Cheese True Density Prediction by Linear Equations.

Knowledge of cheese density is necessary to accurately predict heat exchange rate occurring during cheese curd cooling or cheese processing, freezing and thawing. Cheese density data are poor in literature. True density of 22 different cheeses was measured by the water displacement method. Linear equations able to predict cheese density from its components mass fraction have been elaborated and vali- dated. The best fit between measured and predicted values was obtained when all the major cheese components were considered in the equation. Also, equations based only on nonfat total solids or moisture and fat content gave a good previ- sion, resulting in an alternative to the universal formula based on components volume fraction that overestimates cheese true density, if air content is not taken into account. The proposed equations may become a powerful instrument to cor- rectly predict true density and to improve accuracy of heat exchange prediction models.