Effects of dried dairy ingredients on physical and sensory properties of nonfat yogurt.

Physical and sensory attributes are important factors that influence food acceptance and choices. In this study, sensory and texture properties of nonfat yogurts made from reconstituted skim milk powder (SMP) fortified with SMP as a control, whey protein isolate (WPI), yogurt texture improver (TI), and sodium caseinate (NaCn) were investigated over a 12-d storage period. Viscosity and syneresis were measured as physical quality parameters. Descriptive sensory analysis was carried out for each sample to determine the profiles of the products. Consumer acceptance testing (n = 143 consumers) was also conducted to measure the acceptability of yogurts; panelists were asked to rank their preference for the different yogurt samples. Differences among physical and sensory attributes of yogurts were defined. Addition of WPI improved the physical properties of yogurts, resulting in the highest viscosity and the lowest syneresis. On the other hand, yogurt with WPI did not have desirable sensory properties. The descriptive panel indicated that yogurt with WPI had the lowest fermented flavor attribute. In general, yogurts fortified with NaCn and TI displayed better physical and sensory properties than did control and WPI-fortified yogurts. Consumer testing showed that yogurts with NaCn and TI were not different from the control with regard to their flavor acceptability. Yogurts fortified with NaCn and TI were the most preferred samples by Turkish consumers.