The effects of using a starter culture, lipase, and protease enzymes on ripening of Mihalic cheese

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of fungal lipase from Mucor miehei and a bacterial neutral protease from Bacillus subtilis alone and combined with a starter culture on ripening properties of traditional Turkish Mihalic cheese. The use of protease with lipase (Cult + Prot + Lip) resulted in better flavour and texture with accelerated ripening. The obtained results pointed out that the gross compositions of the cheeses were changed by the type of enzymes and ripening time (P < 0.01). The acid degree value (ADV) of all cheeses showed a linear increase with ripening. The highest lipolysis rate was noted in lipase‐added cheese batch (as 5.56 ADV) with highest γ‐CN ratio and β‐CN degradation. At the end of ripening time, it was observed that αs‐CN ratios decreased in starter‐added (Cult), starter + protease–added (Cult + Prot), and protease‐added (Prot) cheese batches. The use of protease with lipase (Cult + Prot + Lip) resulted in better flavour and texture with accelerated ripening. Protease‐added cheeses, which were characterized by bitterness and crumbly textural properties owing to the intense breakdown of β‐casein, scored lower than lipase‐added cheeses. It was determined that the use of mesophilic aromatic starter culture with lipase and protease could be used to accelerate ripening of Mihalic cheese made from pasteurised milk.