Role of Enterococci in Cheddar Cheese: Organoleptic Considerations1

Abstract

Eight lots of Cheddar cheese were manufactured with two strains each of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus durans and subjected to combinations of two early cooling treatments (air vs. brine cooling) and two curing temperatures (7.2 and 12.8 C). The enterococcus cultures were used as supplemental starters in combination with a commercial lactic culture. These cheeses were analyzed for microbiological growth and survival, proteolysis, lactic acid development, free fatty acid appearance, and citric acid utilization—each being compared with a control cheese made without enterococci. Results were presented in three previous articles. This series is concluded with the results of organoleptic ana1ysis of the cheeses. Cheeses made with S. faecalis were either comparable to or less desirable than their respective control cheeses. Those made with S. durans, however, were in all instances more desirable than their controls. Cheeses cured at 7.2 C were always given the better scores, but there was no statistically significant difference between air- and brine-cooled cheeses.