Homemade Ricotta Cheese Crock Pot Recipes

HOMEMADE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Set a large sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 layers of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a stainless-steel or enameled pot such as Le Creuset. Stir in the salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 minute until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 to 25 minutes, occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. The longer you let the mixture drain, the thicker the ricotta. (I tend to like mine on the thicker side, but some prefer it moister.) Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining whey. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.

SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• Mix ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, egg, and parsley in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water.
• Spoon 1 cup meat sauce into a slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles (broken to fit) and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (broken to fit), cheese mixture, and meat sauce. Cover with lid.
• Cook on LOW until liquid is absorbed, 4 to 6 hours. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan; let stand, covered, until melted, about 10 minutes.

EASY AND DELICIOUS HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour milk into a saucepan set over medium heat. Heat milk until it registers 194 degrees F (90 degrees C) on an instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir lemon juice and salt slowly into warmed milk. Let stand until milk curdles, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl. Pour milk mixture carefully into the lined strainer. Let stand until most of the liquid has drained off the ricotta, about 15 minutes. Discard drained liquid.

HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Combine the milk and acid (white vinegar, lemon juice, Champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar) in the crockpot and heat on low until temperature reaches 180 degrees F. (At 7,000 feet or above, bring it to 172 degrees F.) If heating on a stove top use a heavy pan and very low heat. It takes about 30 minutes. (Do not try to hurry this process; the milk might scorch on the bottom of the pan and you'll have brown specs in the cheese.).
• Once the temperature has reached 180 degrees, remove from heat, cover and seet aside in a warm place (80 - 100 degrees F) for about six hours. The cheese is ready to strain when a solid curd has formed.
• Strain through several layers of dampened cheese cloth or a fine metal strainer; discaring the whey (the watery residue).

CROCK-POT RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine milks in crockpot. Turn on low and add acid agent. Stir well. Cook six to eight hours (the longer cooking time will start to add a bit of color to the cheese); it is very subjective and dependent on your crockpot, so watch carefully. The curd should be solid, and it should have a good cooked-milk smell.
• Turn off the crockpot and wrap the whole thing in several layers of towels. Let stand undisturbed for another 6-8 hours. Line a colander or mesh strainer with damp paper towels or damp cheesecloth. Spoon the curd into the colander and let drain; you can reserve the whey for various purposes (roses love it) or discard it. Don't rush the draining if you want a thick, soft cheese.
• Pack into containers; you can stir in flavorings or salt before packing if so desired. It will stay fresh for about 4 days, up to 7 days in a very cold refrigerator.