Characteristics of Imitation Cheese Containing Native Starches

Microstructural studies of imitation cheese with a shift in continuous phase

When casein is replaced with starch in imitation cheese, the functionality changes. Three different microscopy methods were applied to understand the microstructural differences in the product depending on which component dominates the microstructure. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) for component identification. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Cryogenic Scanning Electron Microscopy (Cryo-SEM) for studying surface structures. Differences in the surface structures were detected between SEM and Cryo-SEM. In SEM, starch appeared rough and protein smooth, while in Cryo-SEM no starch roughness of the surface was found. A change in starch modification and effects of protein prehydration was also analysed. Adding octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modified starch for emulsifying properties resulted in a microstructure with fragmented protein at a protein level of 7 %, but not at 9 or 12 %. Protein prehydration had limited effect on microstructure. On a macrostructural level, the change to an emulsifying starch increased hardness in imitation cheese with 7 and 9 % protein. Protein prehydration slightly decreased the hardness, but the difference was not significant at all concentrations. This research provides valuable information about the microstructure of imitation cheese at a 50/50 composition, how the microstructure changes with an emulsifying starch and what occurs after a protein prehydration was included in the production.

A review on stringiness property of cheese and the measuring technique

This review paper provides a deep understanding of stringiness property in a cheese product. Stringiness is used to describe the extended continuous strand of a molten cheese, especially mozzarella cheese. Stringiness is often described quantitatively by stretch length, as well as qualitative definition which focuses on the dimension of strand and ease of extensibility. Very often, the scope of defining stringiness attributes is limited by the measuring techniques because a complete experimental setup is required to obtain information on both stretch quantity and stretch quality. Among the measuring methods, cheese extensibility rig stands out to be the best method to assess stringiness attribute of a cheese as it is an objective method. In addition, a detailed study on the molecular behavior and interactions among natural and imitation cheese components in delivering stringiness, and the challenges faced therein have been reviewed. Thus, the review provides a foundation for the development of vegan cheese or plant-based cheese with stringiness properties.

Effect of inulin/kefiran mixture on the rheological and structural properties of mozzarella cheese

The relationships between chemical, textural, rheological and microstructural properties of low fat mozzarella cheese incorporated with different ratios of inulin/kefiran mixture were studied. By increasing inulin content, the protein and moisture content was increased and as a result, the meltability was reduced. Although, textural properties of low-fat mozzarella was completely influenced by inulin incorporation and hardness was increased, but the lower springiness and higher cohesiveness of cheese was achieved at high level of inulin which may be related to the increase in moisture and protein. Rheological properties of low-fat mozzarella cheese confirmed its shear-thinning behavior in which the G' value was more than G″. Mechanical properties of cheese showed that inulin incorporation into cheese did not significantly change the rheological properties of the cheese matrix. Consequently, the formation of a more rigid and cross-linked protein structure which is less plasticized achieved at high inulin incorporation through keeping more water and protein and less fat content. SEM results indicated the sponge honeycomb structure of mozzarella cheese which clearly confirmed the textural and rheological properties and there was an interrelationship among chemical, textural, rheological and microstructural properties of low-fat mozzarella cheese incorporated at different ratios of inulin.

How does milk fat replacement influence cheese analogue microstructure, rheology, and texture profile?

Over the past few years, the market for cheese substitutes has been growing on account of the simple and cost-effective production of these cheese-like products. It is well established that the functional properties of cheeses are directly related to their composition. Therefore, the variation of fat in cheese substitutes certainly affects the characteristics of the cheeses. The purpose of this review was to summarize the latest research on the effects of milk fat replacement with vegetable oils on the rheological, textural, and microstructural properties of cheese analogues. The findings suggest that the primary effects of modifying fat in cheese analogues are associated with an alteration in the interactions among the components of the protein matrix, which varies because of milk fat extraction. Overall, changes in the functional properties of analogous cheeses will depend on the type of oil, the percentage of fat modification, and the type of cheese produced.

