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Ice Cream and ...
Ice Cream (originally iced
cream) is a frozen dessert made from dairy products such as
cream (or substituted ingredients), combined with flavorings and
sweeteners such as sugar. This mixture is cooled while stirring to
prevent large ice crystals from forming. Although the term "ice
cream" is sometimes used to mean frozen desserts and snacks in
general, it is usually reserved for frozen desserts and snacks made
with a high percentage of milk fat. Frozen custard, ice milk, sorbet
and other similar products are sometimes also called ice cream.
Governments often regulate the use of these terms based on
quantities of ingredients.
Composition
Modern industrially-produced ice cream
is made from a mixture of ingredients:
- minimum of 10% milk fat
- 9-12% milk solids: this
component, also known as the serum solids, contains the proteins
(caseins
and whey
proteins) and carbohydrates
(lactose)
found in milk
- 12-16% sweeteners: usually a
combination of sucrose
and/or glucose-based corn
syrup sweeteners
- 0.2-0.5% stabilizers
and emulsifiers,
e.g. agar
or carrageenan
extracted from seaweed
- 55%-64% water which comes from
milk solids or other ingredients
These ingredients, along with air
incorporated during the stirring process, make up ice cream.
Generally, less expensive ice creams contain lower-quality
ingredients (for example, when vanilla
bean is replaced with artificial vanillin),
and more air is incorporated, sometimes as much as 50% of the final
volume. Artisan-produced ice creams, such as Berthillon's,
often contain very little air, although some is necessary to produce
the characteristic creamy texture of the product. Generally
speaking, the finest ice creams have between 3% and 15% air. Because
ice cream is sold by volume, it is economically advantageous for
producers to reduce the density of the product in order to cut
costs. The use of stabilizers rather than cream and the
incorporation of air also decrease the fat and energy content of
less expensive ice creams, making them more appealing to those on diets.
Ice creams come in a wide variety
of flavors, often with additives such as chocolate
flakes or chips, nuts, fruit,
and small candies/sweets.
Some of the most popular ice cream flavors are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry,
and Neapolitan
(a combination of the three). Many people also enjoy ice
cream sundaes, which often have ice cream, hot fudge, nuts,
whipped cream, cherries and other toppings.
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Facts...
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