Designing novel ice creams using nut oil emulsion gels based on blueberry pectin and CaCl2 as fat replacers: Insights from physicochemical and sensory properties

This study aimed to utilize blueberry pectin and calcium chloride to design a gel network structure for loading nut oils (peanut and walnut oil, respectively). The optimization of emulsion gel preparation was conducted through orthogonal experiments, utilizing the oil-holding ratio and gel strength as critical indicators. The emulsion gel was applied to the ice cream production. It was revealed that the peroxide value of the nut oil emulsion gels was significantly lower than that of nut oils. Both nut oil emulsion gel ice creams exhibited higher expansion rates, lower melting rates, and decreased hardness than the nut oil ice creams. Notably, walnut oil emulsion gel ice cream demonstrated a melting rate similar to traditional butter-based ice cream. Emulsion gel ice cream has higher fat globule instability and viscosity. Overall, the comprehensive emulsion gel ice cream indicators were comparable to conventional butter ice cream and notably superior to peanut and walnut oil ice cream. Using emulsion gel as a fat substitute in ice cream was feasible. The implications of these results were significant for advancing the utilization of nut oil emulsion gel within the ice cream industry.