Effect of lemon juice concentration on proximate composition of cheese produced from cow's milk

Abstract

The quality and composition of cheese produced in Ethiopia may vary due to the quality and composition of the milk, method of manufacture, and the process passed from parents to children by observation and practical experiences. In view of this, the effect of lemon juice concentration on the proximate composition of cheese produced from cow’s milk was investigated. The treatment consisted of three lemon juice concentrations (20 mL, 30 mL, and 40 mL) and two milk sources (Menelik and Yigezu dairy farms). The experiment was laid out as a Complete Randomized Design (RCD) in factorial arrangements (2×3=6 treatments) and replicated three times per treatment. Proximate composition (moisture, ash, crude protein, and crude fat) of cheese samples were analyzed using standard methods and sensory quality (aroma, taste, color, and overall acceptability) of cheese were determined using a 10-member panel. Lemon juice concentration has a significant (P< 0.05) effect on proximate composition and sensory characteristics of cheese. The proximate composition result showed that the highest moisture content was 56.23% in the Menelik milk sample treated at 20 mL lemon juice concentration, ash, and crude protein content were highest, 2.88%, and 16.31% in the Menelik milk sample treated at 30 mL lemon juice concentration. A significantly high crude fat (24.99%) content was observed in cheese processed with a 20 mL lemon juice treated milk sample. So, significantly high protein (16.31%), crude fat (24.99%), and moisture (56.23%) contents were observed in cheese, processed using lemon juice. The sensory quality result showed that the highest overall acceptability was 6.00 in the Menelik milk sample treated at 30 mL lemon juice concentration. The sensory quality of the cheese sample has average values of aroma, taste, color, and overall acceptability of 5.12, 5.35, 6.00, and 5.48 on a 7-point hedonic scale, respectively, and was liked slightly. The study concluded that lemon juice concentration had a significant effect on the proximate composition and sensory quality of cheese.