Effects of baking conditions on colour,texture and crumb grain characteristics of Chhana Podo

Baking, the key step in the preparation of Chhana Podo, involves simultaneous heat and mass transfer that induces physicochemical and structural changes in the product. The effects of baking conditions on colour, texture and crumb grain development in the product were evaluated. The browning index of baked Podo increased from the initial value of 15.7 to 95, 101 and 112, at baking temperatures of 120, 135 and 150 °C, respectively. Browning kinetics followed the logistic model (R² > 0.98) with an activation energy of 17.81 kJ/mol. In general, crumb grain characteristics such as mean cell area, cell density and cell‐to‐total area ratio increased with increase in baking time and temperature. Textural attributes such as hardness, chewiness and gumminess increased with baking time and temperature while springiness, cohesiveness and resilience increased up to 40 min due to the filling‐up of pores water and liquid by fat and expanding water, but decreased thereafter.     

Preparation and composition of chhana whey powders using membrane processing techniques

Chhana is a traditional Indian product used widely in the confectionery industry. It is produced from cow's milk by a combination of heat and acid coagulation. Chhana whey contains about 6% milk solids yet the vast majority is wasted which leads to pollution problems. This study describes the chemical composition and various options for utilisation of chhana whey using membrane processes. Chhana whey powder containing 956 g kg^?1 total solids, 750 g kg^?1 lactose, 21 g kg^?1 protein. 60 g kg^?1 fat, 65 g kg^?1 ash was produced following concentration of chhana whey by reverse osmosis. Chhana whey protein concentrate powders containing 270, 350, 400 and 580 g kg^?1 protein were produced following ultrafiltration or diafiltration of chhana whey.     

Coagulation Kinetics of High Pressure Treated Acidified Milk Gel for Preparation Chhana (An Indian Soft Cottage Cheese)

Chhana, an Indian cottage cheese, is one of the most popular heat-acid coagulated milk products. It forms the base material for a variety of milk-based sweets. Application of high pressure treatment for denaturation of milk protein has successfully been carried out. In the present study, high pressure in the range of 200–400 MPa for 0 to 100 min at coagulation temperature of 30–70°C was applied at constant acidity of milk-acid mixture in order to study the coagulated milk gel properties for preparation of chhana. The experiments were conducted using a central composite rotatable experimental design. Linear and non-linear regression equations, using the coded values of the independent variables were developed to study the effect of process variables on coagulated gel properties viz., lag time, mean coagulation rate and inflexion time. The optimum values of independent variables corresponding to minimum lag time, maximum coagulation rate and minimum inflexion time was obtained were high pressure - 280 MPa; pressurization time - 47 min; and coagulation time - 52°C. At this optimum condition of independent variables the lag time, mean coagulation time and inflexion time were 0.0028 min, 3.87 min, and 5.19 min, respectively.     

Optimisation of sweetener and bulking agent levels for the preparation of functional Chhana‐murki

A functional Chhana‐murki (FCM) was formulated at laboratory scale using different levels of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC): inulin (fibre) blend (1:1), isomalt:lactitol (polyol) blend (1:1), gum arabic and sucralose by response surface methodology (RSM) and sensory analysis. The colour and appearance, texture, flavour and overall acceptability scores increased by increasing the fibre level from 5 to 10% (w/w) and polyol level from 5 to 15% (w/w). The sweetness score increased significantly by increasing the sucralose level from 600 to 800 ppm (w/w). The optimised product had 738 ppm sucralose, 10% fibre, 15% polyol and 1.1% gum arabic.     

Studies on the use of chhana and paneer whey in the preparation of puras (pancakes)

Puras (pancakes) are widely accepted traditional Indian foods. Studies were conducted on the use of chhana and paneer whey in the preparation of sweet and salty puras . Six samples of chhana and paneer whey were substituted in sweet and salty puras at different whey to water ratios (0 : 100, 20 : 80, 40 : 60, 60 : 40, 80 : 20, 100 : 0). The effects of chhana and paneer whey on sensory evaluation showed that sweet puras containing mixed milk chhana whey and salty puras containing cow's milk chhana whey scored highest with respect to appearance, body and texture, flavour and taste, and overall acceptability. In general, commercial samples scored less, which may be due to poor handling and maintenance of whey by commercial manufacturers. Whey substitutions also improved fat, total solids, protein and ash of both sweet and salty puras . It is interesting to note that none of sweet and salty pura samples was below the limits acceptable to the panellists. It can be thus concluded that chhana and paneer whey can be used successfully in the preparation of puras for value addition.     

