Sensory and Instrumental Characterization of Low-Fat and Non-Fat Cream Cheese

This study explored relationships between physical/chemical and sensory properties using a set of 20 low-fat and non-fat cream cheeses. High correlations were found between several descriptors; hand resistance (i.e., tactile firmness) was best predicted by squeezing flow viscometry (r = 0.90) and followed by dynamic oscillation (r = 0.86), steady shear viscometry (r = 0.83, excluding non-fat samples), and contraction flow viscometry (r = 0.80). However, taking into account the measurement uncertainty, similar maximal correlations were found for contraction flow and squeezing flow. Creaminess was found to be governed largely by oral graininess (r = -0.98), and was best predicted instrumentally by friction measurements (r = 0.90).