Factors influencing casein distribution in cold-stored milk and their effects on cheese-making parameters

Abstract

SummaryIn assessing the performance of milk for cheese-making, the influence of a number of factors in addition to cold storage time and temperature of the milk on the equilibria between the soluble and micellar phases and on cheese-making parameters has now been examined. An important factor was pH and although not apparent in fresh unstored milk, after storage at 4 °C there was a minimum in the soluble casein concentration at about pH 6·6, largely due to variations in β-casein concentration. As expected, addition of Ca reduced soluble casein concentrations while treatment with EDTA caused increases, and in most cases the cyclic pattern of casein dissociation from the micellar phase followed by a partial reassociation was again observed during storage at 4 °C over a 3-d period. Addition of low levels of urea (up to 75 mg/100 ml milk) led to some dissociation of all casein components, Ca and phosphate into the soluble phase while treatment of milk with urease caused small decreases. Additions of purified casein components to milk were accompanied by only small alterations to the composition of the soluble phase and added casein was largely incorporated into the micellar phase. In spite of this, most added casein was not recovered in curds, and cheese yields were not greatly enhanced by quite considerable additions of caseins to the milk. The effects of pH adjustment, addition of Ca, EDTA, urea, cyanate, purified αs1-, β- or κ-casein and urease treatment on rennet clotting time, curd strength, curd moisture and cheese yield are presented.