Influence of protein concentration and coagulation temperature on rennet-induced gelation characteristics and curd microstructure

This study characterized the coagulation properties and defined the cutting window (CW; time between storage modulus values of 35 and 70 Pa) using rheometry for milk standardized to 4, 5, or 6% protein and set at 28, 32, or 36°C. Milks were standardized to a protein-to-fat ratio of approximately 1 by blending ultrafiltration retentate, skim milk, and whole milk. The internal curd microstructure for selected curd samples was analyzed with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Lowering the coagulation temperature caused longer rennet coagulation time and time to reach storage modulus of 35 Pa, translating into a wider CW. It also led to a lower maximum curd-firming rate (MCFR) with lower firmness at 40 min at a given protein level. Increasing protein levels resulted in the opposite effect, although without an effect on rennet coagulation time at a given temperature. On coagulation at 28°C, milk with 5% protein resulted in a similar MCFR (～4 Pa/min) and CW (～8.25 min) compared with milk with 4% protein at 32°C, which reflects more standard conditions, whereas increasing milk to 6% protein resulted in more than doubling of the curd-firming rate (MCFR = 9.20 Pa/min) and a shorter CW (4.60 min). Gels set at 28°C had lower levels of rearrangement of protein network after 40 min compared with those set at 36°C. Protein levels, on the other hand, had no influence on the levels of protein network rearrangement, as indicated by loss tangent values. The internal structure of curd particles, as investigated by both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, appeared to have less cross-linking and smaller casein aggregates when coagulated at 28°C compared with 36°C, whereas varying protein levels did not show a marked effect on aggregate formation. Overall, this study showed a marked interactive effect between coagulation temperature and protein standardization of milk on coagulation properties, which subsequently requires adjustment of the CW during cheesemaking. Lowering of the coagulation temperature greatly altered the curd microstructure, with a tendency for less syneresis during cutting. Further research is required to quantify the changes in syneresis and in fat and protein losses to whey due to changes in the microstructure of curd particles arising from the different coagulation conditions applied to the protein-fortified milk.     

Effect of cutting time, temperature, and calcium on curd moisture, whey fat losses, and curd yield by response surface methodology

Response surface methodology was used to study the effect of temperature, cutting time, and calcium chloride addition level on curd moisture content, whey fat losses, and curd yield. Coagulation and syneresis were continuously monitored using 2 optical sensors detecting light backscatter. The effect of the factors on the sensors’ response was also examined. Retention of fat during cheese making was found to be a function of cutting time and temperature, whereas curd yield was found to be a function of those 2 factors and the level of calcium chloride addition. The main effect of temperature on curd moisture was to increase the rate at which whey was expelled. Temperature and calcium chloride addition level were also found to affect the light backscatter profile during coagulation whereas the light backscatter profile during syneresis was a function of temperature and cutting time. The results of this study suggest that there is an optimum firmness at which the gel should be cut to achieve maximum retention of fat and an optimum curd moisture content to maximize product yield and quality. It was determined that to maximize curd yield and quality, it is necessary to maximize firmness while avoiding rapid coarsening of the gel network and microsyneresis. These results could contribute to the optimization of the cheese-making process.     

Kinetics of moisture loss during stirring of cheese curds produced from standardised milks of cows on pasture or indoor feeding systems

This study compared the in‐vat moisture loss kinetics under fixed cheesemaking conditions during 75 min of stirring of curds prepared from protein‐standardised milks produced from indoor cows fed total mixed ration (TMR), or outdoor cows fed grass only (GRA) or grass mixed with clover (CLO). Relative curd moisture as a function of time was fitted to different empirical equations, of which a logarithmic function gave the best fit to the experimental data. The moisture loss rate constant (k/min) was found to be similar for curds from protein‐standardised TMR, CLO and GRA milks, showing minimal feed‐induced variations in syneresis.     

Effects of technological settings on yield,curd, whey,and cheese composition during the cheese-making process from raw sheep milk in small rural dairies: Emphasis on cutting and cooking conditions

The technological conditions of cheese-making affect cheese yield and compound losses in the whey, especially the processes of cutting and cooking. Although significant compositional and functional differences have been reported among animal species, there is a lack of studies on the effects of cheese-making technology on cheese yield and losses for sheep milk. Thus, we examined the cheese-making settings in 8 small rural dairies working with raw sheep milk and their effects on cheese yield and compound losses in whey during the cheese-production season. Actual cheese yield varied in 2 to 3 kg of cheese/100 kg of milk among dairies due to the cheese-making conditions, particularly the duration of cutting and cooking and the final cooking temperature. The combination of the conditions used during cutting and cooking, especially, determined fat losses in the whey. Fat losses were increased with high-speed and short cutting time settings together with high stirring speed and long duration of cooking. Additionally, cheese-makers should adapt the cutting and cooking conditions to the seasonal variations of milk composition, especially during early summer, when fat losses in the whey are higher. Our results suggest that it could be useful to use approximately 10 to 15 min of cutting time and moderate cooking speed and duration. The data reported in this study may assist the improvement of the cheese-making process in small rural dairies using sheep milk, where facilities are limited and the role of the cheese-maker is crucial.     

