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Dairy salt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SaltingbutteratBriarcliff FarmsinBriarcliff Manor, New York,1906

Dairy saltis aculinary salt(sodium chloride) product used in the preparation ofbutterandcheeseproducts that serves to add flavor and act as afood preservative.[1][2][3]Dairy salt can vary in terms of quality and purity, with purer varieties being the most desirable for use in foods. Dairy salt has been used since at least the 1890s in England and the United States. In butter preparation, it serves to retain moisture, while in cheeses, it tends to reduce water content and slow the ripening process.

Purity

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Quality dairy salts have been described as having favorable solubility properties for use in butter and cheese, and the softness and form of the salt crystals is one of the determining factors of overall quality.[4]The purity of dairy salt is defined by the amount of sodium chloride present in the product, and those with at least 98% sodium chloride have been described as being of sound purity.[5]Highly pure dairy salt has a pure white coloration, a uniformity in grain, and lacks any offensive odors or bitter flavor.[2]Dairy salt products of lower purity may have a bitter flavor and poor solubility.[6]The use of impure dairy salt can have adverse effects upon butter, spoiling its flavor,[5][7]grain, and preservation.[7]Impure dairy salt can make cheeses bitter, reducing their value. Impurities that may occur in dairy salt include calcium sulphate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and to a lesser extent, sodium sulphate and magnesium sulphate.[8]

History

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An 1819 newspaper advertisement for various salts, including dairy salt
An 1893 advertisement including content about The American Dairy Salt Co. Lt'd.

In the 1890s, many brands of dairy salt were available.[4]In England during this time, the Ashton and Higgins Eureka Salt brands were available (among others), and were used in the United States.[4]U.S. brands of dairy salt in the 1890s includedDiamond Crystal Saltand Genesee Salt, among others.[4]Almost all of these brands were very pure, being 98–99% sodium chloride.[4]

In 1899, it was estimated that around 82 million pounds of salt were used in the United States specifically for dairy purposes.[2]At that time, this amount of salt was valued at US $800,000.[2]

In 1914, it was written that American and Danish authorities were in agreement that large-sized, flatflake saltis the best type of dairy salt for use in butter products.[7]During this time, almost all dairy salt was prepared using the process of evaporation. Some techniques included leavingbrinein the sun to evaporate, or heating it with fire underneath iron pans, with the salt crystals remaining after the liquid evaporated.[7]Additional methods included the Michigan grainer process and the vacuum pan process.[7]

In the 1920s, calcium sulphate was one of the most common impurities in dairy salt.[9]During this time, theUnited States Department of Agriculture's had a 1.4% maximum allowance for calcium sulphate in dairy salt and table salt.[9]

Uses

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Butter

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Dairy salt serves to retain moisture and increase the weight of butter products, adds flavor[7]and serves as a preservative[5]and antimicrobial, which can prevent bacterial contamination.[10][11]Dairy salt used in butter preparation is sometimes referred to as butter salt[4]and buttersalt.[12]

Cheese

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Dairy salt has been used in the preparation of cheeses. Its use can add flavor to cheeses, and it tends to reduce the water content in cheeses, which can influence theripeningprocess.[2]The use of impure dairy salt can make cheeses bitter in flavor, reducing their value.[2]The use of too much salt in cheese can adversely affect its flavor, resulting in a product with a mealy and dry texture that is slow to ripen.[13]

Dairy salt is used incheddar cheese,[1]and serves to add flavor and reduce moisture.[13]The reduction of moisture inhibits fermentation and slows the ripening process, which can produce a higher-quality cheese in terms of flavor and consistency.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abBulletin 1895.
  2. ^abcdefPieters, A.J.; Flint, D.; Garriott, E.B.; Wickson, E.J.; Lamson-Scribner, F.; Brackett, G.B.; Atwater, H.W.; Alvord, H.E.; Withcombe, J.; Howard, L.O. (1899).Experiment Station Work.Bread and the Principles of Bread Making.U.S. Department of Agriculture.pp. 28–30.RetrievedNovember 17,2015.
  3. ^Block, D.R.; Rosing, H.B. (2015).Chicago: A Food Biography.Big City Food Biographies. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 151.ISBN978-1-4422-2727-9.
  4. ^abcdefThe Dairy Messenger.Libby & Sherwood Print Company. 1890. pp. 48–49.
  5. ^abcDairy Produce.Chicago Produce Company. 1916. p. 27.
  6. ^Lenoir, Rogers & Ward 1924.
  7. ^abcdefThe Pacific Dairy Review.Saylor Publishing Company. 1914. pp. 385–386.RetrievedNovember 17,2015.
  8. ^"The Dairy World".Volume 2.Dearborn Trade Journal Company. 1923. pp. 27–28.Retrieved17 November2015.Common Impurities in Salt Quoting a government bulletin on the subject: "The common imparities in dairy salt are calcium sulphate (gypsum), calcium and magnesium chlorides, sometimes sodium sulphate or, perhaps, magnesium sulphate;...
  9. ^abWichmann, H.J. (1917).Detection of Lime Used as a Neutralizer in Dairy Products.Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Agriculture. pp.15–19.
  10. ^Lück, E.; Laichena, S.F.; Jager, M. (2012).Antimicrobial Food Additives: Characteristics – Uses – Effects.Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 67.ISBN978-3-642-59202-7.
  11. ^Acton, Q.A. (2013).Colon Cancer: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional: 2013 Edition.ScholarlyEditions. p. 665.ISBN978-1-4816-5791-4.
  12. ^International Dairy Federation (1995).Bulletin, Issues 300–308.Secrétariat Général. p. 104.
  13. ^abcDecker, John W. (1895)."Cheddar Cheese Making".John W. Decker, B.Agr. (Bachelor of Agriculture), Instructor in Dairying, University of Wisconsin. pp. 53–56.Retrieved17 November2015.

Bibliography

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  • "A Study of Dairy Salt".Bulletin.Democrat Company, state printers. 1895. pp. 3–45.Retrieved17 November2015.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  • Lenoir, K.D.; Rogers, L.A.; Ward, M. (1924).Proceedings of the World's Dairy Congress.U.S. Govt. Print. Off. p. 967.The methods of manufacturing salt did not give as high a percentage of sodium chloride as the dairy salt of today contains, and impurities in some brands of salt could be easily detected by their bitter flavor and insoluble condition. Kent and...

Further reading

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  • Woll, F.W. (1899).A Study of Dairy Salt.Bulletin (University of Wisconsin. Agricultural Experiment Station). University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Experiment Station.
  • Aggarwal, S.C. (1977).The salt industry in India.Controller of Publications. pp. 395, 532.
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