Characterisation of physicochemical, microbiological, thermal, oxidation properties and fatty acid composition of butter produced from thermosonicated cream

The effects of thermosonication of cream on physicochemical, microbiological, thermal, oxidation properties and fatty acid composition of butter were determined. Butter samples were produced from cream thermosonicated (TS) for 5, 10, or 15 min and from raw (R) and pasteurised (P) cream as controls. Thermosonication decreased moisture content, water activity, and pH of samples when compared with control groups. Mean particle size (D [3.2]) values of TS samples were lower than the R and P samples. Thermosonication improved spreadability compared with that of butter from pasteurised cream. Oxidative stability (induction time) of TS samples was lower than R, but higher than P. Two melting peaks were determined; in all samples, the Tonset of the first peak ranged from 11.39 to 11.93 °C, and the Tpeak was between 14.01 and 14.14 °C. Thermosonication significantly reduced total bacteria count and can improve spreadability, oxidative stability, and microbial safety of butter samples.