Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk

Abstract Homogenization of milk as a pre-treatment in Mozzarella cheesemaking offers several benefits but such treatment adversely affects cheese manufacture and the physical characteristics of cheese. To avail the benefits accrued from milk homogenization, a standardized protocol of Mozzarella chee...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Patel Harsh, Jana Atanu, Ankit Bihola, Shaikh Adil, Parmar Satish
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07527-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849225962437214208
author Patel Harsh
Jana Atanu
Ankit Bihola
Shaikh Adil
Parmar Satish
author_facet Patel Harsh
Jana Atanu
Ankit Bihola
Shaikh Adil
Parmar Satish
author_sort Patel Harsh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Homogenization of milk as a pre-treatment in Mozzarella cheesemaking offers several benefits but such treatment adversely affects cheese manufacture and the physical characteristics of cheese. To avail the benefits accrued from milk homogenization, a standardized protocol of Mozzarella cheesemaking adopting direct acidification method employing lactic acid was developed using a blend of homogenized and unhomogenized milk (1:1 w/w). The key modifications adopted in the cheesemaking protocol involved (a) use of calcium chloride at 0.015% and 0.035% (w/w) for milk homogenized at 1.96 + 0.98 MPa (P1) and 2.94 + 0.98 MPa (P2) pressures respectively, involving use of milk blend; (b) raising the final cooking temperatures to 46°C and 48°C; maintaining whey acidity at 0.40% and 0.42% lactic acid during whey drainage as “stretch point’’; molding water temperatures of 84°C and 80°C for plasticizing the cheese curds obtained from milk blends containing homogenized milk treated at the two pressures (P1, P2) respectively; and (c) incorporating 0.125% (w/w) blend of trisodium citrate and disodium phosphate emulsifying salts into the cheese curd prior to plasticizing treatment. Control cheese was prepared using unhomogenized milk by direct acidification method, without the use of emulsifying salts, and with the addition of 0.01% calcium chloride to cheesemilk. Cheese made using 1:1 milk blend incorporating homogenized milk exhibited superior textural characteristics and sensory scores (improved flavor, chewiness and stringiness of cheese judged as pizza topping) in addition to improved baking qualities (viz. optimal melting and reduced fat leakage) compared to the quality aspects noted in other experimental cheeses and control cheese. The experimental cheeses also recorded higher yield values compared to the control cheese while the control cheese exhibited better stretchability compared to the experimental cheeses. Compositionally, the experimental cheeses had desired moisture, fat, and salt content, exhibiting enhanced fat and total solids (TS) recoveries. Compared to use of milk blends comprising of homogenized: unhomogenized milks of 2:3 and 3:2 ratios, the 1:1 ratio resulted in cheese possessing superior baking properties. Control cheese had higher fat, protein and salt contents as compared to the experimental cheeses. The adoption of the recommended modifications in the Mozzarella cheesemaking protocol improved the textural and baking properties of cheese, making them more suited for pizza applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-0cddc2f593da45d78cf4956cf5fa9f3a
institution Kabale University
issn 3004-9261
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-0cddc2f593da45d78cf4956cf5fa9f3a2025-08-24T11:45:30ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-08-017912310.1007/s42452-025-07527-8Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milkPatel Harsh0Jana Atanu1Ankit Bihola2Shaikh Adil3Parmar Satish4Sumul DairyEx-Principal, SMC College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu UniversityICAR-National Dairy Research InstituteDairy Technology Department, Parul Institute of Technology, Parul UniversityDepartment of Dairy Chemistry, SMC College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu UniversityAbstract Homogenization of milk as a pre-treatment in Mozzarella cheesemaking offers several benefits but such treatment adversely affects cheese manufacture and the physical characteristics of cheese. To avail the benefits accrued from milk homogenization, a standardized protocol of Mozzarella cheesemaking adopting direct acidification method employing lactic acid was developed using a blend of homogenized and unhomogenized milk (1:1 w/w). The key modifications adopted in the cheesemaking protocol involved (a) use of calcium chloride at 0.015% and 0.035% (w/w) for milk homogenized at 1.96 + 0.98 MPa (P1) and 2.94 + 0.98 MPa (P2) pressures respectively, involving use of milk blend; (b) raising the final cooking temperatures to 46°C and 48°C; maintaining whey acidity at 0.40% and 0.42% lactic acid during whey drainage as “stretch point’’; molding water temperatures of 84°C and 80°C for plasticizing the cheese curds obtained from milk blends containing homogenized milk treated at the two pressures (P1, P2) respectively; and (c) incorporating 0.125% (w/w) blend of trisodium citrate and disodium phosphate emulsifying salts into the cheese curd prior to plasticizing treatment. Control cheese was prepared using unhomogenized milk by direct acidification method, without the use of emulsifying salts, and with the addition of 0.01% calcium chloride to cheesemilk. Cheese made using 1:1 milk blend incorporating homogenized milk exhibited superior textural characteristics and sensory scores (improved flavor, chewiness and stringiness of cheese judged as pizza topping) in addition to improved baking qualities (viz. optimal melting and reduced fat leakage) compared to the quality aspects noted in other experimental cheeses and control cheese. The experimental cheeses also recorded higher yield values compared to the control cheese while the control cheese exhibited better stretchability compared to the experimental cheeses. Compositionally, the experimental cheeses had desired moisture, fat, and salt content, exhibiting enhanced fat and total solids (TS) recoveries. Compared to use of milk blends comprising of homogenized: unhomogenized milks of 2:3 and 3:2 ratios, the 1:1 ratio resulted in cheese possessing superior baking properties. Control cheese had higher fat, protein and salt contents as compared to the experimental cheeses. The adoption of the recommended modifications in the Mozzarella cheesemaking protocol improved the textural and baking properties of cheese, making them more suited for pizza applications.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07527-8Baking propertiesEmulsifying saltHomogenized milkMozzarella cheeseUnhomogenized milk
spellingShingle Patel Harsh
Jana Atanu
Ankit Bihola
Shaikh Adil
Parmar Satish
Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
Discover Applied Sciences
Baking properties
Emulsifying salt
Homogenized milk
Mozzarella cheese
Unhomogenized milk
title Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
title_full Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
title_fullStr Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
title_full_unstemmed Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
title_short Process standardization and characterization of Mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
title_sort process standardization and characterization of mozzarella cheese made from blend of homogenized milk and unhomogenized milk
topic Baking properties
Emulsifying salt
Homogenized milk
Mozzarella cheese
Unhomogenized milk
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07527-8
work_keys_str_mv AT patelharsh processstandardizationandcharacterizationofmozzarellacheesemadefromblendofhomogenizedmilkandunhomogenizedmilk
AT janaatanu processstandardizationandcharacterizationofmozzarellacheesemadefromblendofhomogenizedmilkandunhomogenizedmilk
AT ankitbihola processstandardizationandcharacterizationofmozzarellacheesemadefromblendofhomogenizedmilkandunhomogenizedmilk
AT shaikhadil processstandardizationandcharacterizationofmozzarellacheesemadefromblendofhomogenizedmilkandunhomogenizedmilk
AT parmarsatish processstandardizationandcharacterizationofmozzarellacheesemadefromblendofhomogenizedmilkandunhomogenizedmilk