Manufacture of Lower-Fat and Fat-Free Pizza Cheese
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
U.S. Patent
Volume
6
Publication Date
2000
First Page
113
Last Page
953
Abstract
A fat-free or lower-fat pizza cheese with excellent melt properties for baking on a pizza without the need for aging and a method of making thereof are disclosed. The process of manufacturing such fat-free or low-fat mozzarella cheese comprises mixing a food grade acid with liquid milk having a fat content less than 1.5% or a casein to fat weight ratio of greater than 1.5. The acidified milk is then coagulated and processed into pizza cheese. No aging is necessary to obtain excellent melting properties. In a preferred embodiment, after coagulation of the milk and cutting of the curd, a portion of the whey is drained and glucono-δ-lactone is added to gradually further decrease the pH. The remaining whey is then drained and the resulting curd is processed into mozzarella cheese. A method of making a fat-free or low-fat process pizza cheese is also disclosed.
Recommended Citation
McMahon, D. J. and C. J. Oberg. 2000. Manufacture of lower-fat and fat-free pizza cheese. U.S. Patent No. 6,113,953. Issued September 5, 2000.