Study of the cheese salting process by dielectric properties at microwave frequencies

The salting process involves complex phenomena that affect the overall quality of cheese due to its effect on water activity and induced biochemical changes. The permittivity of cheese was analysed throughout the cheese salting treatment in order to relate it to water and salt transport. The salting treatment was carried out using 25% (w/w) sodium chloride brine at 4 °C. The samples were immersed in a vessel containing the osmotic solution with continuous stirring, for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, 480, 720, 900 and 1440 min. Samples were subsequently equilibrated in an isothermal chamber at 4 °C for 24 h. Mass, volume, surface water activity, moisture, ion content and permittivity were determined in fresh and salted samples. Permittivity was measured from 500 MHz to 20 GHz, using an open-ended coaxial probe connected to a Vector Network Analyser. The results showed that measurements at 20 GHz explain the water loss and water flux in the overall product. The state of the electrolytes in cheese can be followed using the ionic conductivity at 500 MHz. A coupled measurement of permittivity at 20 GHz and 500 MHz can predict the chemical species involved in the cheese salting process, and its structural changes. In conclusion, the measurement of permittivity in the microwave range can be used to monitor the salting cheese process.