Instant infusion pasteurisation of bovine milk. II. Effects on indigenous milk enzymes activity and whey protein denaturation

Direct heat treatment of two milk types, skimmed and nonstandardised full‐fat, was performed by instant steam infusion and compared with indirect heating. Infusion conditions were temperatures of 72–120°C combined with holding times of 100–700 ms, and indirect heat conditions were 72°C/15 s and 85°C/30 s. The activity of indigenous enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase, lactoperoxidase, xanthine oxidase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase was evaluated. Infusion temperature was the main determinant of inactivation. Whey protein denaturation represented by β‐lactoglobulin increased significantly with infusion temperature. The nonstandardised milk had a higher denaturation rate than skimmed milk. The effect of instant infusion on pH and milk fat globule size in relation to whey protein denaturation and association is discussed.