Effect of Salting Technique on Shreddability, Texture Profile and Microstructure of the Pre-Acidified CowâÂÂs Mozzarella Cheese

Abstract

The aim is to investigate the effect of salting technique together with type of pre-acidification used acid on shreddability, texture profile and microstructure of the full fat cow’s Mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella cheeses were made conventionally from standardized full fat cow’s milk; pre-acidified with either citric, lactic or acetic acid drop-wise to pH of 6.3, using 2.5% activated Yoghurt starter culture and rennet (1.5 g/100 Kg). The milled curds were salted either by the brining technique or by dry salting. The obtained results indicated that, the brine salted cheeses were associated with significant increments in the values of dry matter, protein, fat, calcium, cohesiveness, springiness and adhesiveness. While the application of dry salting led to increase the values of ash, lactose, salt, sodium, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and shredding efficiency. Moreover, the microstructure of the brine salted cheeses was more porous, whereas the dry salted cheeses appeared with more homogeneous and continuous protein matrix as well as less pockets. The lactic pre-acidified cheeses were the most shreddable cheeses and distinguished with the highest dry matter, protein, ash, sodium, pH, hardness and cohesiveness, as well as reflected the densest protein network with narrow fat voids. The application of acetic acid was associated with significant increments in the values of fat, lactose, springiness and adhesiveness. Moreover, the citric pre-acidified cheese showed a combination of many larger channels and smaller pores giving an increased porous structure with more sharpened protein fibers.