Textural changes of Canestrello Pugliese cheese measured during storage

The changes in the fundamental textural properties of the Canestrello Pugliese cheese, during ripening, were studied, accounting for the internal and external portions of the cheese. The cheese was ripened at 12–14 °C and 80% relative humidity and analyzed at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 95, and 120 days to determine the moisture content, water activity (A_w), pH values and some fundamental-mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties such as the elastic modulus (E_c), storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) and relaxation times distribution curve. Significant differences in the moisture content, A_w, pH and the elastic modulus were observed for the inside and outside portions of the investigated cheese. In particular, for the first 60 days of ripening the elastic modulus of the outer region was higher than that of the inner region. As the ripening process approached the end of the fourth month the contrary was true. Moreover, results show that, above all the pH and A_w play a major role in determining the mechanical properties of the Canestrello Pugliese cheese during ripening.