Manufacture of acid gels from skim milk using high-pressure homogenization

The effect of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) alone or in combination with a thermal treatment (TT) was investigated for the manufacture of acid gels from skim milk. Raw skim milk was subjected to HPH (0 to 350 MPa) or a TT (90°C, 5 min), or both, in the following processing combinations: 1) HPH, 2) HPH followed by TT, 3) TT followed by HPH, 4) TT, and 5) raw milk (control). After treatments, L* (lightness) values were measured, and then skim milk was acidified with 3% glucono-δ-lactone and rheological properties (G' and gelation time), and whey holding capacity was evaluated. Treatments in which HPH and TT were combined showed greater L* values than those in which just HPH was applied. In all treatments, the L* values decreased as the pressure was increased up to 300 MPa with little change afterward. Gelation times were lower when HPH was combined with TT compared with the acid skim milk gels that were just pressure treated. The final G' in gels obtained from skim milk subjected to the combined process (HPH and TT) was greater and pressure-dependent compared with all other gels. A maximum G' (∼320 Pa) was observed with skim milk subjected to a combination of thermal processing before or after HPH at 350 MPa. Acid gels obtained from HPH milk at 350 MPa showed a linear decrease in whey holding capacity over time, retaining 20% more whey after centrifugation for 25 min compared with samples treated at lower pressures and all other treatments. Our results suggest that HPH in combination with TT can be used to improve the rheological properties and stability of yogurt, thus decreasing the need for additives.