Effect of the addition of egg white on the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory quality of steamed yogurt during fermentation and cold storage

Abstract

Yogurt or yoghurt is one of the most popular fermented dairy products worldwide and has gained widespread consumer acceptance as a healthy food. In this study, steamed yogurt, which contained lactic ferments (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), was produced with egg white addition at various levels (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%). The physicochemical, microbial and sensory analyses were determined to ascertain the quality attributes of the products. The dry matter, protein, viscosity and density values increased during storage. However, the microbiological properties of the five tested yogurt samples were within the international standards, and confirmed the safety and acceptability of the products. Steamed yogurts enriched with egg white were more preferred by panelists than the control yogurt in terms of sensory evaluation (flavor, color, taste and texture).The results indicated that the concentrations (2 and 3%) of egg white could be used to produce an egg white yogurt without significant adverse effects on the physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties.