Suitability of texture parameters for characterization of Hajdu cheese ripening

The objectives of this study were to monitor the changes in texture parameters of Hajdu cheese during ripening and shelf-life, and to determine the correlations between the changes in instrumental texture parameters and the age or sensory properties of the product. The mechanical parameters of Hajdu cheese samples made by 5 different manufacturing processes were determined with a QTS 25 Texture Profile Analyser. In addition to mechanical tests, composition analyses and sensory tests were performed. The empirical results of the mechanical tests were evaluated with statistical methods (single-valued and multivariate analysis). The age of the product can be estimated from the texture parameters and processed data as well, despite the sample inhomogeneity, which is due to the manufacturing processes.