healthy dose of skepticism and an even healthier appetite for putting it through its paces. My recent foray into the world of artisanal cheese making, specifically with the Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit, was no exception. The allure of crafting my own cheese, controlling every variable from milk source to rennet, was strong, a siren call for someone who thrives on understanding how things work, down to the molecular level. My previous attempts at home cheese making had been… rudimentary, often ending in a rubbery disappointment or a crumbly, unidentifiable mass. This kit promised a more structured, professional approach, aiming for that sought-after wheel shape and firm rind. I’d eyed a few other domestic cheese press kits online, but the Roots & Harvest model, with its stainless steel construction and claimed capacity, felt like it struck a good balance between hobbyist ambition and genuine utility. Unboxing it, my first impression was one of solid, if unexciting, functionality. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt like it could do the job.

Real-World Testing: Putting Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit to the Test

My initial testing ground for this cheese making kit was, predictably, my own kitchen, specifically my workbench adjacent to the stove. I decided to tackle a simple cheddar, a cheese that benefits greatly from proper pressing to achieve its characteristic texture and aging potential. The process involved gathering milk, culture, rennet, and then, crucially, the components of the kit. I meticulously followed the recipe, bringing the milk to temperature, adding the coagulants, and carefully cutting the curd. It was when I needed to drain the whey and then press the curds that the kit truly came into play. The initial draining with the muslin cloth was straightforward, but the real test began with the cheese press itself.

First Use Experience

The first time I cranked the handle on the Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit’s cheese press, it was a moment of truth. I’d lined the press cylinder with the provided muslin cloth, a fine weave that did a commendable job of holding the curds while allowing the whey to escape. As I applied pressure, the whey began to drip steadily into the collection vessel below. The process was surprisingly smooth; the stainless steel cylinder and the mechanism for applying pressure felt robust. It didn’t feel flimsy or prone to immediate failure, which can be a concern with less robust DIY kits. I ran several cycles, gradually increasing the pressure over a few hours, as recommended by the recipe I was following. The kit’s design facilitated this gradual increase, which is key to expelling moisture without crushing the delicate curd structure too aggressively.

Extended Use & Reliability

Over the course of several weeks, I made multiple batches of cheese using this kit, experimenting with different milk types and press times. The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit has held up remarkably well to this repeated use. The stainless steel construction has shown no signs of rust or significant wear, even after being washed multiple times in the dishwasher (a definite plus for ease of cleaning). The muslin cloth, a 100% cotton, 90 thread count fabric, also proved durable. After each use, I hand-washed and sterilized it, and it shows minimal signs of fraying or thinning. The cheese wax, a 1 lb. brick that promises to wax approximately 12-20 cheeses with a brushed-on technique, is also proving economical. I’ve only used a fraction of it so far, and it remains pliable and easy to work with, as advertised. Storage in a cool place has kept it from becoming brittle. There have been no leaks from the press, no sticking issues with the mechanism, and no degradation in its ability to form a uniform wheel.

Breaking Down the Features of Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit is designed to bring the fundamental processes of home cheese making into your kitchen, with a focus on pressing and preparing your cheese for aging. Its components are intended to work in concert to produce a high-quality, well-formed wheel of cheese.

Specifications

The core of this kit is its Cheese Press, which is constructed from Stainless Steel. This press is specifically designed for making small batches of cheese at home, with a cylinder capable of holding curds made from 1-2 gallons of milk. This translates to a potential 1-2 lb. wheel of cheese. The press is described as dishwasher safe, a significant advantage for kitchen equipment.

Accompanying the press is the Cheese & Butter Muslin. This is a reusable cloth made from 100% cotton with a fine weave of 90 thread count. It’s intended for draining curds and lining molds or colanders. The kit includes 1 square yard of this muslin. It requires hand washing after every use and sterilization before use.

Finally, the kit includes Cheese Wax, a 1 lb. brick. This wax is formulated for coating cheeses to prevent unwanted mold and retain moisture during aging. The manufacturer states this quantity will wax approximately 12-20 cheeses using a brushed-on technique, though a dipping method would require a considerably larger block. The wax is described as pliable and resistant to brittleness, with a recommended storage in a cool place.

Performance & Functionality

The Cheese Press is the star of the show here, and it performs admirably for its intended purpose. The Stainless Steel construction ensures it’s non-reactive with the cheese and easy to clean. The 1-2 gallon milk capacity is perfect for home use, allowing for manageable batches. The mechanism for applying pressure is straightforward and effective; I found it easy to control the rate at which moisture was expelled, a critical factor in cheese texture. It consistently produced a well-shaped, uniform wheel of cheese.

