Posted on 02/02/2025 3:11:42 PM PST by Red Badger
Researcher Alejandro Marangoni demonstrates the stretchy properties of his team’s plant-based cheese analog. Credit: Alejandro Marangoni Researching the interactions between plant-based proteins and fat matrices can enhance the texture and nutritional quality of vegan cheeses.
Plant-based dairy products offer a popular alternative for those who avoid animal products, but manufacturers struggle to replicate the rich, creamy texture that makes traditional dairy so appealing.
To address this challenge, scientists from the University of Guelph in Ontario and Canadian Light Source Inc. in Saskatchewan are developing plant-based cheese that closely mimics the taste and texture of real cheese while providing improved health benefits.
In a study published in Physics of Fluids by AIP Publishing, researchers examined various plant-based proteins and their interactions with alternative cheese structures to better understand how to recreate the desirable qualities of dairy cheese.
“If you wanted to strictly only eat plant-based products, you would end up eating a lot of beans and tofu, which can be little bit boring after a while,” said author Alejandro Marangoni. “Now, consumers expect essentially the same animal product but with plant-based ingredients, which is very difficult.”
Understanding Plant Proteins for Better Texture
To create a cheesy product with the same texture as the real thing, scientists need to study a variety of physical attributes such as the melting, stretching, and oil release upon grilling and heating.
“The behavior of milk proteins and meat proteins is reasonably well understood, but knowledge about the functionality of plant proteins is lacking,” Marangoni said. “There is also a huge variety of different plant proteins, each one very different from one another.”
Previous research concluded that a blend of 25% coconut oil, 75% sunflower oil, and pea protein created a desirable cheese texture. In this research, Marangoni and his team studied isolates from three proteins (lentil protein, faba bean protein, and a particular type of pea protein) and observed how the isolates interacted with the oil and with the starch matrix of the cheese alternative.
They found that increasing the coconut oil increased the hardness of cheeses, but cheese with pea protein and 25% coconut oil had the firmest texture due to their unique protein-fat interactions. This formulation matched or surpassed the melt, oil loss, and stretch of the cheese analogs made with 100% coconut oil.
Using a blend of sunflower and coconut oil decreased the saturated fat content of the cheese, creating a healthy and sustainable alternative to dairy cheeses and other plant-based cheeses.
“Ultimately we want to improve the nutrition, increase the protein content, and lower the saturated fat content of cheese alternatives,” Marangoni said. “But keeping all the functionality in there, which includes the melt and the stretch of the ‘cheese,’ is very difficult.”
Reference:
“Impact of protein sources on the functionality of plant-based cheeses formulated with saturated and unsaturated fat”
by Cameryn Sanders, Jarvis A. Stobbs, Stacie Dobson and Alejandro G. Marangoni, 14 January 2025, Physics of Fluids.
DOI: 10.1063/5.0238556
Or a Mazola bottle...................
Or a Mazola bottle...................
DEI cheese
Will it replace another "closely mimics" faux cheese product?
They should call it ‘SHEEZE’................
No more pre-packaged shredded cheese packets, make America grate again!
Or Sneeze ( for soft cheese )
Actually a young couple brought in acvegan cheese startup and provided samples last week on Shark Tank and the rich, entitled, snooty Sharks loved it, especially the Fake Brie. ( Coulda been a rerun ).
Austin Mom and Pop company. I was surprised it wasn’t awful. Those “sharks”are usually merciless about even marginally competitive products esp Kevin, it’s their schtik. But nope. So maybe a niche product for allergic folks.
Yeah I know Shark Tank is mental junk food.
The Happ-peas!
Looks like they’re having a ball with their podcast.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 🫛
Peas on Earth, Gouda will toward men!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.