市售陈年切达奶酪风味特征及消费者喜好度研究

本文对来自5个国家、不同成熟度的陈年切达奶酪中挥发性风味物质进行了检测,同时结合感官评定指标,解析了市售切达奶酪风味特征的地域性差异以及中国消费者对于切达奶酪风味特征的偏好性。实验结果表明:不同来源的切达奶酪挥发性风味存在着地域差异,差异主要源于挥发性酸类物质。中国消费者对于切达奶酪的喜好度更倾向于奶香味和坚果味,而具有高强度气味、硫味、苦味明显的切达奶酪不受我国消费者欢迎。因此研发奶香味重、坚果味强,而硫味、苦味、气味强度等不明显的切达奶酪将更适合于我国的消费者。      

Prediction of maturity and sensory attributes of Cheddar cheese using near-infrared spectroscopy

Twenty-four experimental Cheddar cheeses were produced using 5 renneting enzymes and stored at 4 °C for up to 9 months. At 2, 4, 6 and 9 months, cheeses were analysed for sensory attributes (“crumbly”, “fragmentability”, “firmness”, “rubbery”, “gritty/grainy”, “moist”, “chewy”, “mouthcoating”, “greasy/oily”, “melting” and “massforming”) by a trained panel of 10 assessors. Near-infrared (750–2498 nm) reflectance spectra were recorded contemporaneously. Predictive models for the sensory attributes and age (months) were developed by partial least-squares (PLS) regression; raw, derivatised and scatter-corrected spectral data were investigated. As a general rule, the most accurate models were produced by spectral data in the range 750–1098 nm after a 2nd derivatisation step. Age was predicted with a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) equal to 0.61; sensory attributes successfully modelled and their respective RMSECV values were “crumbly” (2.3), “rubbery” (3.4), “chewy” (4.0), “mouthcoating” (5.0) and “massforming” (4.1). These models are sufficiently accurate to be industrially useful.     

Gas-flushed packaging contributes to calcium lactate crystals in Cheddar cheese

Gas-flushed packaging is commonly used for cheese shreds and cubes to prevent aggregation and loss of individual identity. Appearance of a white haze on cubed cheese is unappealing to consumers, who may refrain from buying, resulting in lost revenue to manufacturers. The objective of this study was to determine whether gas flushing of Cheddar cheese contributes to the occurrence of calcium lactate crystals (CLC). Cheddar cheese was manufactured using standard methods, with addition of starter culture, annatto, and chymosin. Two different cheese milk compositions were used: standard (lactose:protein = 1.47, protein:fat = 0.90, lactose = 4.8%) and ultrafiltered (UF; lactose:protein = 1.23, protein:fat = 0.84, lactose = 4.8%), with or without adjunct Lactobacillus curvatus. Curds were milled when whey reached 0.45% titratable acidity, and pressed for 16 h. After aging at 7.2°C for 6 mo, cheeses were cubed (1 × 1 × 4 cm) and either vacuum-packaged or gas-flushed with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a 50:50 mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, then aged for an additional 3 mo. Heavy crystals were observed on surfaces of all cubed cheeses that were gas-flushed, but not on cheeses that were vacuum-packaged. Cheeses without Lb. curvatus exhibited l(+)-CLC on surfaces, whereas cheeses with Lb. curvatus exhibited racemic mixtures of l(+)/d(−)-CLC throughout the cheese matrices. The results show that gas flushing (regardless of gas composition), milk composition, and presence of nonstarter lactic acid bacteria, can contribute to the development of CLC on cheese surfaces. These findings stress the importance of packaging to cheese quality.     

Surface roughness and packaging tightness affect calcium lactate crystallization on Cheddar cheese

Calcium lactate crystals that sometimes form on Cheddar cheese surfaces are a significant expense to manufacturers. Researchers have identified several postmanufacture conditions such as storage temperature and packaging tightness that contribute to crystal formation. Anecdotal reports suggest that physical characteristics at the cheese surface, such as roughness, cracks, and irregularities, may also affect crystallization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of surface roughness and packaging tightness on crystal formation in smoked Cheddar cheese. Four 20-mm-thick cross-section slices were cut perpendicular to the long axis of a retail block (~300 g) of smoked Cheddar cheese using a wire cutting device. One cut surface of each slice was lightly etched with a cheese grater to create a rough, grooved surface; the opposite cut surface was left undisturbed (smooth). The 4 slices were vacuum packaged at 1, 10, 50, and 90 kPa (very tight, moderately tight, loose, very loose, respectively) and stored at 1°C. Digital images were taken at 1, 4, and 8 wk following the first appearance of crystals. The area occupied by crystals and number of discrete crystal regions (DCR) were quantified by image analysis. The experiment was conducted in triplicate. Effects of storage time, packaging tightness, surface roughness, and their interactions were evaluated by repeated-measures ANOVA. Surface roughness, packaging tightness, storage time, and their 2-way interactions significantly affected crystal area and DCR number. Extremely heavy crystallization occurred on both rough and smooth surfaces when slices were packaged loosely or very loosely and on rough surfaces with moderately tight packaging. In contrast, the combination of rough surface plus very tight packaging resulted in dramatic decreases in crystal area and DCR number. The combination of smooth surface plus very tight packaging virtually eliminated crystal formation, presumably by eliminating available sites for nucleation. Cut-and-wrap operations may significantly influence the crystallization behavior of Cheddar cheeses that are saturated with respect to calcium lactate and thus predisposed to form crystals.     

