What kind of vinegar should I use for cheese?

Posted on February 21, 2012 by The Goat Cheese Lady

That would be the kind of thing I would google if I were making cheese acidified by vinegar and was not getting it to curd.

So, if you did google that and it brought you here…welcome. 

I used to think vinegar was vinegar was vinegar.  I’ve always taught that as long as it says 5% acidity, it will work consistently in your recipe.  It makes sense that it should…right?

Well, truth in advertising comes to light when you put the vinegar to the test in making simple, soft cheese.  Some call it paneer, soft goat cheese, queso fresco, queso blanco, farmer’s cheese, vinegar cheese…whatever you call it, it’s the kind where you heat up the milk, stir in vinegar, watch the cheese curds separate from the whey, strain through a cloth and voila!!!  Cheese!

I always use distilled white vinegar and buy it at Costco because it comes in the huge quantities that I go through quickly.  But, once I ran out and bought the Albertson’s brand of vinegar.  Another time, I ran out and bought the Kroger brand.

The one sold at Costco happens to be Heinz.  All three vinegars (Kroger, Albertson’s, Heinz) say 5% acidity and all are distilled white.

But, obviously all are not alike. 

The (at least 400) times I’ve added 1/4 cup Heinz vinegar to the 180 degree (previously raw) 1/2 gallon of goat’s milk and stirred it in, the milk has curded beautifully causing thick clumps of white curd and yellowish greenish clearish whey.  It drains in the flour sack cloth for 10 minutes, at the most, before it is a delicious, non-vinegary tasting, crumbly consistency.  It is spectacular.

BUT:  when I do the same process with the store brand vinegars, the milk barely curdles.  I slosh in more vinegar (now pushing 1/2 cup) and get some more curds, but they are small and the whey is still cloudy and only whitish yellowish.  When I hang it in the flour sack cloth, it drains out very slowly, and even after one hour, it is still the consistency of runny oatmeal.  And, it has a strong vinegar taste.  Not delicious.  Edible, yes, but not the cheese I am proud and fulfilled to eat (and serve).

So, as of now, I recommend that you use Heinz vinegar.  Pay a little more for the name brand.  It has better curd making power in it.

–  The Goat Cheese Lady

P.S.  I do not have any association with Heinz other than the company receives a fair chunk of my cheese making dollars.  I have no tie to Costco either.  Just for the record.

About The Goat Cheese Lady

I am Lindsey. At first I was a city girl. Growing up, the closest thing I had to farm animals were a cat and a cockatiel. In 2009, Herbert (my husband) and I bought our first milk goat and I instantly became an urban farmgirl, attempting to balance city and farm life..before I knew “urban homesteading” was a thing. That’s when we began The Goat Cheese Lady Farm, hence The Goat Cheese Lady blog you’re visiting now. After moving to the country in 2014, I embarked on life as a rural farmgirl. We continued teaching farm and cheesemaking classes, raising more goats and began construction on our cheese creamery. But life had other plans and in 2017, we decided that, due to financial and health issues, we had to close the farm for business. No more classes, no more creamery, a lot less milking. We went back to off farm jobs, I as an Occupational Therapist, Herbert in construction with his business, D&A Home Remodeling. At that point, I made a silent promise to myself that I would corral my entrepreneurial mind and focus on a job for a year. Well, it has been a year and I am back. Not to classes, cheese, soap or lotion, but back to writing. I love it. I’m not sure where it will lead me, but that’s where I’m starting. I’ll continue to write as The Goat Cheese Lady for now, and whatever the future holds, I’ll let you know. Our two boys are 14 and 11 and continue to be louder than my sister and I ever were. We have two dogs, Montaña and Flash, a cat, Jumpy, a flock of chickens and three goats. Yes, we still have Lucy, the goat who helped us start it all and was milked by over 1,000 people. She’s retired but still the boss. Chocolate provides enough milk for our family with some to spare for the dogs. Soccer friends, school friends, coyotes and mice are frequent visitors. There are way too many flies and every so often we see an owl. I’m glad you’re here. Sometimes you’ll laugh out loud, other times you’ll be inspired to appreciate the small things. My hope is that, over your morning cup of coffee or your afternoon work break, you’ll enjoy the antics and inspiration that are my daily life. Lindsey
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13 Responses to What kind of vinegar should I use for cheese?

  1. Emmanuel says:
    May 10, 2020 at 3:35 am

    okay but I have Heinz malt vinegar

    Reply
    • The Goat Cheese Lady says:
      May 10, 2020 at 9:05 am

      I’ve never used malt vinegar. It will work but will give the cheese just a little different flavor. And depending on the strength of the vinegar, you may have to add more than your recipe calls for. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Margaret says:
    June 6, 2019 at 4:14 am

    In Poland their vinegar has a strength of 10%
    Would half the quantity be ok to use for making goats cheese. I am a newbie at this!

    Reply
    • The Goat Cheese Lady says:
      June 6, 2019 at 9:36 am

      Hi Margaret! If I lived in Poland, I would try half the amount of vinegar and dilute it with water. For example: If the recipe calls for 1/4 cup vinegar, fill the 1/4 cup half way with vinegar and the other half with water. Good luck! Lindsey

      Reply
  3. Dan says:
    June 12, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Dear Goat Cheese Lady – you are so right about the vinegar. I used Safeway brand and got very small curds (3 oz. per gal. – 1/3 cup). Then after reading what you said, the very next day I used Heinz brand vinegar (same 3 oz. amount) and the curds were at least 5 times bigger. Wow. I am going to try just 1/4 cup of Heinz vinegar next time. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Cindy says:
    February 22, 2012 at 11:54 am

    The reason it is different is because Heinz vinegar is made from grain, and it will say that on the label. Those store brands… they are petroleum based! Ick!
    Here is a link with some good info that explains it so ya’ll know I’m not making this up.
    http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com/forums/shoppers-guide-ingredients/8296-organic-vinegar-vs-conventional.html

    I use organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar when I make cheese, but am now glad to know that Heinz will work just as well 🙂

    Reply
  5. laura h says:
    February 21, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    I guess one could use a pH test on the vinegar one has.

    Reply
  6. Christopher Scoggin says:
    February 21, 2012 at 11:56 am

    My gut would be either of the following (or a combination of both).

    The fact that 5% (as with all labeling) is going to have some degree of +/-. Heinz on their own label probably aims high where home/generic brands probably aim low.

    The root ingredients (cider/wine/etc. Is obvious but the grains used for distilled (corn/2-row/6-row/etc.) can very so the chemical composition of the vinegar may also vary.

    Reply
  7. laura h says:
    February 21, 2012 at 10:43 am

    But why is it different?

    Reply

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