The effects of various processing parameters on the rennet coagulation properties of milk were assessed. Using low amplitude oscillation rheometry, the coagulation properties were monitored by measurement of the elastic shear modulus, G', as a function of time, t, from rennet addition; Gapos; was taken as a measure of curd firmness. The Scott‐Blair time dependency model was fitted to the experimental G' It curves for the determination of the following coagulation parameters: gel time, maximum curd firming rate, the set‐to‐cut time at 20 Pa (ie, time to reach 20 Pa) and the curd firmness after a renneting time of 2400 s. The renneting properties were enhanced by increasing the levels of milk protein and fat in the ranges 0.3–7.0% (w/w) and 0.1–10% (w/w) respectively and by two stage homogenization pressure where the first stage pressure, P1, was varied from 0 to 25 MPa and the second stage pressure, P2, was held constant at 5 MP a. The influence of these parameters, within the range investigated, in complementing the gel forming properties decreased in the following order: protein > fat > homogenization pressure. In contrast, the coagulation properties of milk were impaired by high heat treatment, the addition of a commercial microparticulated whey protein based fat substitute and by partial replacement of protein with fat.

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This paper reviews the current state of development of various techniques for monitoring coagulum formation in cheesemaking, and the implications of recent research findings. The techniques, which have become available for on-line use on modern cheese vats include hot wire probes, vibrating probes and several types of optical probe. Recent research has focused on comparing the various techniques against a background of cheese manufacture from milk with seasonal variation. The findings indicate that on-line techniques can improve the consistency of coagulum at cutting in a modern cheese factory.

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Recombined whole milk was renneted under constant conditions of pH, temperature, and added calcium, and the gel was cut at a constant firmness. The effects of cutting and stirring on syneresis and curd losses to whey were investigated during cheese making using a factorial design with 3 cutting modes designed to provide 3 different cutting intensity levels (i.e., total cutting revolutions), 3 levels of stirring speed, and 3 replications. These cutting intensities and stirring speeds were selected to give a wide range of curd grain sizes and curd shattering, respectively. Both factors affected curd losses, and correct selection of these factors is important in the cheesemaking industry. Decreased cutting intensity and increased stirring speed significantly increased the losses of fines and fat from the curd to the whey. Cutting intensities and stirring speeds in this study did not show significant effects on curd moisture content over the course of syneresis. Levels of total solids, fines, and fat in whey were shown to change significantly during syneresis. It is believed that larger curd particles resulting from low cutting intensities coupled with faster stirring speeds resulted in a higher degree of curd shattering during stirring, which caused significant curd losses.

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Optical characteristics of stirred curd were simultaneously monitored during syneresis in a 10-L cheese vat using computer vision and colorimetric measurements. Curd syneresis kinetic conditions were varied using 2 levels of milk pH (6.0 and 6.5) and 2 agitation speeds (12.1 and 27.2 rpm). Measured optical parameters were compared with gravimetric measurements of syneresis, taken simultaneously. The results showed that computer vision and colorimeter measurements have potential for monitoring syneresis. The 2 different phases, curd and whey, were distinguished by means of color differences. As syneresis progressed, the backscattered light became increasingly yellow in hue for circa 20 min for the higher stirring speed and circa 30 min for the lower stirring speed. Syneresis-related gravimetric measurements of importance to cheese making (e.g., curd moisture content, total solids in whey, and yield of whey) correlated significantly with computer vision and colorimetric measurements.