Here I am again - I was hoping to make some cheese this a.m., but find that the recipe calls for citric acid powder. AAAAARRRGGGHHH. I thought that was what was in vitamin C tablets - WRONG. Ascorbic acid makes up vit.C. Now begins the mad search for citric acid. As bizarre as this may seem, does anyone know if the cleaning product Glisten is made of pure citric acid? I will try to hunt down the company and pick their brains, but in the meantime, where else can I get citric acid? My local pharmacy could order it, the larger feed store in town drew a blank - where else could I try? Barring that, could I substitute lemon juice or a crushed vitamin tab? The recipe seems to use the acid to quickly sour the milk (2 1/2 teas. acid poder, dissolved in 1/4 C water). I hate to fiddle with the recipe, but time is once again of the essence (WHY do I wait??? must be those procrastination genes my father so generously shared with his kids!):-)

Judi

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), April 21, 2000

Answers

You can get citric acid in smaller containers in the canning section of most grocery stores. It is sold with directions for adding to tomato products to raise the acidity and supposedly make it safer. I have also bought it from cheesemaking supply houses for a little less money even with the shipping. Good luck

Marilyn

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 21, 2000.

Thanks for the info. I contacted the company which makes Glisten. The person I spoke with read from the MSDS sheet for the product - 98% food - grade citric acid, 2% scent/inert/nontoxic ingred. Decided to take my chances (2 1/2 teas. citric acid to 2 gallons milk - don't know what the ppm would be) and used the Glisten (a bit bizarre). Am delighted to say that the mozzarella cheese came out great!!!! My first attempt to make cheese is a success! I also used the whey to make ricotta cheese. However, for future cheesemaking sessions, I will be planning ahead and order it from a local health food store. (yeah, right - ME?!? PLAN AHEAD???) Thanks for all the help with this and the frozen milk question (I used defrosted frozen milk for this cheesemaking session). Thanks again, and happy homesteading! (After 10 years of homesteading, my mother STILL thinks it's a phase I'm going through! at the tender age of 39!) :-)

Judi

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), April 21, 2000.

Go to the kosher section of your local grocier store and look for sour salt its 100% citric acid.

Sean

-- sean (jungleboys@hotmail.com), April 25, 2000.