Food Quality: Why Measure the pH of Yogurt?

YogurtYogurt is made from concentrated milk fermentation. The quality of the product depends on production control of lactic acid formed by fermentation. Lactic acid provides the tart flavor and the destabilization of milk protein forms the gel structure. pH measurement monitors lactic acid production and aids in the quality control of yogurt’s ingredients.

The production of yogurt starts by selecting and blending the correct ingredients, like milk concentrate and other dairy products, thickening agents, sweeteners, and fruit. These ingredients add the correct solids, viscosity, and flavor. The blend of ingredients is homogenized at high pressures to prevent fat separation and cause solid dispersion. Next, the temperature is raised to destroy harmful microorganisms and restructure protein to help with the viscosity. After cooling, the smarter culture, which contains a particular lactic fermentation bacteria, is added to the mix. Incubation then takes between 4 and 11 hours.

During fermentation, lactose (milk sugar) converts to lactic acid, decreasing the pH values to a range of 4.25 to 4.5. Bacterial action is stopped by rapid cooling at the right lactic acid level. pH meters are the best instrumentation to determine the completion time of fermentation. Incorrect pH levels can lead to discoloration, excessive free whey, and excess or insufficient tartness.

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2 Comments on "Food Quality: Why Measure the pH of Yogurt?"

  1. Borokinni Olufemi Johnson | June 27, 2020 at 8:14 pm | Reply

    How do we stop yogurt from being sour and disloloured

    • Hello:

      I will forward your question to our technical team to see if they can answer your question. Unfortunately, we do not produce yogurt, but may have a few products to help you test your product.
      Thanks!

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