Yogurt can be considered an excellent alternative for utilization of buffalo milk. However, consumers may have some acceptance problems in relation to buffalo yogurt because of the original high fat content of the milk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate some characteristics of stirred plain yogurt produced from buffalo milk with the following fat levels: whole milk, 3.0% (standardized) and 0.5% (skim). Yogurts were stored in 1L polyethylene bottles at 5°C for 30 days. Samples were collected at 1, 15 and 30 days of storage and submitted to the following analysis: acidity, pH, viscosity and sensorial evaluation. Acidity and pH values showed no differences (P > 0.05) among treatments during storage. Viscosity was not influenced (P > 0.05) by fat content in yogurts on days 1, 15 and 30 after manufacture. Standardized yogurt obtained higher scores (P < 0.05) for taste in sensorial analysis at 15 and 30 days storage. It is concluded that skimming of buffalo milk does not alter the studied physical and chemical properties of yogurt during storage for 30 days, and that standardized yogurt at 3.0% fat shows a better sensorial quality.
buffalo milk; fermented milks; analysis
