ABSTRACT The pH change kinetics during Kashar cheese production from raw and pasteurized milk with addition of thermophilic, mesophilic and mixed thermophilic‐mesophilic lactic acid bacteria were evaluated. The kinetics of pH change were determined during milk ripening, cooking/holding and pressing/fermentation phases of Kashar cheese. The pH decreased logarithmically, nonlinearly, with time in the milk ripening period, and reduced linearly with time in the cooking/holding and pressing/fermentation stages. Pasteurization of milk retarded the rate of change in pH during the three periods. The highest rate of pH change was determined in the addition of thermophilic culture, followed by mixed thermophilic‐mesophilic and then mesophilic ones during milk ripening. The pH change characteristics of cheese made with thermophilic starter were similar to the cheese made with mixed thermophilic‐mesophilic culture, but different from mesophilic lactic acid bacteria during cooking/holding and pressing/fermentation stages. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSOne of the important factors in the control of cheese quality is the extent of acid production in the vat. Acid development at a desired rate is important during cheese making. The progress of acidification is monitored by pH change in the industrial Kashar cheese production. Three main stages have been recognized with respect to pH change: milk ripening, cooking/holding and pressing/fermentation. This study evaluated and compared the pH change kinetics during various stages of Kashar cheese making using raw, pasteurized milk with the addition of thermophilic, mesophilic and mixed thermophilic culture. This work may help in the comparison of raw and pasteurized milk, and in the selection of appropriate starter culture for Kashar cheese production.
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