Effect of ultra-high pressure homogenisation of cream on the physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of fat-reduced starter-free fresh cheeses

Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of cream treated by ultra-high pressure homogenisation (UHPH) on the physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of fat-reduced fresh cheeses. Light creams treated by UHPH at 300 MPa with or without addition of 1.5 g/100 g sodium caseinate were compared to conventionally treated creams (batch pasteurisation at 65 °C for 30 min or homogenisation at 15 MPa followed by pasteurisation). Reduced-fat cheeses were obtained mixing treated creams with skim milk until 1.5 g/100 g fat, while milk at 3.2 g/100 g were used to made full-fat cheeses. The reduction of fat content of pasteurised cheese-making milk decreased cheese yield by 23%. These cheeses presented greater hardness, elasticity, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewability than full-fat cheeses. However, homogenisation of cream increased cheese yield by 5 and 13% with conventional treatment and UHPH, respectively. The addition of sodium caseinate before UHPH treatment increased cheese yield by 22%, as a consequence of their water retention capacity, obtaining similar values as for full-fat cheeses. These cheeses, which were the most valued on the scale of preference and described as more watery by panellists, were less hard, elastic, cohesive, gummy and chewy than their fat-reduced counterparts, with values similar to full-fat cheeses.