The Cheese & Butter Muslin is also highly functional. Its 90 thread count is fine enough to prevent most curd particles from passing through, ensuring a clean drain. It’s also robust enough for repeated use, provided it’s cleaned and cared for properly. The 1 square yard size is ample for lining various molds and colanders commonly used in home cheese making.

The Cheese Wax fulfills its promise of protecting the cheese during aging. It’s pliable enough to apply evenly without cracking, and it effectively seals the cheese, allowing it to age gracefully without drying out or succumbing to surface molds that aren’t part of the desired aging process. The 1 lb. brick is a sensible starting quantity for a home cheesemaker.

Design & Ergonomics

The design of the Cheese Press is utilitarian, focusing on function over form. The Stainless Steel finish is practical and hygienic. Its medium size is easily accommodated on most kitchen countertops. The crank mechanism for applying pressure is ergonomically sound, requiring moderate effort for effective pressing. It’s intuitive to operate, even for a first-time user.

The Cheese & Butter Muslin is a simple, unadorned 100% cotton cloth. Its large size makes it versatile for various cheese molds and draining needs. The Cheese Wax is a standard, solid block that requires melting for application, a process that is straightforward but requires attention to temperature control.

Durability & Maintenance

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit appears to be built for longevity. The Stainless Steel Cheese Press is inherently durable and resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for a kitchen environment where it will be exposed to moisture and food acids. Its dishwasher safe nature significantly simplifies cleaning and maintenance.

The Cheese & Butter Muslin, being 100% cotton, is a natural fiber that requires proper care to maximize its lifespan. Hand washing and thorough sterilization are crucial to prevent the buildup of bacteria and to maintain the integrity of the weave. With diligent care, it should last for a considerable number of uses.

The Cheese Wax is essentially a consumable, but its durability is measured in its ability to protect cheese over extended aging periods. Stored correctly, it should maintain its properties indefinitely. The 1 lb. brick is a reasonable amount that will last many cheese-making sessions before needing a replacement.

Accessories and Customization Options

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit is a cohesive unit rather than a platform for extensive customization. The primary “accessories” included are the Cheese & Butter Muslin and the Cheese Wax. These are essential consumables and tools that work directly with the Cheese Press.

While the kit itself doesn’t offer much in the way of component customization, its output—the pressed cheese—is the beginning of a journey that can lead to many variations in aging and flavor. The ability to press a well-formed wheel is the foundation for creating aged cheddars, Goudas, and many other semi-hard and hard cheeses.

Pros and Cons of Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit

Who Should Buy Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit?

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit is an excellent choice for the aspiring home cheesemaker who is ready to move beyond basic fresh cheeses and into more traditional, aged varieties. If you’re looking to produce semi-hard or hard cheeses that benefit from proper pressing and aging, this kit provides the essential tools. It’s particularly well-suited for individuals or small families who want to make 1-2 lb. wheels of cheese on a regular basis.

Those who value ease of cleaning and durability will appreciate the Stainless Steel Cheese Press. The inclusion of usable muslin and a starter amount of cheese wax means you can often get started with minimal additional purchases, assuming your kit arrives complete.

However, individuals who are expecting a completely hands-off, automated process might find the waxing step requires a bit more finesse. Furthermore, anyone needing to produce very large volumes of cheese at once would need to consider a larger, industrial-grade press.

For those ordering, I would strongly recommend ensuring all components are present immediately upon receipt and communicating any discrepancies with the seller promptly.

Conclusion on Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit

The Roots & Harvest Cheese Making Kit, when all its components are present and accounted for, represents a solid investment for the home cheesemaker. The Stainless Steel Cheese Press is well-built, effective, and easy to maintain, forming the reliable core of the kit. The accompanying Cheese & Butter Muslin and Cheese Wax are functional and provide a good starting point for essential aging processes. While my personal experience with the seller was frustrating due to missing items, the product itself delivers on its promise of enabling the creation of well-formed, aged cheeses at home. For its price point, the quality of the press and the usability of the included materials make it a worthwhile purchase for anyone serious about diving deeper into the craft of cheese making. If you can secure a complete kit from a reputable seller, I would certainly recommend it as a valuable addition to your culinary toolkit.