Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
Mozzarella
cheese is a highly popular dairy product; however, the consumption rate of
dairy-based products in Indonesia remains relatively low. One way to extend the
shelf life of milk is by processing it into mozzarella cheese. The production
process of this cheese is highly dependent on the coagulation stage, which
involves acidification using red roselle flower extract. This study aims to
determine the effect of substituting acetic acid with red roselle flower
extract as an acidulant on the moisture content, total solids, total acidity,
and stretchability of mozzarella cheese. The research utilized a Completely
Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments, namely variations in the
concentration of red roselle flower extract: P1 (4%), P2 (5%), and P3 (6%),
compared to the control P0 (without roselle extract). The data obtained were
analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level,
followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that the
use of different concentrations of red roselle flower extract as an acidulant
in mozzarella cheese production caused changes in moisture content, total
solids, total acidity, and stretchability. The best treatment based on all
parameters was P3, which used 6% red roselle flower extract as the acidulant.
The addition of varying concentrations of red roselle flower extract increased
the moisture content, decreased the total solids value, increased total
acidity, and enhanced the stretchability of the mozzarella cheese. The findings
indicate that the addition of red roselle flower extract significantly affected
the moisture content, total solids, total acidity, and stretchability. The P3
treatment with 6% red roselle flower extract produced mozzarella cheese with
higher moisture content and stretchability. The total solids and total acidity
values obtained were close to those of the control. This study demonstrates
that red roselle flower extract can be used as an alternative acidulant in
mozzarella cheese production to improve the final product quality.
Country : Indonesia
IRJIET, Volume 9, Issue 11, November 2025 pp. 238-243