Lipolysis in Urfa cheese produced from raw and pasteurized goats’ and cows’ milk with mesophilic or thermophilic cultures during ripening

Lipolysis was evaluated in Urfa cheese made from raw and pasteurized goats’ and cows’ milk with mesophilic or thermophilic cultures. The acid degree values (ADVs) of the cows’ milk cheeses were significantly (P < 0.05) higher until 60 d of storage than that of cheese made from goats’ milk. Total free fatty acid (FFA) contents of goats’ milk cheese were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of cows’ milk cheese throughout ripening, whereas goats’ milk cheese flavour was higher (P < 0.05) than cows’ milk cheese. Pasteurization of milk prior to cheese-making has a negative influence, not only on the level of lipolysis throughout ripening, but also on the relative amounts of short chain FFAs and sensory properties of the cheeses (P < 0.001). Cheese produced without starter bacteria underwent significantly (P < 0.05) higher lipolysis than cheeses produced with mesophilic or thermophilic starter bacteria, while cheese made with thermophilic starter culture had similar flavour to cheese made without starter culture.