Characterizing acidified and renneted gels with different soy milk and skim milk proportions

To understand the properties of differently acidified and renneted gels with different soy milk and skim milk proportions, mixed milks were prepared and treated using sequenced renneting then acidification at 4 °C, and the formation, spontaneous whey separation, and microstructure of the gels were monitored. The results showed that both acidification and renneting promoted gel formation in mixed milk and increased gel strength. In gels, the pH range was narrow (pH ≤ 5.2) at low soy milk proportion (25%) and low renneting degrees (0%, 25% and 50%), and the pH range was extended such that gels were formed with increasing soy milk proportion and renneting degree. When compared with pH, soy milk proportion and renneting degree influenced whey separation percentages more strongly. Soy milk significantly reduced whey separation percentages in gels, and gel strength was highest at 50% soy milk. Protein aggregates sizes increased with increasing soy milk proportion at the 75% renneting degree, and the pore sizes of skim milk-dominated gels was strongly influenced by acidification. These results help us understand mixed gel properties and provide valuable information for the manufacture of mixed fermented dairy products.