Chemical, textural, rheological, and sensorial properties of wheyless feta cheese as influenced by replacement of milk protein concentrate with pea protein isolate

Replacement of milk protein with protein isolates from vegetable resources can significantly influence the characteristics of feta whey less cheese and also decrease the cost of final production. In this study, various blends of milk protein concentrate (MPC) and pea protein isolate (PPI) were mixed at levels of 12% MPC and 0% PPI (MP0), 10% MPC and 2% PPI (MP2), 9% MPC and 3% PPI (MP3), 8% MPC and 4% PPI (MP4), 7% MPC and 5% PPI (MP5), 6% MPC and 6% PPI (MP6) and used in the manufacture of wheyless feta cheese. The chemical, textural, rheological, and sensorial properties, as well as the microstructure of the cheese samples, were evaluated after 1, 15, and 30 days of storage. The general linear model procedure of SAS statistical software was used for statistical analysis. Duncan's multiple range tests was used to compare the means of different treatments. The results showed that all properties of the cheeses were influenced by different levels of PPI due to different total solids content. The use of high concentrations of PPI resulted in a more open protein network, softer structure and decreasing the storage (G ') and loss (G '') moduli in the cheeses. Sensory evaluation of the samples revealed that total score in terms of flavor, texture and overall acceptability was gradually decreased with increasing PPI levels, but still preferable for the panelists. Furthermore, for each sample, with increasing levels of PPI, the whiteness and the greenness were decreased, but the yellowness was increased.