Gregg, when do you plan on doing a taste test? I was going to do my cheese this week but might wait until you report back on taste versus smoke time.
I packaged some smaller blocks (as you can see in my picture) for my taste testers.
My current plan is to do a taste at weeks 1, 2, and 4.
I'll report back next Friday with the results of the first taste test.
Bob, my cheese did not take on much color either, so I ended up smoking it for 5 hours which I am a but worried might have been too much. Time will tell though.
I think it didn't take on that much color because of the cold temps that I smoked in. The box temp ranged from 40-75 and averaged about 60 or so. When it took it out is was cool to the touch with zero moisture in it.
The A-MAZE-N definitely puts out some heat. So, if I smoke cheese in warmer weather I will need the cold smoke plate. Luckily I live in the same town and actually work with forum member WIK, who has said that he would let me borrow his when needed.