The present work investigated the formation of a mixed gel containing soymilk and reconstituted milk. The mixtures contained 1.4 and 2% (w/v) milk and soymilk protein, respectively. When gelation was induced by addition of glucono‐delta‐lactone, the mixtures showed a gelation point well above the isoelectric point of the milk proteins, suggesting that soy proteins play a major role in the formation of the network. When rennet was added in combination with acidification, the gels showed an earlier onset of aggregation and a higher storage modulus than the gels prepared only with acid. Confocal microscopy showed networks with mixed acid–rennet gels having more branches and compact structures with denser clusters than acid‐induced gels. These results demonstrated that by fine‐tuning the gelation of mixed soymilk and reconstituted milk, it is possible to obtain gels with unique microstructure and texture, where both proteins are contributing to the network structure. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Mixed protein gels are increasingly employed to develop novel high‐protein products. This work illustrates the potential to employ a mixed gelation to induce the formation of protein matrices containing aggregates of soy and milk proteins. At the ratio used in this work (2% soy protein and 1.4% milk protein), soymilk proteins determined the gelation behavior of the mixtures. The gels showed an onset of gelation at pH around 6, and in the presence of rennet the skim milk proteins also participated in the network.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.