Innovative strategies to accelerate cheese ripening
PROJECT IS COMPLETED
Period: 2014 - 2017
Cheese production is an expensive procedure involving
periods of ripening ranging from one month to more than a year. An accelerated ripening time, but without compromising the flavour, quality or shelf life, could represent significant savings in tied capital equating to approximately DKK 25 million for Arla.
Ripening comprises complex microbial and enzymatic activities performed in concert in order to develop a balanced cheese flavour and suitable texture.
In this project, we will create a cheese matrix to examine the diffusion properties as a function of different cheese technology parameters. Furthermore, we will investigate and describe the interactions between the bacteria colonies in the cheese matrix during the initial ripening period.
The important parameters in accelerated cheese ripening will be established through gaining a greater understanding of microbial behaviour and the diffusion properties of the key metabolites and how these are influenced by matrix properties such as water activity, the grade of proteolysis, mineral balance, pH and temperature.
A new concept for cheese production will be developed to create a cheese matrix that stimulates the establishment of ripening bacteria and the optimal conditions for rapid maturation.
This will include:
- accelerated acidification by starter culture bacteria in a solid matrix;
- accelerated amino acid release by an increased availability of intracellular enzymes; and
- the stimulated growth of ripening bacteria using energy obtained from
disintegration of the starter bacteria.
The hypothesis is that an optimal matrix can be created by combining knowledge about the important parameters in the cheesemaking procedures.
Funded by:
Project: Innovative strategies to accelerate cheese ripening
Period: September 2014 - September 2017
Grant donor: Innovation Fund Denmark
FOOD grant: DKK 1,598,000
Total budget: DKK 3,196,000
Contact
Fergal Patrick Rattray
Professor
Microbiology and Fermentation