双蛋白切达干酪成熟过程中的质构和感官评价分析

在原料乳中添加质量分数为10%豆乳进行切达干酪加工,研究成熟过程中豆蛋白和筛选发酵剂对干酪质构及感官影响。结果表明,豆乳和发酵剂对干酪的基础理化指标有显著影响,从干酪质构分析结果可以看出,干酪在成熟期间,豆乳的添加对干酪的硬度、弹性、黏聚性和咀嚼性都有显著影响,干酪硬度和咀嚼度下降。应用发酵剂L.Lactis subsp.Cremoris QH27-1和L.Lactis subsp.LactisXZ3303生产双蛋白切达干酪可以提高干酪的质构特征和感官品质。     

Starter strain related effects on the biochemical and sensory properties of Cheddar cheese

A detailed investigation was undertaken to determine the effects of four single starter strains, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 303, Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris HP, Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris AM2, and Lactobacillus helveticus DPC4571 on the proteolytic, lipolytic and sensory characteristics of Cheddar cheese. Cheeses produced using the highly autolytic starters 4571 and AM2 positively impacted on flavour development, whereas cheeses produced from the poorly autolytic starters 303 and HP developed off-flavours. Starter selection impacted significantly on the proteolytic and sensory characteristics of the resulting Cheddar cheeses. It appeared that the autolytic and/or lipolytic properties of starter strains also influenced lipolysis, however lipolysis appeared to be limited due to a possible lack of availability or access to suitable milk fat substrates over ripening. The impact of lipolysis on the sensory characteristics of Cheddar cheese was unclear, possibly due to minimal differences in the extent of lipolysis between the cheeses at the end of ripening. As anticipated seasonal milk supply influenced both proteolysis and lipolysis in Cheddar cheese. The contribution of non-starter lactic acid bacteria towards proteolysis and lipolysis over the first 8 months of Cheddar cheese ripening was negligible.     

Prediction of sensory attributes of cheese by near-infrared spectroscopy

The objective of this work is to evaluate by near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy different attributes, visual (presence of holes), taste (salty, buttery flavour), texture (hardness, chewiness, creamy), rancid flavour and other sensations (pungency, retronasal sensation), in cheeses elaborated with milk of variable composition (cow, ewe, goat), collected in winter and summer and subject to ripening times of 4 and 6 months, taking as reference data the evaluation of the sensorial properties obtained by a panel of eight trained experts.     

Relating consumer preferences to sensory attributes of instant coffee

The sensory profiles of 11 instant coffees including pure coffees (PC), coffee blends (CB) and a chicory instant drink (CID), commercially available in South Africa, were described and quantified. These were then related to consumer preferences (n=199) for the instant coffees using preference mapping. Based on consumer preferences, four consumer groups were identified, “pure coffee lovers” (23%), “coffee blend drinkers” (30%), “general coffee drinkers” (37%) and “not serious coffee drinkers” (10%). The “pure coffee lovers” prefer the more astringent, bitter, roasted, nutty and full-bodied flavour of the pure coffee samples. The less intense coffee flavour character, but higher sweetness and root flavour, typical of chicory blended instant coffee, were attributes that were preferred by the “coffee blend lovers”. The “general coffee drinkers” seem to consume coffee out of habit and are less concerned about the specific sensory properties of the coffee.     

Monitoring of sensory attributes used in the quality payment system of Trentingrana cheese

Trentingrana is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) hard cheese manufactured in the valleys of Trento province (eastern Italian Alps) by several small cooperative dairies linked in a consortium. Nine months after production, wheels are delivered to a shared facility, ripened up to 18 mo, and assessed by a panel of 8 experts for 7 sensory attributes; namely, external aspect, rind thickness, paste color, texture, odor, taste, and aroma. The evaluation takes place every 2 mo on wheels sampled within each dairy. Based on the results of the assessment, dairies receive a price premium or penalty depending on a quality index, which is the weighted sum of the scores attributed to each sampled wheel. Sensory scores and quality index of 652 wheels representing 11 dairies and 10 yr of production were analyzed using a model that included fixed effects of dairy, year, and season of production, and first-order interactions between them. The coefficients of determination ranged from 0.50 (texture) to 0.66 (aroma). All factors significantly affected the studied traits, with the exception of interactions between dairy and season of production for texture and external aspect, and between year and season of production for odor. Dairy was the most important source of variation for visually assessed traits (external aspect, rind thickness, paste color, and texture) and for quality index, whereas year of production was the most important for flavor attributes (odor, taste, and aroma). The latter traits were always highly correlated among them and with the quality index, whereas correlations among visually assessed attributes, between them and flavor attributes, and between them and the quality index were more erratic. The sensory evaluation performed by the panel of experts has proven to be a useful tool to define the quality index and address the payment system of Trentingrana cheese, but it has some limitations in correctly describing the sensory profile of cheese and identifying specific defects and possible remedies.     

Effect of free and encapsulated recombinant aminopeptidase on proteolytic indices and sensory characteristics of Cheddar cheese

The recombinant aminopeptidase of Lactobacillus rhamnosus S93 in free or encapsulated form was used in production of Cheddar cheese. The effects of these enzymes on the proteolytic indices as well as sensory characteristics have been investigated during Cheddar cheese ripening. An extrusion method was used to encapsulate the enzyme in alginate beads coated with chitosan. The free or encapsulated aminopeptidase were added at the renneting or salting stage at three different concentrations (50, 500, 2000 units per 18 L of milk). Indices of secondary proteolysis were enhanced by increasing the enzyme concentration. Cheeses with the highest concentration of the encapsulated enzyme had significantly higher concentrations of soluble nitrogen in phosphotungstic acid and total free amino acids and received the highest mean scores for the sensory characteristics.