The Effect of Phospholipids on Milkfat Crystallization Behavior

Abstract

Depending on the production method, the fat component in butter can either be in a continuous phase or entrapped by milk fat globule membranes (MFGM). Phospholipids like those present in the MFGM are known to affect milk fat crystallization behavior. This study examines the effect of MFGM phospholipid concentration on butter crystal structure. Regular raw cream was first concentrated to 85% fat via centrifugation to produce a “plastic” cream, and was then blended with anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and skim milk in order to maintain the total fat-to-water ratio while altering the total amount of MFGM in the butter product. Whereas mixtures of AMF and skim milk contained large spherulites that had finer structures as the degree of supercooling was increased, the addition of globular fat (GF) broke up these structures, eventually producing smaller individual needle-like crystals. However, high levels of GF also lead to the coalescence of the aqueous phase, creating large water pockets that adversely affect sensory properties. Thus, the phospholipid concentration in the final butter product must be controlled in order to obtain optimal crystal structure and product quality.