Can You Make Cheese Without A Cheese Press?

Alternative Cheese Press Methods

You can create a makeshift cheese press using a few simple materials. One option is to use a plate or a cutting board as a base, place a heavy object like a cast-iron skillet or a brick on top, and wrap the cheese in cheesecloth or a clean towel to apply even pressure. Another method is to use a spring-loaded jar, such as a Mason jar, to apply pressure to the cheese.

No-Press Cheese Recipes

Many cheese recipes don’t require a cheese press at all, such as ricotta, cottage cheese, or cream cheese. These cheeses are often made by simply heating the milk, adding acid, and then straining the mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve. You can also make a type of cheese called “drained curd” by simply letting the whey drain off the curds for a few hours, then collecting the curds and shaping them into a wheel or block. This method works best for cheeses with a high moisture content, like mozzarella or feta.