Comparison of properties of plant-based milk and cow’s milk

Abstract

Consumers are increasingly choosing foods that contain plant-based dairy analogues that are affordable and have high nutritional value, including macro and micronutrients and vitamins. Plant-based milk mimic the taste and consistency of cow’s milk. Plant-based milk contain no hormones or antibiotics compared to animal milk. Physical, chemical and sensory properties of plantbased milk (soy, rice-almond, rice-coconut, and oat) available on the Ukrainian market were determined and compared with those of local cow’s milk. Plant-based milk was an opaque homogeneous liquid of beige color with different tinting and it had a pleasant sweet taste with an aftertaste of raw materials. Plantbased milk had an appearance and consistency similar to cow’s milk. Titratable acidity of plant-based milk did not exceed 21 °T. Titratable acidity of cow’s milk was 16—18 °T. Dry matter content of plant-based milks was in the range of 8.73—9.83%. Dry matter content of cow’s milk was 11.63—12.52%. Density of plant-based milk was in the range of 1027—1032 kg/m3 . Density of cow’s milk was 1028—1029 kg/m3. Protein content of plantbased milk was 2.31—5.12 g/100 ml. Fat content of plant-based milk was 1.5—3.0 g/100 ml. Carbohydrate content of plant-based milk was 2.53—8.01 g/100 ml. In cow’s milk, the protein, fat and carbohydrate contents were 3.34—3.63 g/100 ml, 2.4—2.5 g/100 ml and 4.72—4.74 g/100 ml, respectively. Caloric content of plant-based milk was 46.2—64.2 kcal/100 ml. In plantbased milk, concentration of Ca2+ ions was 682—1058 mg/l and concentration of Mg2+ ions was 96—140 mg/l, which was lower than in cow’s milk. Plant-based milks are not full substitutes for cow’s milk, and their recipe composition needs to be balanced to provide the human body with the necessary nutrients.