When you make cheese, you don’t only get cheese. That’s one of the great benefits of it and what makes it so cost effective.

But you might feel there is too much of a good thing when you use 4 litres of milk to make cheese and end up with 3.5 litres of whey. Throwing it away is a huge waste – especially since it’s actually most of the milk in the first place!

Here are some things you can do with it.

Make Ricotta

Ricotta means twice cooked in Italian. So once you have the cheese you are making, you can heat your whey up to almost boiling, add half a cup of white vinegar (use DYC, not Supermarket Home Brands as they aren’t as acidic), and watch the ricotta magically emerge.

You won’t get all that much ricotta, to get more you could add a cup of milk to the whey to begin with. This is true ricotta that Italians would be proud of. When we make ricotta with whole milk and cream we get loads of it but it isn’t really true ricotta.

Make Soup, Stews or Sauces

Use your whey (before or after making ricotta, doesn’t matter) instead of stock in soup, stew or sauces. You will enjoy a richer flavour and a very faint tangy taste which is lovely. It’s very nutritious too.

I freeze whey in 2 litre blocks so that it’s always on hand for soup making.

Do Baking

You can replace the liquid component in baking with whey. Your scones and bread will rise higher, your pancakes will be fluffier and your focaccia will be softer. Try it and see!

Freeze whey in cup lots (I use paper cups) or as icecubes so it’s always handy for baking.

Grow Things

Plants love whey. Dilute it (50/50 in water) and pour it around the roots or add it to your compost. It’s a good Nitrogen source and it stimulates microbial activity in the soil.

I tend to use it directly more on plants other than vegetables because high Nitrogen can lead to excessive leaf growth (good for spinach, not so good for cucumbers!). For the vegetables I use compost that has had whey in it though as it’s more broken down.

Feed Things

Our chickens LOVE whey, and anything that results from cheesemaking. They go crazy for it.

I soak wheat in whey and let it sprout as a special treat for them. They love just drinking it as well. Lots of good protein and a great way to convert it to eggs!

Dogs and pigs love whey too.

Make a Smoothie

Whey is a tasty and healthy addition to smoothies. It gives a protein boost and extra nutrition.

Tenderise Meat

Use whey in marinades and it will help tenderise your meat, as well as adding nutrition and flavour.

Cook Pasta, Vegetables or Potatoes

Use whey in place of water for foods you normally boil. It will add to their flavour and give a small nutritional boost as well.

Make Brunost

This is a Norwegian cheese that is made by boiling down the whey into a caramel. You can spread it on toast or use it in fondue (I’ve made it and enjoyed it on toast, haven’t tried the fondue). Read more about it here.