Method for smear-ripening of cheese
A method for smear-ripening a cheese is disclosed. The method includes a step of applying an envelope on a freshly brined cheese which is in direct physical contact with the surface of the cheese and which is permeable for metabolites produced by microorganisms and for microorganisms themselves and for components of the cheese and for gaseous elements, in particular surrounding air, followed by ripening the cheese within the envelope. A cheese obtained by the method is less susceptible to develop an off-odour after storage in a packaging material, in particular an air-tight packaging material, than a comparable cheese that was not produced according to the above method. Furthermore, such cheese typically contains a residual smear layer of not more than 10% of a comparable cheese.
1 . A method for producing smear-ripened cheese, comprising the steps:
(a) applying an envelope on a pressed and freshly brined cheese, said envelope being in direct physical contact with the surface of the cheese, said envelope being permeable for metabolites produced by microorganisms and for microorganisms themselves and for components of the cheese and for gaseous elements;
(b) ripening the cheese within the envelope;
(c) removing the envelope with thereon adherent part of a smear formed during ripening; and
(d) packaging the cheese for transport and/or sale; and
wherein the envelope comprises knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, or non-woven fabrics.
2 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the envelope contains pores having a mean size in the range of 0.01 mm-2.00 mm, wherein the mean size relates to
a) in case of a circular pore, the pore size relates to the diameter of the pore; or
b) in case of an oval or polygonal shape of the pore, the pore size relates to the distance between the most distant points or corners of the pore as measured by light microscopy.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope is 10-500% elastic as measured according to DIN EN 14704-1.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope comprises materials selected from the group consisting of natural polymeric materials, synthetic polymeric materials, and mixtures thereof, wherein the natural polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cotton, wool, silk, cashmere and mixtures thereof, and wherein the synthetic polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of cellulose-derivatives, polyamides, elastomers, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyesters, polyethylene glycols, acrylics, and mixtures thereof.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the envelope consists of a mixed fabric of (i) modal or micromodal and (ii) elastane.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope comprises knitted or woven-fabrics consisting of yarns having a linear mass density of 5-165 DTEX.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, before step (a), the envelope is in an elastically extended state.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (b) is divided into the following steps:
(b1) immersing the enveloped cheese in a smear liquid, optionally comprising surface starter organisms; and
(b2) keeping the cheese humid by spraying onto said cheese water, optionally comprising 2-5% sodium chloride, at regular time intervals, which are adjustable during the ripening period.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gaseous elements are surrounding air.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope comprises knitted fabrics.
11 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein, when the envelope comprises cellulose-derivatives, the cellulose-derivatives are cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose.
12 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein, when the envelope comprises polyolefins, the polyolefins are polypropylenes.
13 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein, when the envelope comprises polyesters, the polyesters are polyethylene terephthalate.
14 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the envelope comprises knitted fabrics.
15 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the wherein the envelope comprises knitted or woven-fabrics consisting of yarns having a linear mass density of 15-100 DTEX.