Influence of the Ripening Time on the Viscoelastic Behaviour of Tetilla Cheese

Controlled shear stress tests were used to monitor the changes of viscoelastic properties in industrial samples of Tetilla cheese with the ripening time. The linear viscoelastic range was determined from both stress sweep and creep-and-recovery tests conducted at 20ºC. One-week-old samples were found to be more rigid and elastic, and to exhibit broader linear ranges, than older samples. Mechanical spectra recorded at the same temperature confirmed this trend since viscoelastic moduli G’ and G" decreased markedly during the first week of ripening, indicating a loss of structure during this period. Besides, physico-chemical information (pH, water content, protein content, nitrogen fractions, and s1 and β casein fractions) was obtained by analytical methods. Quite good correlation between rheological and chemical results was found. For each ripening time, an additional study of mechanical spectra as a function of temperature was performed. A marked increase of the power law exponents as temperature is raised is observed after the second week. Crosslink breakdown and the resulting structural weakening of the micellar network through casein hydrolysis during ripening can explain this result. The whole study provided similar results to those found for other type of cheeses and, also, allowed the classification of samples into two groups of markedly different behaviour, namely, one-week-old samples and older samples. In conclusion more than one week of ripening is needed to reach the adequate texture standardisation of Tetilla cheese.

Yield and Textural Characteristics of Panela Cheeses Produced with Dairy-Vegetable Protein (Soybean or Peanut) Blends Supplemented with Transglutaminase

The study evaluated panela cheeses made from dairy-plant protein blends, using soybean or peanut protein isolates, supplemented with transglutaminase (TG). Plant proteins were isolated using an alkaline extraction method followed by acid precipitation, and added to the dairy system in order to increase 50% or 100% the protein concentration. The total protein extraction for peanut and soybean isolates was 30.3% and 54.6%, respectively (based on initial protein content of sources), and no impairment of their essential amino acid profile was detected. Cheeses supplemented with TG and soybean showed the highest moisture and crude yield (>67.8% and 20.7%, respectively), whereas protein content was higher in the peanut isolate--added samples without TG (>67.4%). Cheese solids yield (ratio between final and initial solids) was higher for treatments with TG and 100% of plant protein addition (>50.7%). Regarding texture, 4 parameters were measured: hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and springiness. All cheeses containing soybean isolates and TG presented the highest chewiness and cohesiveness values, similar to those of the control treatment. Springiness was similar for all treatments, but hardness was higher in cheeses prepared with the peanut protein isolate added with TG. From these results it can be concluded that panela cheeses can be elaborated following a traditional procedure, but with the addition of soybean or peanut protein to the dairy ingredients. Cheeses containing these protein isolates showed higher protein than the milk control cheese and similar textural characteristics.

Effects of cultivar and process variables on dynamic-mechanical and sensorial behavior of value-added grape-based smoothies

The effects of either cooking temperature (45, 80, and 100 °C) or inclusion of seed particles on the dynamic-mechanical and sensorial properties of value-added Crimson seedless, Black Pearl, or Baresana grape-based smoothies were studied. The inclusion of seed particles resulted in significant increases of the phenolic content, both in Black Pearl and Baresana, but it did not affect in a negative way the sensorial characteristics of smoothies whereas it caused an increase of the viscoelastic behavior of Black Pearl and a slight decrease in Baresana grape-based smoothies. In particular, the investigated rheological parameters were the loss and storage modulus. Moreover, the loss tangent value (the ratio between loss and storage modulus) remained unchanged, indicating a pseudoplastic behavior of all samples, independent on the process conditions. The smoothies produced from Crimson grapes at the intermediate temperature (80 °C) showed sensorial and rheological characteristics similar to those manufactured at 45 °C and better than those manufactured at 100 °C.

Texture of Low-Fat Iranian White Cheese as Influenced by Gum Tragacanth as a Fat Replacer

The effect of different concentrations of gum tragacanth on the textural characteristics of low-fat Iranian White cheese was studied during ripening. A batch of full-fat and 5 batches of low-fat Iranian White cheeses with different gum tragacanth concentrations (without gum or with 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1 g of gum/kg of milk) were produced to study the effects of fat content reduction and gum concentration on the textural and functional properties of the product during ripening. Cheese samples were analyzed with respect to chemical, color, and sensory characteristics, rheological parameters (uniaxial compression and small-amplitude oscillatory shear), and microstructure. Reducing the fat content had an adverse effect on cheese yield, sensory characteristics, and the texture of Iranian White cheese, and it increased the instrumental hardness parameters (i.e., fracture stress, elastic modulus, storage modulus, and complex modulus). However, increasing the gum tragacanth concentration reduced the values of instrumental hardness parameters and increased the whiteness of cheese. Although when the gum concentration was increased, the low-fat cheese somewhat resembled its full-fat counterpart, the interaction of the gum concentration with ripening time caused visible undesirable effects on cheese characteristics by the sixth week of ripening. Cheeses with a high gum tragacanth concentration became very soft and their solid texture declined somewhat.