LOW FAT PROCESSED CHEESE SLICE-ON-SLICE AND BLOCK

摘要

Low fat (less than 5 percent, but preferably less than 3 percent) cheese slice-on-slice and block products. The product can be made with natural skim milk cheese; additional dairy solids; and have from about 53 to about 55 total weight percent of water; from about 2 to about 2.8 total weight percent of emulsifier salts of at least citrate, such as di-sodium citrate and optionally a phosphate, such as di-sodium phosphate. Citrate/phosphate ratios can be up to about 50/50. The product can have 20 to 30 total weight percent protein, of which from about 12 to 25 total percent weight is functional casein protein; and moisture/functional casein protein ratio from about 22 to 56 percent. Methods to manufacture can include blending and hydrating components before cooking with steam and pressure; followed by vacuum flashing, forming into a sheet or extruding under pressure into a block, and applying an anti-tacking agent.