Use of the Osmometer for Quality Control of Ice Cream Mix1

Abstract

Fourteen brands of commercial vanilla ice cream, purchased at three different times, were analyzed for freezing point, firmness, fat, solids-not-fat, total solids, and net weight. Mean freezing points ranged from −2.65 ± .04 to −3.24 ± .19°C, which indicated ice cream composition and mix formulations varied. Values for mean penetrometer readings ranged from 120 ± 6.0 to 193 ± 34.9 mm; fat, 9.3 ± .23 to 16.8 ± .20%; solids-not-fat, 25.2 ± .17 to 29.6 ± .64%; total solids, 35.5 ± .25 to 42.0 ± .26%; and net weights, 1.026 ± .045 to 1.756 ± .017 kg/1.89 liter. The freezing point osmometer has potential use as a rapid quality control instrument to measure the freezing point of ice cream mix and detect when improper quantities of soluble mix ingredients have been incorporated into the mix. More testing of mix formulations will improve product uniformity and quality and assure compliance with regulatory standards.