Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is an Italian protected designation of origin cheese characterized by a stretched structure, high moisture (<65%), and short shelf life (<30 days). This cheese is generally stored refrigerated in a covering liquid that is an aqueous solution containing NaCl and org...

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Main Authors: Irene Fenga, Marcello Alinovi, Maria Paciulli, Germano Mucchetti, Emma Chiavaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1506
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author Irene Fenga
Marcello Alinovi
Maria Paciulli
Germano Mucchetti
Emma Chiavaro
author_facet Irene Fenga
Marcello Alinovi
Maria Paciulli
Germano Mucchetti
Emma Chiavaro
author_sort Irene Fenga
collection DOAJ
description Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is an Italian protected designation of origin cheese characterized by a stretched structure, high moisture (<65%), and short shelf life (<30 days). This cheese is generally stored refrigerated in a covering liquid that is an aqueous solution containing NaCl and organic acids. Although microbial growth has been reported as the main cause of quality deterioration, physico-chemical phenomena (water/solute migration, enzymatic reactions, etc.) also play a role in determining the cheese quality and its storability. This study investigates the effect of covering liquids formulated with different percentages of NaCl (1, 2%) and types of organic acids (lactic acid, citric acid, and a 1:1 mix of both) on the evolution of some physico-chemical characteristics of the cheese (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, color, expressible serum, texture, rheology) during a 30-day storage period. Eight cheese batches collected from different dairies were considered as replicates of the study. The % of NaCl in the covering liquid showed a strong, significant effect on the evolution of different structural, physico-chemical characteristics of the cheeses; in particular, a NaCl concentration of 2% caused the greatest extent of moisture content increase because of casein swelling during storage, accompanied by softening of the structure.
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spelling doaj-art-1986f3449f7e435ca67f76bbdb1c052a2025-08-20T03:49:22ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01149150610.3390/foods14091506Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid CompositionIrene Fenga0Marcello Alinovi1Maria Paciulli2Germano Mucchetti3Emma Chiavaro4Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze pad. 33, 43124 Parma, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze pad. 33, 43124 Parma, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze pad. 33, 43124 Parma, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze pad. 33, 43124 Parma, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze pad. 33, 43124 Parma, ItalyMozzarella di Bufala Campana is an Italian protected designation of origin cheese characterized by a stretched structure, high moisture (<65%), and short shelf life (<30 days). This cheese is generally stored refrigerated in a covering liquid that is an aqueous solution containing NaCl and organic acids. Although microbial growth has been reported as the main cause of quality deterioration, physico-chemical phenomena (water/solute migration, enzymatic reactions, etc.) also play a role in determining the cheese quality and its storability. This study investigates the effect of covering liquids formulated with different percentages of NaCl (1, 2%) and types of organic acids (lactic acid, citric acid, and a 1:1 mix of both) on the evolution of some physico-chemical characteristics of the cheese (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, color, expressible serum, texture, rheology) during a 30-day storage period. Eight cheese batches collected from different dairies were considered as replicates of the study. The % of NaCl in the covering liquid showed a strong, significant effect on the evolution of different structural, physico-chemical characteristics of the cheeses; in particular, a NaCl concentration of 2% caused the greatest extent of moisture content increase because of casein swelling during storage, accompanied by softening of the structure.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1506Mozzarella cheesebuffalo milkprotein swellingtexturerheologywater holding capacity
spellingShingle Irene Fenga
Marcello Alinovi
Maria Paciulli
Germano Mucchetti
Emma Chiavaro
Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
Foods
Mozzarella cheese
buffalo milk
protein swelling
texture
rheology
water holding capacity
title Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
title_full Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
title_fullStr Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
title_full_unstemmed Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
title_short Structural and Physico-Chemical Changes of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Cheese Influenced by Covering Liquid Composition
title_sort structural and physico chemical changes of mozzarella di bufala campana cheese influenced by covering liquid composition
topic Mozzarella cheese
buffalo milk
protein swelling
texture
rheology
water holding capacity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1506
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