Changes in quality of nonaged pasta filata Mexican cheese during refrigerated vacuum storage

Six batches of Oaxaca cheese (a Mexican pasta filata cheese) from 3 dairy plants were sampled and vacuum-packaged at 8°C up to 24 d. Counts of principal microbial groups, pH, levels of sugars, organic acids, lipolytic and proteolytic indices, and texture, color, and meltability values of cheeses were studied at d 1, 8, 16 and 24 of storage. A descriptive sensory analysis of selected taste, odor, and texture characteristics was also carried out. The main changes in the cheeses during the storage were decreases in pH, hardness, elasticity, and whiteness, and an increase in meltability. Neither lipolytic nor proteolytic activities were evident during the storage of cheeses. Storage time resulted in a gradual quality loss of unmelted cheeses. This loss of quality might be related to the decrease of hardness and the appearance off-flavors.