An effort to improve the organoleptic properties of a soft cheese from rustic goat milk

An investigation was carried out to reduce the unpleasant flavour of a soft cheese obtained from milk of rustic non-selected goats. To this purpose, goat milk fat was transesterified with unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1 and C18:2) using an immobilised lipase and was then reincorporated into the partly skimmed milk. Two curdlings (one test and one control with unmodified milk) were then performed in the laboratory and the effect of fat reincorporation was evaluated by comparing the main constitutive parameters characterising the obtained cheeses, with particular reference to the lipid fraction and to the organoleptic properties. The findings demonstrated a significant decrease in the total amount of short and medium chain fatty acids (C4.0-C14.0) and also a significant increase in the total content of C18.1 plus C18:2 both in triglycerides and in free fatty acids of test cheese. The data obtained, as well as the results of a panel test, indicated that the organoleptic properties of test cheese were improved. © Springer-Verlag 2000.