Hot Brine Stretching and Molding of Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Made from Retentate-Supplemented Milks

Low moisture Mozzarella cheese curd was made from cheese milks supplemented to 1.2:1 and 1.4:1 fat and protein with 4.5 : 1 retentates of ultrafiltration stretched and molded in hot 10% brine.Retentate supplementation improved cheese yield and yield efficiencies.Retentate-supplemented cheese had higher protein and fat and lower moisture than controls.Maximum total solids and yields were obtained from cheese stretched in hot brine.Such cheese showed more uniform salt distribution but slightly lower salt concentration than controls.More loss of fat occurred in whey in control cheese stretched in hot water.Hot brine stretching of low moisture Mozzarella cheese made from retentatesupplemented milk suggests savings in time, space, equipment, and labor without detrimental effects on cheese color and meltability.