Plant-based cheese analogs: structure, texture, and functionality

Plant-based cheese analogs have been developed using plant-based ingredients to mimic the appearance, structure, and flavor of conventional cheeses. Due to the complex composition and structure of cheese, developing plant-based cheese analogs that completely replicate its physicochemical, structural, sensory, and nutritional features is a highly challenging endeavor. Therefore, the design of the structure of plant-based cheese analogs requires a critical evaluation of the functional features of the selected ingredients and the specialized combination of these ingredients to create a desired structure. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the structure, texture, and functionality of plant-based cheese analogs, covering the formulation and the characteristic properties of the end-use product, such as rheological behavior and microstructural properties, as well as tribology perspectives. Subsequently, the melting and stretchability characteristics of these products have been assessed to comprehend the response of plant-based cheese substitutes when subjected to heat.