Quality Characteristics and Probiotics Viability of Pudding by Lactobacillus acidophilus With Soymilk, Inulin, and/or Rice Powder during Cold Storage
This research aimed to investigate the effects of the inoculation method and diverse ingredients on the quality properties and probiotics viability of pudding with milk and/or soymilk. The probiotic strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus, LA-5) was inoculated into the yogurt base and fermented until the pH is 5.10 ± 0.05. The fermented yogurt was added into pudding base (yogurt inoculation), or LA-5 was directly inoculated (direct inoculation). During the storage of the puddings at 4±1oC for 4 wks, the quality characteristics (pH, acidity, texture) and the probiotics viability of pudding were measured and compared. As a result, the puddings with yogurt inoculation showed significantly lower pH and higher acidity than those with direct inoculation. In texture properties, including hardness, chewiness, and gumminess, the addition of rice powder increased those in milk pudding more but the addition of inulin in the milk-soymilk pudding more. The addition of rice powder increased probiotics viability more than inulin in milk and milk-soymilk puddings. Therefore, adding rice and/or inulin can potentially improve the probiotics viability and quality characteristics of pudding.