Effects of Starter Cultures on Linear Viscoelastic and Physical Properties of Yogurt Gels

Set‐style yogurts were produced from cow's milk under standard conditions by using 11 commercially available starter cultures. Samples were prepared in control beakers and within the Couette device of a dynamic rheometer. Repeatability of rheometer yogurt fermentations proved to be satisfactory. Within the linear viscoelastic region a significant inverse relationship between storage modulus and tan δ of yogurt samples was found. Specific properties of starter cultures clearly affected response in dynamic frequency sweeps and in stress relaxation experiments. Dynamic and relaxation data showed good agreement. Relaxation spectra H(τ) were obtained from dynamic measurements and stress relaxation by approximation methods. Both the shape of H‐τ curves and the magnitude of H was affected by starter cultures. As compared to literature data on model casein gels and microstructural findings on yogurt the results imply that (a) a permanent network exists in yogurt, (b) interactions with long relaxation times contribute less to viscoelasticity in the case of yogurt produced with viscous starter cultures, and (c) attachment of mucogenic bacteria to the protein matrix via exogenic polysaccharides decreases yogurt firmness.