对流干燥对烟丝表面温度及理化特性的影响

利用烟丝热风干燥装置,考察不同热风温度(70,80,90,100,110,120℃)下烟丝含水率、表面温度的变化规律,建立叶丝表面温度随含水率变化的传热传质模型,提出烟丝干燥过程中受热程度表征方法,并将干燥后(湿基含水率12.5%)烟丝理化特性的变化与烟丝的特征温度进行了相关性分析。结果表明:(1)建立的传热传质模型可以较好地反映对流干燥过程中烟丝表面温度随含水率的变化规律;(2)烟丝中碱性香味成分、酸性香味成分、香味总量、填充值与烟丝特征温度之间均达到了极显著关系,中性香味成分、氯元素的含量与特征温度之间达到了显著关系,试验范围内总植物碱、总糖、还原糖与特征温度之间关系不显著。     

Influence of enzymatic hydrolysis,pH and storage temperature on the emulsifying properties of canola protein isolate and hydrolysates

The aim of this work was to enhance emulsification properties of canola proteins through enzymatic proteolysis and pH variaton. Canola protein isolate (CPI) and hydrolysates (CPHs) were used to form emulsions at pH 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0 followed by storage at 4 or 25 °C for 7 days. Controlled enzymatic hydrolysis led to increased peptide bond cleavage with time (0.23 g/100 g in CPI to 7.18 g/100 g after 24‐h Alcalase hydrolysis). Generally, oil droplet sizes were smaller for emulsions made at pH 9.0, which suggest better quality than those made at pH 4.0 and 7.0. Trypsin hydrolysate emulsions were the most physically stable at pH 7.0 and 9.0; in contrast, the pepsin hydrolysate emulsions were unstable at all conditions. The results suggest that selective enzymatic hydrolysis could play an important role in enhancing successful incorporation of canola proteins and peptides into food systems as protein emulsifiers.     

Effect of protein concentration on the surface composition,water sorption and glass transition temperature of spray-dried skim milk powders

The effects of dilution of protein content in skim milk (34–8.5% protein content), by lactose addition, on the surface composition, water sorption property and glass transition temperatures of spray-dried powders were investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of spray-dried powders showed preferential migration of proteins toward the surface of the milk particles whereas the lactose remained in the bulk. Sorption studies showed that the lower protein concentration in milk powders is linked to an increased water adsorption property and lowering of water activity (a_w) for lactose crystallization. Analysis of glass transition temperature (T_g) of the powders sorbed at different humidities showed no distinct change in T_g values, indicating the dominant effect of lactose on the glass transition temperature of all the powders.     

良食味米生産の栽培理論—登熟期間中における最適な水管理，収穫籾の乾燥温度および玄米水分—（日语原文）

培環境条件に左右されない良食味米生産のための、登熟期間中の水管理、収穫籾の乾燥温度および玄米水分と食味との関係について述べる。登熟期間中の水管理は、飽水管理が最適である。飽水管理を実施することによって,地温の上昇が制御されるとともに,根の活力低下が軽減される．その結果,収量は根の健全化に起因する登熟歩合の向上によって増収するとともに,食味も優れる。生籾水分が22,25,30%の場合は,それぞれの乾燥させるための送風温度は55,48,35℃が適温である。食味からみた玄米の適水分は14%~15%である。     

日本优良食味稻米灌浆期水管理、鲜谷干燥温度及糙米水分与食味关系研究（译文）

为了生产优良食味稻米,克服栽培环境的影响非常重要。主要论述了灌浆期最适宜的用水管理、新鲜稻谷的干燥温度以及糙米水分含量与其食味之间的关系。水稻灌浆期最适宜的用水管理是湿润管理法,通过对灌浆期水稻的湿润管理,可有效抑制水田土壤温度上升,保持根系活力,提高稻米结实率,最终实现稻米增收与食味提升。新鲜稻谷水分含量不同,干燥所需的送风温度也不同,22%、25%、30%的水分含量分别对应的适宜温度为55、48、35℃。糙米中14%～15%的水分含量能够保证稻米的最佳食味。