"Minas Frescal" cheesemaking using mixes of fresh milk with different percentages (0, 10, 20 and 40%) of reconstituted medium heat dried whole milk was studied. Protein breakdown as well pH and titratable acidity changes were monitored during cheese storage for 1, 7, 14 and 21 days. The transfer of milk components to cheese curd was carefully determined as a tool to estimate cheese maufacturing yield. Moisture contents of cheeses made from reconstituted milk were significantly higher than those of traditional Minas Frescal cheese. It was observed that cheese kept their normal sensory atributes for up 7 days, after what some noticiable changes were detected. It was concluded that it is possible to produce a good quality Minas Frescal cheese using up to 40% of reconstituted milk mixed to fresh milk.
cheese; "Minas Frescal" cheese; cheese shelf life; cheese storage; cheese proteolysis; cheese yield; reconstituted milk cheese
