Microstructure of milk gel and cheese curd observed using cryo scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy

Cryo scanning electron microscopy (cryo SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to visualise changes in the microstructure of milk, rennet-induced gel and curd during the manufacture of Cheddar cheese. Our results show that cryo preservation did not alter the microstructure of the sample when it was fixed by rapid freezing in slush liquid nitrogen due to the formation of amorphous ice. Artefacts such as the formation of ice crystals could be observed in samples when immersed directly into liquid nitrogen (−196 °C) at atmospheric pressure. These ice crystals changed the shape of sample pores increasing their size to >20 μm. The etching time, thickness of gold coating, accelerating voltage and type of detector used for cryo SEM observation were varied in order to minimise the formation of such artefacts and optimise conditions for imaging. Chains and clusters of casein micelles and fat globules were best observed in the gel and the cooked curd when the samples were freeze fractured and etched for 30 min, coated with a mixture of gold and palladium alloy approximately 6 nm thick at −140 °C and observed using a backscattered electron detector at 15 kV. The structure of the gel, curd and cheese was also observed using CLSM. Spherical fat globules were mostly present in the serum pores of the gel prepared from unhomogenised milk but were found embedded in the aggregated chains of the casein network within the gel prepared from homogenised milk when observed using CLSM. The porosity measurements obtained using cryo SEM were similar to those obtained using CLSM. These two complementary techniques can potentially be used to assist studies for the control of cheese texture and functionality.     

Antioxidant activity of Cheddar cheeses at different stages of ripening

The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in the antioxidant properties of Cheddar cheese at different stages of ripening using different assays: 2, 2'-azinobis (3 ethyl benzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid, 2, 2-diphenyl 1, picryl hydrazyl and superoxide radical scavenging activity. Cheddar cheese was prepared with Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei 300 and Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei 22 and without adjunct cultures. The antioxidant activity of water-soluble extracts of Cheddar cheese was dependent on the ripening period. The changes in the antioxidant activity were related to the rate of formation of soluble peptides (proteolysis) in all the samples of cheeses up to fourth month of ripening.     

Isomaltooligosaccharide increases the Lactobacillus rhamnosus viable count in Cheddar cheese

Five batches of Cheddar cheese were manufactured containing different levels of isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) and a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus to study the effect of IMO on the survival of starter lactococci and probiotic micro‐organisms, on proteolytic patterns, cheese composition and sensory properties. The cheese was exposed to conditions simulating those found in the gastrointestinal tract to evaluate the survival of Lb. rhamnosus. Results demonstrated that the addition of Lb. rhamnosus and IMO did not affect the main compositional variables of Cheddar cheese. The counts of starter culture and probiotic organisms increased in cheese which contained Isomaltooligosaccharide (Batches 3, 4 and 5) more than in the control (Batches 1 and 2) during the fermentation. The probiotic counts in fresh cheese (B‐4) was 9.23 log₁₀ cfu/g which was more than one log cycle greater than in the control (B‐2). The probiotic counts remained above 8 log₁₀ cfu/g at the end of the manufacturing process. Primary proteolysis was not affected by the addition of probiotic bacteria and IMO, but the level of secondary proteolysis was slightly higher compared with the control group. The addition of IMO improved the texture and sensory quality of the cheese and the probiotic bacterium had the same effect. Under conditions that simulated the gastrointestinal tract, the probiotic bacteria in cheese (B‐4) exhibited good survival and remained above the recommended 6–7 log₁₀ cfu/g.     

Correlation between Cheese Meltability Determined with a Computer Vision Method and with Arnott and Schreiber Tests

ABSTRACT: Meltability of different brands of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses was determined with a novel computer vision method as well as with 2 traditional methods, that is, the Arnott and Schreiber tests. Correlation between the results of these methods was analysed and it showed that the meltability determined with a computer vision system was significantly (P < 0.0001) interrelated with the Arnott (R²= 0.69) and Schreiber (R²= 0.88) meltabilities. The computer vision method provided an accurate quantitative account of the physical changes in cheese during melting, and thus was capable of revealing meltability differences of cheese that were difficult to distinguish by the traditional methods. The new approach was also applicable to a wide range of cheeses.     

