High-pressure homogenisation of sheep milk ice cream mix: Physicochemical and microbiological characterisation

The effect of high-pressure homogenisation (HPH) treatment (0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 MPa) of mix on the physicochemical, textural, and microbiological characteristics of sheep milk ice cream was determined. Textural properties of the mix were not affected by HPH. However, HPH increased L*, a*, and b* values of the mix. In HPH-treated mix samples, the mean particle diameter was lower compared with the control. The hardness value of ice cream changed from 43.0 to 58.1 N, and HPH increased it depending on the increasing pressure. The highest overrun (58.3%) was determined in control, whereas the lowest overrun (35.8) was found in HPH-100. Melting time and first dripping time were increased depending on the increasing pressure of HPH, while HPH decreased the melting rate. HPH treatment of mix significantly reduced the microbial loads of ice cream samples. Consequently, HPH treatment can enhance the hardness, melting, and microbiological properties of ice cream from sheep milk.