My understanding that it's a good idea to form a dry surface around fresh cheese to act as a shell to protect it from drying out. That's why cheese wheels are made with a rind. Since we are smoking virgin cheese after it's been removed from a rind, my understanding is it's beneficial to give it some sort of protective shell to act as a rind. And I think that's the purpose of drying out the exterior. I think
JckDanls 07
who posted in post #34 above is on to something regarding the bag. I think he's saying a bag wouldn't do much relative to a wrap. I think that a bag would absorb moisture from the air inside it and aid in drying out the surface of the cheese since it forces the cheese to rest in a dry-air environment. But it seems to me, wrapping the cheese in butcher paper or parchment paper for a couple days would accomplish the same task much more efficiently.
An analogy might be putting your hand in the 38 degree refrigerator for a few secs vs putting your hand in a bucket of 38 degree water for a few seconds. Which wicks the heat in your hand better?
OTOH, I've read that soft cheese will develop a fragile patina from the smoke. That's a good thing, but that patina, being so fragile and delicate on a soft cheese, can be disturbed if it's handled. So perhaps a bag would be best for a soft cheese?
So far I have stayed away from smoking soft cheeses except for the creamed cheese my smoked onion dip recipe. But maybe I'll try it some day.
Good luck
An analogy might be putting your hand in the 38 degree refrigerator for a few secs vs putting your hand in a bucket of 38 degree water for a few seconds. Which wicks the heat in your hand better?
OTOH, I've read that soft cheese will develop a fragile patina from the smoke. That's a good thing, but that patina, being so fragile and delicate on a soft cheese, can be disturbed if it's handled. So perhaps a bag would be best for a soft cheese?
So far I have stayed away from smoking soft cheeses except for the creamed cheese my smoked onion dip recipe. But maybe I'll try it some day.
Good luck