FROZEN PRODUCT AND METHOD OF MAKING IT

Abstract: Frozen product comprising N₂O hydrate clathrate and method of preparing same.

Description: Effervescent frozen products and their manner of manufacturing are known from EP-A-201 143, involving the incorporation of CO₂-hydrate clathrate into partly frozen or cooled ice mixes. This document discloses a frozen product comprising a mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, an edible gas-hydrate clathrate, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier, fat and/or air and a method of preparing a frozen product comprising combining ice particles which contain gas-hydrate clathrate and an at least partly fluid mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier, and/or air. An object of the invention is to provide frozen confectionery products having different eating characteristics, such as taste, from what was known and to provide a product and a process more suited for several sensitive food ingredients such as proteins. In the continuing development of different compositions, tastes, structures and shapes, it was found that different tastes could be realized by using N₂O instead of at least part of the CO₂ used. Moreover, N₂O clathrate is more compatible with several sensitive food ingredients such as proteins. Accordingly this invention relates to a new frozen product comprising a mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, an edible gas-hydrate clathrate, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier, fat and/or air, characterized in N₂O being at least part of the gas in the gas-hydrate clathrate. Because of N₂O hydrate clathrate being more compatible with proteins the gas hydrate clathrate contained in this product consists of N₂O hydrate clathrate only. The invention relates to a method of preparing a frozen product comprising combining ice particles which contain gas-hydrate clathrate and an at least partly fluid mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier and/or air, which method is characterized in that ice particles which N₂O hydrate clathrate are mixed with said mixture, having a temperature at which no ice melts from said particles. This method results in a frozen product wherein the N₂O containing hydrate clathrate is contained as discrete particles. In this connection reference is being made to US-A-4,393,660 disclosing the preparation of solid gas hydrates which can be either made from pure water or from aqueous solutions such as beverages and various materials including sugar, colour, flavour, acidulents and the like. A great many gases may be used according to this document including hydrogen sulphides, methylene chloride, helium, argon, krypton, neon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxyde, nitrous oxide and chlorine; the latter three being preferred although carbon dioxide only is exemplified both for the manufacture and the application of the hydrate. The invention will be exemplified by the following example. EXAMPLE An ice mix containing : is processed in a usual manner and finally whipped and frozen in a scraped-wall heat exchanger to -5°C to prepare a creamy, soft-frozen chocolate ice mass. Particulate N₂O clathrate having a particle size of from 0.5 to 3 mm is admixed in an amount of 10% by weight to the creamy chocolate ice, which is thereafter stored below -20°C.

Claims: Frozen product comprising a mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, an edible gas-hydrate clathrate, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier, fat and/or air, characterized in N₂O forming at least part of the gas in the clathrate. A frozen product according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas hydrate clathrate consists of N₂O clathrate. A frozen confection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the N₂O containing hydrate clathrate is contained in that product as discrete particles. A method of preparing a frozen confection comprising combining ice particles which contain gas-hydrate clathrate and an at least partly fluid mixture of water, sweetener, flavour, protein and, if required, stabilizer, emulsifier, and/or air, characterized in that ice particles which contain N₂O hydrate clathrate are mixed with said mixture, having a temperature at which no ice will melt from said particles.

Inventors: BEE, RODNEY DAVID
Applicants: UNILEVER N.V., UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A23G9
IPC codes: C01B31, A23G9