Yogurt is a popular fermented milk product across the world. Structure, taste, and odor
characteristics are created by fermenting yogurt with diverse ingredients and lactic acid bacteria
(LAB), which contribute the most to the acceptance and quality of yogurt. In this study, low-fat buffalo
milk yogurts (LFBY) were produced with the enrichment of 1% (w/w) whey protein concentrate
(WPC) and Ca-caseinate (Ca-CN). Yogurts were analyzed based on microstructural, microbiological,
organoleptical properties; volatile compounds (solid-phase microextraction method associated with
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) during cold storage for 21 days. Yogurts enriched with
WPC and Ca-CN had higher total solids, total protein contents, and pH values. A total of 36 volatile
components were identified in all produced yogurts. Acetic acid, butanoic acid, acetaldehyde,
acetoin, 2,3-butanedione, ethanol, and 1-heptanol were found in significant amounts and mainly
contributed to organoleptical properties. Interestingly, the focused volatile compounds that improve
taste and odor were higher in LFBY+WPC yogurt than in plain LFBY or LFBY+Ca-CN yogurt. The
Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus viable counts were higher
in LFBY+WPC yogurt than plain LFBY or/and LFBY+Ca-CN. Conclusively, yogurt enriched with
1% WPC exhibited the best organoleptical properties and volatile component concentrations. The
microstructure of the LFBY with WPC was less compact and dense, and regular, with tiny pores and
long and individualized casein filaments than the other treatments. The microstructure of the Ca-CN
samples caused a compact structure and coarse than in the control yogurt. |
