Manufacture and biochemical characteristics during ripening of Cheddar cheese with variable NaCl and equal moisture content

Reduction of salt in ripened cheese presents an industry challenge due to its profound role in flavour and texture development. This study investigated the biochemical impact of varying the salt concentration in Cheddar cheese while maintaining the moisture content constant, with particular emphasis on proteolysis. Cheeses containing 0.9, 1.3, 1.8 and 2.4 % (w/w) salt and 37.7+/-0.2 % (w/w) moisture were manufactured by parallel adjustment of the curd grain size, cooking temperature and time, cheddaring, curd chip size and rate of salting and analysed over the course of 270 days ripening. Salt reduction affected chymosin and starter lactocepin activities to accelerate casein degradation and accumulate derived peptides at rates correlating positively or (mostly) inversely with salt concentration. The kinetics of alpha(S1)-CN (f1-23) and N-terminal peptides produced thereof and of beta-CN(f193-209) were studied in detail. Plasmin activity was affected by cooking treatment and (small) pH differences during ripening but appeared limited overall, due to low levels of pH. Starter lysis showed a strong positive dependency on the salt concentration, and resultant lower contents of free amino acids upon salt reduction were evident. In essence, salt reduction caused a marked decrease in the ratio of peptidase to proteinase activity. Remedies to counterbalance this ratio were discussed in order to avoid excessive accumulation of bitter peptides and promote the stage of maturity. Salt variation left cheese identity unaltered, and the concept of moisture equalisation was proposed as an initial measure to produce high-quality salt-reduced Cheddar.