Frozen confection product

Abstract: A method of manufacturing frozen confection products without any appreciable overrun by slush freezing an ice mix comprising up to 10% and preferably from 0 to 0.5% of fat and comprising 0.2 to 0.5% of overrun restricting stabilizer and thereafter freezing hard to a usual storage temperature. A frozen confection without any appreciable overrun and containing up to 8 to 10% fat but preferably being fat-free, having a melt down rate of at most 0.175 g/min between 4 and 24% weight loss and a total weight loss of 30 to 80%, determined with a cylindrical sample of 2.5 cm diameter weighing 10 g, equilibrated at -20°C and exposed to an ambient temperature of 18° to 20°C while supported on a horizontal steel wire netting of 2.5 x 2.5 mm mesh size.

Description: The invention relates to a frozen confection product without any appreciable overrun, e.g. below 20%, and in particular without overrun and to a method of manufacturing it. Frozen confection products without appreciable overrun, particularly in hot climates and other warm environments, often suffer the problem of a high melting rate, resulting in molten material leaking off the products thereby soiling the hands, clothes etc. of the consumer. This is in particular true for low fat frozen confections, comprising up to 8 to 10% of fat, like water ice and ice milk and especially for fat free products, in practice comprising up to 0.5% of fat. For a definition of "water ice" and "ice milk" may be referred to well known handbooks on frozen desserts such as "Ice Cream" by W. S. Arbuckle. US 4 021 583 (Arden) describes a quiescently frozen fat free fruit water ice product which has increased resistance to melting compared to previously known water-ices and increased protection against stickiness in storage. US 4 832 976 (Griffin et al) discloses a low-solids, non-aerated, quiescently-frozen confection having a soft, non-brittle texture without a gummy texture and which does not exhibit a squeak characteristic when the product is bitten into. The benefits are derived from a combination of maltodextrin, glycerin and gelatin. It is an object of the invention to provide frozen confection products and a method of manufacture of these products having an acceptable melting rate without including an undue amount of additives like thickeners whereby the taste or other organoleptic properties, such as mouth feel and texture properties would be deteriorated. To that end the invention provides a method of manufacturing a frozen confection product without any appreciable overrun wherein an ice mix comprising up to 10% fat and preferably from 0 to 0.5% fat and comprising 0.2 to 0.5% of overrun restricting stabilizer such as locust bean gum is slush frozen and thereafter frozen hard to a usual storage temperature, which is in practice between -20°C and -40°C but usually is about -30°C. In a preferred embodiment from 0.2 to 0.4% of stabilizer is used. Optimal results are obtained if the stabilizer is at least predominantly composed of locust bean gum (LBG), although smaller amounts of other stabilizers, in particular those for water ices and sherbets, usually do not harm. The invention also provides a frozen confection product without any appreciable overrun, e.g. below 20%, and in particular without overrun, having a melt down rate of at most 0.175 g/min between 4 and 24% overall weight loss and a total weight loss of 30 to 80%, determined with a cylindrical sample of 2.5 cm diameter weighing 10 g, equilibrated at -20°C and exposed to an ambient temperature of 18 to 20°C while supported on a horizontal steel wire netting of 2.5 x 2.5 mm mesh size. For optimum taste and other organoleptic and texture properties a total weight loss between 50 and 80% is preferred. For the same reason an amount of stabilizer not exceeding 0.5% and in particular being comprised between 0.2 and 0.4% is to be preferred. Best results are obtained if the stabilizer is at least predominantly composed of LBG (locust bean gum). The invention will be exemplified in the following description of some embodiments which are at present to be preferred. Parts and percentages are by weight in this specification and claims and refer to the total amount of ice mix, unless otherwise indicated. Example I A water ice mix consisting of 12% sucrose 3.5% fructose 0.6% citric acid .25% LBG 16% lemon juice (1x concentrated) .08% flavour 67.57% water is frozen to a temperature fluctuating between -4.0° and -4.2°C in a usual scraped surface heat exchanger to form a partly frozen thick slush. This slush is filled into a cylindrical mould of 2.5 cm diameter to form 50 gram portions which are frozen hard to a storage temperature of -30°C. For determining the melt down properties a 10 g sample is cut from a portion and equilibrated for 24 hours at - 20°C. Thereafter this sample is put on a horizontal steel wire netting of 2.5 x 2.5 mm mesh size at an ambient temperature of 18° to 20°C. Molten product leaking off the sample is continuously monitored using a recording balance. The times at which weight losses of 0.4 g and 2.4 g are reached are recorded, being after 25 min and 40 min respectively. Therefrom a melt down rate of 0.14 g/min may be calculated. After 90 min no fluid dripped off the sample any more, indicative of an equilibrium state, at which a weight loss of 60.3% was recorded. Examples II to IV The procedure of Example I was repeated with the following differences: Example initial freezing temp. °C % LBG melt down rate g/min total loss % II -4.0 to -4.3 .35 0.10 54.5 III -3.8 to -4.1 .45 0.07 65.4 IV -2.2 to -2.3 .45 0.05 55.5

Claims: A method of manufacturing frozen confection products having less than 20% overrun having a meltdown rate of at most 0.175% g/min, between 4% and 24% overall weight loss and a total weight loss of 30% to 80%, determined with a cylindrical sample of 2.5 cm diameter weighing 10g, equilibrated at -20°C and exposed to an ambient temperature of 18 to 20°C while supported on a horizontal steel wire netting of 2.5 x 2.5 mm mesh size; wherein i) an ice mix comprising up to 10% of fat and a stabiliser which is predominantly locust bean gum is slush frozen, and ii) thereafter frozen hard. a method according to any claim 1 wherein the product comprises 0% to 0.5% fat. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the stabiliser is present in the ice mix in an amount of up to 0.5%. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the stabiliser is present in the ice mix in an amount of from 0.2% to 0.5%. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the total weight loss is 50% to 80%. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the slush frozen material is transferred to a mould before being frozen hard.

Inventors: BRACEY JOHN DOUGLAS, DYKS STEPHEN JOHN, SZTEHLO ANDREW, BRACEY, JOHN DOUGLAS, DYKS, STEPHEN JOHN,, SZTEHLO, ANDREW, BRACEY, JOHN DOUGLAS, UNILEVER RESEARCH COLWORTH, DYKS, STEPHEN JOHN, UNILEVER RESEARCH COLWORTH, SZTEHLO, ANDREW, UNILEVER RESEARCH COLWORTH
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, UNILEVER N.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A23G9
IPC codes: A23G9