Effects of emulsifying conditions on creaming effect, mechanical properties and microstructure of processed cheese using a rapid visco-analyzer.

The creaming effects, mechanical properties and microstructures of processed cheeses were investigated under different emulsifying conditions using a rapid visco-analyzer, and the changes in protein network related to the creaming effect and the occurrence of yielding points were discussed. The higher stirring speed affected the fat globules to be smaller, and gave the processed cheese more firmness at fixed stirring time. The longer stirring time caused the protein network to become fine-stranded. A fine-stranded structure promoted the creaming effect, and hence the formation of yielding point in the mechanical properties. The emulsifying salts had active effects on the creaming effect and mechanical properties at longer stirring time. The fine-stranded structures were shown in the cases of a binary mixture of polyphosphate and disodium phosphate (PDSP), polyphosphate (PP), and trisodium citrate (TSC). Monophosphate (MP) showed the lowest ability to alter the protein network, but was assisted at the higher stirring speed.