Acceleration of proteolysis, flavour development and enhanced bioactivity in a model cheese using Kuflu cheese slurry: An optimisation study.

This study aimed to use Kuflu (a mould-ripened cheese) cheese slurry to accelerate ripening, improve biological activity and flavour development in a model cheese in terms of proteolysis and volatile compounds. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for the model cheese to determine higher proteolysis and volatile development level during ripening as a function of Kuflu cheese slurry addition level (0-5 %), salt concentration (1-3 %) and ripening temperature (5-15 °C). The highest aminopeptidase activities (0.140 and 0.187 OD/g per hour) were determined in 15-day-old samples containing 3 % and 5 % Kuflu cheese slurry, respectively. Also, the use of Kuflu cheese slurry, regardless of ripening, caused an increase in ABTS antioxidants, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibition activity and volatile compounds in model cheeses. The sensory evaluation indicated that the use of 3 % (w/w) Kuflu cheese slurry, storage temperature 10 °C for 15 days provided better flavour, odour, texture, colour, appearance and overall acceptability. In conclusion, using Kuflu cheese slurry for model cheese production enhanced the level of proteolysis and volatile flavour composition with shortened ripening time.