Understanding the effect of milk composition and milking season on quality characteristics of chhana

The quality characteristics of chhana varied due to the milk composition (cow‐, buffalo‐, and mixed‐ milk) which in turn was affected by the milking season (summer and winter). Upon heating and acidification of milk samples water holding phenomena and denatured protein association within and with other components lead to variation in both macroscale properties (color, texture, and rheology) and molecular bonding patterns (FTIR character). Yield, lightness (L* value), textural firmness, and elastic modulus of chhana increased with increasing proportion of buffalo milk in mixed milk due to higher total solids and less moisture content in both the seasons. Total protein, fat, water, and interaction between them and extent of hydrogen bonding significantly affected the rheological and textural properties of chhana samples.     

Antioxidant activity of natural plant sources in dairy dessert (Sandesh) under thermal treatment

Natural sources of antioxidant viz. beet (Beta vulgaris), mint (Mentha spicata L.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) have been used to fortify sandesh (a heat desiccated product of coagulated milk protein mass called chhana which is in turn a heat and acid coagulated product of milk, analogous to cottage cheese). Three sets of experiments viz. antioxidant activity, peroxide value and ultra-violet absorbance were done to evaluate the effectiveness of natural antioxidants in reducing lipid oxidation in sandesh as compared to synthetic antioxidants like tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) under thermal treatment. Among the natural sources, ginger has the highest antioxidant activity and it was similar to TBHQ and BHA-BHT combined. Results of the antioxidant activity differed from those of the oven test at 63 °C particularly for ginger and BHA-BHT combined. Control sandesh (without any antioxidants) showed the highest peroxide value and ultra-violet absorption. All the natural sources and their combinations significantly improved the oxidative stability of sandesh and their effectiveness was comparable with synthetic antioxidant TBHQ, a combination of BHA and BHT. Among the natural sources, although ginger had the highest antioxidant activity but mint showed better effectiveness in the inhibition of lipid oxidation. Regarding antioxidant activity and lipid oxidation, combination of mint or ginger with beet showed better result as compared to beet alone. Besides, sensory evaluation of freshly prepared natural source fortified sandesh samples was done as compared to control sandesh in order to commercialize the herbal sandesh in market. Sandesh containing beet, ginger, combination of beet with ginger or mint, or combination of mint with ginger were more acceptable to panelist than control sandesh.     

Sensory and textural properties of chhana kheer made with three artificial sweeteners

Chhana kheer, a dessert containing chhana and sugar, is very popular in the Indian subcontinent. A process for manufacturing chhana kheer based on milk fat, aspartame, acesulfame‐K and sucralose was optimised. Aspartame and acesulfame‐K at the level of 0.015% and sucralose at the level of 0.05% were found to be the most appropriate levels for chhana kheer replacing conventional product. The predicted score of the suggested formulation was 7.28 for sweetness, 8.06 for colour and appearance, 7.04 for texture, 7.79 for flavour, 6.69 for overall acceptability and 4820 g s for consistency respectively.     

Effect of different time intervals on the viscosity of batter and on the sensory qualities of puras (pancakes) prepared using chhana and paneer whey

The viscosity of pura (pancakes) batter samples prepared with bovine, buffalo and mixed wheys (80 : 20 whey to water) was measured at different time intervals at a temperature of 25  ±  2°C using a Brookfield viscometer (LVT 98534). The viscosity of sweet pura batter samples increased after 1 h, remained constant for another 2 h and then decreased, whereas the viscosity of salty pura batter samples increased from freshly prepared batter to 1 h and then remained constant. Sensory evaluation of both sweet and salty puras at different time intervals from batter preparation was also carried out. The overall acceptability scores for sweet puras prepared using bovine milk chhana whey, buffalo milk paneer whey and mixed milk chhana whey and stored for up to 4 h at 25  ±  2°C and for 24 h at 4–5°C were not significantly different, and the same conclusion applied to salty puras made from bovine milk chhana whey. It was concluded that sweet and salty pura batters can be prepared from any chhana or paneer whey.     

An investigation of varying composition and processing conditions on the organoleptic properties of chhana spread

Trials were conducted to standardise the buffalo milk chhana spread by using whey and buttermilk. The milk was standardised to 4% fat and 9% milk solids‐not‐fat and chhana was prepared. The chhana was blended with different quantities of water (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) at varying blending temperatures (65, 70, 75, 80 and 85°C) and blending times (2, 3 and 4 min). The chhana spread was prepared by using different levels of oil (0%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5%), cream containing 40% fat (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) and salt (0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25% and 1.5%). It was observed that chhana spread prepared by using 20% water, 80°C blending temperatures and 3 min and 0.75% salt scored maximum for body and texture, spreadability and overall acceptability. This chhana spread was further incorporated with buttermilk or whey either alone each at 20% or in combination each at 10% by substitution of water. Incorporation of buttermilk or whey significantly (P < 0.05) improved the chemical and sensory quality of chhana spread and had better texture.