Effects of spray drying and freeze drying on the protein profile of whey protein concentrate

Abstract Whey protein concentrate (WPC) is consumed for its high protein content. The structure and biological functionality of whey proteins in WPC powders may be affected by the drying technique applied. However, the specific impact of spray drying and freeze drying on the overall protein profile of whey protein derived from sweet whey streams at scale is unknown. Herein, we examine the effects of commercial‐scale freeze drying and spray drying on WPC to determine which method better preserves bioactive whey proteins, with the goal of helping the dairy industry create high‐value products that meet the growing consumer demand for functional dairy products. WPCs were produced from pasteurized liquid whey using either a commercial spray dryer or freeze dryer. A variety of analytical techniques, including enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and bottom‐up proteomics using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectroscopy were used to identify, quantify, and compare the retention of bioactive proteins in WPC before and after spray drying and freeze drying. In addition, the extent of denaturation was studied via solubility testing, differential scanning calorimetry, and hydrophobicity assessment. There was little to no difference in the retention or denaturation of key bioactive proteins between spray‐dried and freeze‐dried WPC powders. There was a higher percentage of select Maillard modifications in freeze‐dried and spray‐dried powders than in the control. The lack of significant differences between spray drying and freeze drying identified herein indicates that freeze drying does not meaningfully improve retention of bioactive proteins compared with spray drying when performed after multiple pasteurization steps. Practical Application This study aimed to provide insight into the impacts of spray drying versus freeze drying on whey proteins. Overall, our results indicate that for commercial dairy processing that involves multiple rounds of pasteurization, freeze drying does not meaningfully improve the retention of bioactive proteins compared with spray drying. These findings may help the food and dairy industry make informed decisions regarding the processing of its whey protein products to optimize nutritional value.