Milk filters?

[mammabooh]

I'm was looking through the Hoegger catalog and had a question for you fine folks. Are the milk filters any different than regular coffee filters? AND...if they are better, is there a certain store that carries them (as opposed to ordering them and having them shipped)?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm also wondering about cheese cultures. Should I order them, or are they easy to find in certain stores?

[Blue Run Farm]

I don't know about the cultures, but I got my milk filters from TSC. I was told they were better than coffee filters, but can't really say that from my own experience since I've never used coffee filters.

[prairiedog]

I find coffee filters go slower than the filters I use in my strainer

[Pony]

When I was milking for a friend, she had those filters. Yes, they are much different from coffee filters: Multi-layered and allow the milk to flow through much more quickly than coffee filters.

I made reusable milk filters from muslin. I bleach them, wash them, and iron them before each use.

I've not seen cultures in local stores, but we're pretty rural out here.

[6e]

Definitely better than coffee filters. Much thicker and the milk flows through more quickly. Coffee filters plug up.

[pygmybabies]

did coffee filters first, milk filters are way better, our tsc doesnt carry them, but another store around here does. The filters are kenAG brand i guess and cost about $5 a box of 100

http://www.kenag.com/disk_square.html

[CaliannG]

I'm like Pony, but I use layers of chiffon that I wash and re-use....generally some disgusting color of chiffon that is on sale for some pittance.

Coffee filters are too slow.

[Laverne]

I got my filters from Jeffers, forget the brand but they are the only brand they carry. They are stiffer than the previous brand I got but hold up really well to re washing and using. So I rinse each one after each use, stack them up till I have about 30, then wash and rinse them well. Next step is boiling them, then squeezing them out, put them all in a clean boiled pillow case then putting them all in the clothes dryer. They stand up to re using many times.

[julieq]

Originally Posted by Pony

I made reusable milk filters from muslin. I bleach them, wash them, and iron them before each use.

We use plain white handkerchiefs and wash them.

[mammabooh]

Wow...thanks for all of the replies! I think I am going to order the entire milking kit from Hoegger. Then, I can change to cloth filters if I decide to later.

It's nice to hear that you're reusing your displosable ones, Laverne. Maybe I can do that too.

We have several Amish stores around here, so I'll have to check them out for the cultures. I'm so excited, I can barely stand it!!!!

[LomahAcres]

We started out using milk filters, but were still finding goat hairs in the milk *yuck*. We tried coffee filters, and totally right - WAAAAY to slow, about a hour to strain 1/2 gallon. We tried muslin as well, but still too slow. Now I just use T-shirt knit/cotton fabric. Cut and boil. I don't re-use but I suppose you could, costs us about $5.00 a yard - filters are 4.5" square so around 1.2 cents each. The best part - no more hair in the milk.

[Alice In TX/MO]

At 4 cents, each, I throw them out after use. I'm too much of a germophobe to even consider re-using them.

[Caitedid]

I get the disc filters from the farm store and cultures from Dairy Connection in Madison, WI.

[PaulNKS]

Call me cheap.. um.... I mean... frugal, but I don't spend money that isn't a necessity. I have honey bees. There is a material that is used or filtering honey that is similar to the sheers that go behind drapes, but more tightly woven. I cut that and put two layers together and hemmed it around the edge. I made it about 12" square. It works great. After I've strained my milk, I was it in hot soapy water and hang it to dry for the next milking. I would bet it's as clean as the ones you buy anywhere.

You will most likely have trouble finding cheese cultures close by. I use the ones from Hoeggers.

[mabeane]

I use milk filters from Hoeggers...never had hair or anything else but milk come through.

[mammabooh]

I just placed an order with Hoegger for the small milk kit and a few cheese cultures, and liquid rennet, and cheese salt, and acid paper, and 3 bells for the goats, and bloat treatment, and a thermometer, and some C & D Antitoxin, and a 20cc drench syringe, and some wormer...

[PaulNKS]

I prefer the rennet tablets. They have a much longer shelf life. The rennet liquid loses "potency" continually from day one. The tablets don't.... or they aren't supposed to. lol

It sounds like you are really stocking up... It's great to go into it prepared.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Yup, that catalog is LOTS of cool 'toys' in it.

[billooo2]

I buy my milk filters at TSC..........when I make my occasional trips to Lehman's, they have different kinds of rennet, and a small selection of cheese cultures.
I bought a very reasonbly priced cheese press at the Grape and Grainery in Akron. They also have a selection of cultures.
http://www.thegrape.net/index.htm

Now that you are getting into goats, you will have to visit a couple shows and meet more goat folks in the area.

[Alice In TX/MO]

That is a wonderful website. THANK YOU!