Effect of high-pressure processing on the characteristics of cheese made from ultrafiltered milk: influence of the kind of rennet

Abstract

High pressure processing (HPP) can reduce proteolysis and extend the shelf life of cheese products. This study evaluated the physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and microstructural characteristics of HP-processed cheese made from ultrafiltered milk (UF-cheese). UF-cheeses were manufactured with recombinant chymosin (RC) or bovine rennet (BR), processed at 600 MPa/5 min/25 °C, and stored at 7 °C for up to 56 days. HPP did not affect color parameters. Both UF-cheeses (made with RC or BR) showed a significant increase in syneresis over time. Regarding texture, HPP yielded firmer cheeses. After 1 day of storage, HP-processed cheeses made with RC and BR had a reduction of 42.8 and 52.5% in proteolysis, respectively, in comparison with the controls. Moreover, HPP promoted a reduction in psychrotrophic count. HPP is a promising technology for the production of fresh UF-cheese, as it reduces proteolysis and extends product shelf life