Effect of calcium-sequestering salts and heat treatment on the rheological and textural properties of acid gels from blends of skimmed buffalo and bovine milk

The influence of adding 5 mM trisodium citrate (TSC) or disodium hydrogen phosphate (DSHP) and heat treatment (85 °C or 95 °C for 5 min) on the acid gelation properties of blends of skim buffalo and bovine milk (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0) was investigated. Significant increases in gelation pH, final G′ values, firmness, and water-holding capacity of gels were observed with increasing proportion of buffalo skim milk and with higher heating temperature. Differences in gel firmness were linked to gel microstructure, where milk blends containing higher proportion of buffalo skim milk formed gels with denser protein network clusters. The addition of TSC or DSHP reduced the gelation pH, final G′ values and gel firmness, but increased gel water-holding capacity. These results provide a better understanding of acid gelation of buffalo and bovine milk blends which will subsequently promote the potential of using milk mixtures in modulating the gel texture.