INFLUENCE OF FREE FATTY ACIDS, MONOGLYCERIDES AND GLYCEROL ON
THE FROTHING PROPERTIES OF MILK

NANUA J. N, OSORIO L. R, McGREGOR J. U., TRAYLOR S.

Abstract
A study was conducted to find out the contribution of free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol and monoglycerides to milk foaming. Laurie acid and glycerol were added to skim and whole milk at a molar concentration of 0.005, 0.010 and 0.015 lauric acid and 0.011, 0.021 and 0.032 M glycerol. Monoglycerides were added to the milk at the rate of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 % (m/v) instead of glycerol. Steam frothing value (SFV) of the milk was determined using a Expresso machine. Other milk samples were also stored for 15 days at 3+ 0.5° C and SFV determined after 0, 5, 10 and 15 days. Addition of FFA significantly reduced the SFV of the milk. Mean SFV for whole and skim milk was 21.7% and 29.5% respectively and was reduced to 4.0% and 6.3% on addition of 0.015 M lauric acid. Adding 0.1% Monoglycerides reduced the SFV to 5.8% and 8.5% for whole and skim milk respectively. Glycerol had no effect on the SFV. Storing milk for 15 days at 3° C caused a slight decrease in the SFV of whole milk but caused an increase on the SFV of skim milk. This work indicates that only monoglycerides and FFA affect milk frothing. Control of milk fat hydrolysis can be used to influence the foaming properties of milk pro ducts.

Key Words:
Steam frothing value, Milk, Fatty acids, Monoglycerides, Glycerol, Cappuccino, Abbreviation: SFV, FFA

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