Influence of Salt on Appearance Functionality, and Protein Arrangements in Nonfat Mozzarella Cheese

Nonfat Mozzarella cheese curd was manufactured in 227-kg batches on 3 separate d using direct acidification. Cheeses with differing NaCl concentrations were obtained by dividing curd into separate lots that received various applications of dry NaCl (0, 0.5, and 1.0% NaCl, wt/wt) and hot brine (0, 5, and 10% NaCl, wt/vol) stretching treatments. The NaCl, Ca, ash, fat, moisture, and protein contents as well as cheese meltability and expressible serum of each cheese were determined. In addition, observations were made on cheese color and functionality over 24 d of storage at 4̊C. Transmission and scanning electron micrographs of unsalted and salted cheeses were evaluated to determine the differences in the protein matrix. The type of NaCl application and the NaCl content of the cheeses influenced the cheese moisture, meltability, expressible serum, microstructure, and ultrastructure. The moisture content was highest in cheeses in which the curd was salted before stretching. The melt was the lowest in cheeses that were unsalted. Cheeses that were stretched in either 5 or 10% brine had