Influence of formulation on the structural networks in ice cream

Six different formulations, corresponding to three types of fat (hydrogenated or refined coconut oils or refined palm oil) and two mixtures of mono- and di-glycerides, namely saturated and partially unsaturated were chosen to investigate the influence of the oil phase nature and the low molecular weight emulsifier type on the networks present in ice cream. Ice creams were characterized for particle size distribution of fat globules, melting resistance and amount of proteins in the aqueous phase. Variation of rheological parameters as a function of temperature allowed following the ice network melting, the fat globule aggregation state and destabilization, and the structural arrangement of proteins. Presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the emulsifier promoted an increased percentage of agglomerated fat globules, increased melting time and higher storage modulus values at 5 °C. The influence of the fat type on ice cream characteristics was mainly illustrated by different rheological parameters and, to a lesser extent, by melting time, whereas the amount of proteins in the aqueous phase did not allow discriminating among the formulations.