Fresh White Cheeses from Buttermilk with Polymerized Whey Protein: Texture, Color, Gloss, Cheese Yield, and Peptonization

Buttermilk and whey, despite their documented health and technological potential, are still not sufficiently utilized for the development of new products. In this research, the texture, color, gloss, cheese yield, and peptonization of fresh white cheeses made from buttermilk with the addition of whey proteins after heat treatment were analyzed. Additionally, the influence of the polymerization process on cheese yield and composition was examined. Four fresh white cheese samples were prepared: without a whey protein concentrate (FWC); with a whey protein concentrate (FWC/WPC); with single-heated polymerized whey proteins (FWC/SPWP); and with double-heated polymerized whey proteins (FWC/DPWP). The introduction of whey proteins in buttermilk cheese production increased the cheese yield by over 2-fold. There were no differences in color and gloss between the FWC/SPWP and FWC/DPWP samples. The cheese became glassy and transparent during melting. The content of uncrushed curd that remained white ranged from 27% in FWC/DPWP to 74% in FWC/SPWP.