These days, terms such as keto, paleo, high-protein, plant-based, vegan, even "pegan" (paleo-plus-vegan), describe not just diets but entire lifestyles.
We have often noted the importance of various phenomena, including the agglomerated fat matrix and the size of ice crystals and air bubbles, to the sensory appeal and structural properties of ice cream. Key to managing these phenomena is a complex set of highly variable (sometimes unknown) functionalities.
Need we remind ourselves, ice cream remains the only food produced with the express intent of being consumed frozen. Relevant "rules of engagement" (i.e., Mother Nature's rules of chemistry and physics) are not likely to change any time soon. Thus, contemplating the demands on any given ice cream mix relative to compositional changes under consideration is daunting.
We call the relatively high temperatures in a gelato cabinet the ‘danger zone.’ To mitigate heat shock, use the right sweetener systems and stabilizers.
Gelato is most commonly presented for sale in a dip shop as a semi-solid product characterized by intense color and flavoring. Composition of gelato varies widely and may be positioned as gourmet, super premium or other market terminologies.
It is important to minimize and stabilize the size of ice crystals. Pre-aeration promotes small air bubbles with inherent resistance to growth during manufacturing and handling.
As we have often noted, ice cream is the only food intended to be consumed frozen. Thus, dairy processors need to protect that which fails first, i.e., body and texture (which can be described as bite, chew, smoothness and creaminess.)
Certain ingredients allow ice cream to travel farther and recover from heat shock. But that doesn’t matter to the label-reading consumer. Here are some strategies for ice cream manufacturers to deliver a cleaner label.
Consumer interest in clean labels (that is, the use of ingredients perceived to occur naturally in foods) has created a challenge to ice cream formulators.
With the FDA mulling a requirement to label ‘added sugars,’ now is the time to look at various sweetening systems, and the ramifications of using them.