Quality Characteristics and Consumer Acceptance of High-Moisture Mozzarella Obtained from Heat-Treated Goat Milk

Application of Commercial Biopreservation Starter in Combination with MAP for Shelf-Life Extension of Burrata Cheese

Burrata is a fresh pasta filata cheese manufactured in Italy. Its demand on the worldwide market is constantly growing, and prolonging its shelf-life is an important challenge for the Italian dairy industry. In the present study, combining a commercial bio-protective starter and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was evaluated as a strategy to delay the spoilage of product quality. Three experimental samples of burrata were produced by experimental trials at the industrial level and stored for 28 days under refrigerated conditions. Two samples contained the protective starter but were packaged differently (under MAP and immersed in water), and one did not contain the starter and was packaged under MAP. A sample of burrata without a starter and immersed in water was also prepared and used as a control. The combination of MAP and bio-protective starter delayed the degradation of lactose and citric acid, used as indices of microbial activity. In fact, lower counts of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas were observed in this sample. In contrast, control burrata had the highest level of total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) at the end of the storage period, because of higher microbial activity. Even though all samples were judged to be unacceptable after 28 days from the sensory point of view, the sample with bio-protective starter under MAP had the best score after 21 days, obtaining a shelf-life extension of about 7 days with respect to control. In conclusion, the combination of MAP and protective starter culture could be an easy way to extend the shelf-life of burrata stored under correct refrigerated conditions.

Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese made from blends of camel and bovine milk: Gross composition, proteolysis, functionality, microstructure, and rheological properties

Camel (CM) milk is used in variety of ways; however, it has inferior gelling properties compared with bovine milk (BM). In this study, we aimed to investigate the physicochemical, functional, microstructural, and rheological properties of low-moisture part-skim (LMPS) mozzarella cheese, made from BM, or BM mixed with 15% CM (CM15%) or 30% CM (CM30%), at various time points (up to 60 d) of storage at 4°C after manufacture. Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheeses using CM15% and CM30% had high moisture and total Ca contents, but lower soluble Ca content. Compared with BM cheese, CM15% and CM30% LMPS mozzarella cheese exhibited higher proteolysis rates during storage. Adding CM affected the color properties of LMPS mozzarella cheese manufactured from mixed milk. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the microstructure of CM15% and CM30% cheeses had smooth surfaces, whereas the BM cheese microstructures were rough with granulated surfaces. Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheeses using CM15% and CM30% showed significantly lower hardness and chewiness, but higher stringiness than BM cheese. Compared with BM cheese, CM15% and CM30% cheeses showed lower tan δ levels during temperature surges, suggesting that the addition of CM increased the meltability of LMPS mozzarella cheese during temperature increases. Camel milk addition affected the physicochemical, microstructural, and rheological properties of LMPS mozzarella cheese.

Application of Cheese Whey Containing Postbiotics of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB12 as a Preserving Liquid in High-Moisture Mozzarella

High-moisture mozzarella cheese (HMMC) is a highly perishable cheese with a short shelf life. In this study, the effects of UF cheese whey containing postbiotics from Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 (P-LA-5), Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 (P-BB-12), and their combination on the microbial (i.e., psychrophiles, mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria, and mold-yeast population) and sensory properties of HMMC were investigated. Postbiotics were prepared in a cheese whey model medium as a novel growth media and used as a preserving liquid in HMMC. The results demonstrate that postbiotics reduced the growth of all microorganisms (1.5-2 log CFU/g reduction) and P-LA5 and P-BB12 had the highest antibacterial performance on mesophiles and psychrophiles, respectively. Mold and yeast had the highest susceptibility to the postbiotics. Postbiotics showed a significant effect on maintaining the microbial quality of HMMC during storage, proposing postbiotics as a new preserving liquid for HMMC.