Effects of fructose and stevia on the rheological, technological and sensory characteristics of ice cream

Abstract

This study investigated the potential use of fructose and stevia to improve the technological parameters of ice cream. Ice cream was made of 2 different mixtures. Low-fat ice cream mixtures (0.4% fat) were made with: sweet buttermilk, 5% fructose, 20% banana puree, and sweet buttermilk, 5% fructose, 20% pear puree. The ice cream with stevia was made with cream (13% fat), milk, skim milk powder and whey powder, cherry puree (16%) and 0.48% stevia solution (20% concentration). The ice cream with banana showed rapid melting rate and the highest acidity. On the contrary, the ice cream with pear showed lower melting rate, but caused to increase the hardness and resulted with less overall acceptability. The enrichment of the ice cream with stevia and cherry showed the same coherence of hardness and overall acceptability.