Influence of pig rennet on fatty acid composition, volatile molecule profile, texture and sensory properties of Pecorino di Farindola cheese

BACKGROUNDPig rennet is traditionally used in Pecorino di Farindola cheese. In this study, different Pecorino cheeses obtained using calf, kid and pig rennets were compared in terms of fatty acids, volatile molecule profile, texture and sensory properties during ripening. RESULTSThe rennet type influenced the fatty acid composition of cheeses, though palmitic, myristic and oleic acids were always predominant. The analysis of volatiles by SPME-GC/MS showed that Pecorino from calf rennet, at the end of ripening, was the least evolved' in terms of volatile profile. SPME-GC/MS analysis revealed that cheeses from calf rennet showed the slowest accumulation of free fatty acids over ripening time. Volatile data permitted the differentiation of cheese samples ripened from 30 to 180 days according to the rennet used. Texture analysis differentiated cheeses made with pig and calf rennet from those made with kid rennet, which were less hard and more elastic than the former. Also sensory analysis differentiated cheese samples on the basis of rennet type, and cheeses made with pig rennet showed the lowest elasticity, bitter taste and fruity and hay flavour intensities. CONCLUSIONPig rennet is fundamental to determine the quality parameters of Pecorino di Farindola cheese and could be used to impart peculiar quality features to ewe's milk cheeses. (c) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry