EFFECT OF HOMOGENIZATION PROCESS ON TEXTURAL PROPERTIES AND MELTABILITY OF PROCESSED CHEESE ANALOGS

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of homogenization process on textural properties and meltability of processed cheese analogs, in which the acid casein was partially replaced by whey protein preparations. The textural properties were examined using a TA-XT2i Texture Analyser and a cylindrical probe of 15 mm in diameter (its penetration rate was 1 mm/s, the temperature was constant and amounted to 21oC). The texture profile analysis (TPA) comprised the following parameters of the processed cheese analogs: hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness. The meltability of the processed cheese analogs was measured using a modified Schreiber test. The change in the homogenization rate and. also, the addition of whey protein preparations resulted in changes in textural properties of the processed cheese analogs with the addition of all the whey preparations. The increase in the homogenization rate caused a significant increase in the hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, and chewiness of the processed cheese analogs with WPC 35 added. and a decrease in the springiness of the model samples produced from casein Without any additions. The meltability of cheese analogs did not significantly decreased when the homogenization rate increased. The production of processed cheese analogs makes it possible to replace the traditional product by a new one showing either the same or better dietary and textural properties.