Lipolysis in cheddar cheese made from raw, thermized, and pasteurized milks

The evolution of free fatty acids (FFA) was monitored over 168 d of ripening in Cheddar cheeses manufactured from good quality raw milk (RM), thermized milk (TM; 65°C × 15 s), and pasteurized milk (PM; 72°C × 15 s). Heat treatment of the milk reduced the level and diversity of raw milk microflora and extensively or wholly inactivated lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Indigenous milk enzymes or proteases from RM microflora influenced secondary proteolysis in TM and RM cheeses. Differences in FFA in the RM, TM, and PM influenced the levels of FFA in the subsequent cheeses at 1 d, despite significant losses of FFA to the whey during manufacture. Starter esterases appear to be the main contributors of lipolysis in all cheeses, with LPL contributing during production and ripening in RM and, to a lesser extent, in TM cheeses. Indigenous milk microflora and nonstarter lactic acid bacteria appear to have a minor contribution to lipolysis particularly in PM cheeses. Lipolytic activity of starter esterases, LPL, and indigenous raw milk microflora appeared to be limited by substrate accessibility or environmental conditions over ripening.     

添加酿酒酵母的切达干酪风味研究

随着干酪市场的日益增长,开发新型风味干酪成为新的趋势.根据前期实验结果,研究选定了3种制作添加酿酒酵母的切达干酪(KY组、KH组、KC组)加工工艺,通过顶空固相微萃取和气相色谱-质谱联用技术、聚类分析及感官评价对干酪中挥发性风味化合物进行测定及分析,以此来评价酿酒酵母在切达干酪中的应用前景.干酪成熟过程中,3组干酪中挥...     

干酪介电特性与成熟期及成熟度相关性分析

以半硬质契达干酪为研究对象,对同一加工样品在9℃贮存成熟,分别对成熟期0、15、30、45、60、90、120、150、180 d的干酪样品进行了介电特性和成熟度指标的测定,包括干酪样品总氮(total nitrogen,TN)含量、p H 4.6可溶性氮(soluble nitrogen,SN)含量及三氯乙酸(trichloroacetic acid,TCA)溶液中SN含量的测定。测试频率选定为500、915、1 500、2 000 MHz,对测试结果进行了统计分析,建立了干酪介电特性与成熟度指标之间的相关性。结果表明:随着成熟期的延长,干酪水分含量略有减少、水分活度明显降低、p H值先降低后升高、成熟度指数p H 4.6-SN/TN和12%TCA-SN/TN均随成熟期延长而增大;介电常数ε’在所选的测试频率下与成熟期和成熟度指数的变化均呈线性相关关系;介电损耗因数ε’’在所选测试频率范围内,随成熟期的延长和成熟度的增大呈现总体下降趋势,与成熟期和成熟度在500 MHz和915 MHz频率条件下线性相关性极显著(P0.01),而在高频1 500 MHz和2 000 MHz条件下线性相关性不显著;损耗角正切值变化不明显,表明在测试频率范围介电常数ε’和介电损耗因数ε’’的变化方向一致,同时变化幅度相近。     

藏灵菇胞外多糖的理化性质及其在切达干酪中的应用

藏灵菇KW1在SDM培养基、37 ℃条件下发酵产胞外多糖（exopolysaccharide,EPS）达624.82?mg/L,经分离纯化及单糖分析测定,明确此多糖由鼠李糖、阿拉伯糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖和半乳糖组成,相对物质的量比1∶3.02∶2.12∶1.59∶3.04。红外光谱结果显示该EPS表现出典型的多糖吸收峰模式;扫描电镜显示,藏灵菇KW1?EPS微观结构中分布着许多球形结构和片状结构,且表面比较光滑;原子力显微观察表明,EPS具有一定聚集现象,呈现出膜状、簇状结构。将藏灵菇KW1?EPS应用于发酵剂菌株培养以及切达干酪制作中,结果表明EPS对发酵剂菌株生长有促进作用,并且随着添加量的增加,这种作用先增强后减弱。同时EPS的加入能提高干酪得率、持水能力以及成熟期间的活菌数。采用气相色谱-质谱联用从干酪中检测出69?种挥发性物质,香气活性值显示共有17?种风味物质对EPS干酪整体风味有贡献,其中丁酸乙酯、己酸乙酯、辛酸乙酯是关键性风味物质。本研究可为藏灵菇EPS在发酵乳制品中的应用提供一定技术参考。