Predicting the Cutting Time of Coagulating Milk for Cheese Production Using a Heated Thermistor

Based on an observed decrease of effective thermal conductivity of milk during coagulation, a heated thermistor sensor was developed for monitoring curd formation. The thermistor was heated with a constant direct current, and its voltage was measured during milk coagulation, indicating a drop after the enzymatic reaction. The sensor was studied in the laboratory for different milk acidities, rennet concentrations, added calcium chloride, and coagulation temperatures. It was also tested in a commercial cheese plant for more than a month. The cutting time established by the cheesemaker in 16 experiments was compared with a prediction equation, and the standard error of prediction was 1.9 min.