Effect of rennet coagulation time on composition, yield, and quality of reduced-fat cheddar cheese

This study compared the effect of coagulum firmness at cutting on composition of 50% reduced-fat Cheddar cheese. Coagulum firmness was determined by subjective evaluation by the cheese maker. Three firmness levels were tested, and these corresponded to average times of coagulant addition to cutting the curd of 25, 48, and 65 min. A slow acid-producing culture was used, and ripening times were altered to give similar curd pH values throughout cheese making. A longer rennet coagulation time (firmer coagulum at cutting) resulted in an increase in cheese moisture as well as an increase in cheese yield. The percentages of fat recovered in the cheese decreased with increasing curd firmness. The percentage of nitrogen recovered in the cheese was similar among the treatments. The amount of whey collected from the curd after milling increased as the coagulum firmness at cutting increased. Higher moisture content and lower pH of cheese made from the firmer curd at cutting contributed to softer, smoother-bodied cheeses, but the Cheddar flavor intensity was not affected.