Method for manufacturing a frozen confection

Abstract

Ice particles are known to sinter over time. However the inventors have observed that ice particles coated with hydrophobic particles are storage stable. Thus a method of manufacturing a frozen confection comprising as ingredients: (a) 40 to 85, preferably 55 to 75 w/w water in liquid and frozen forms; (b) 0 to 30, preferably 0.2 to 20, more preferably 0.3 to 16% w/w first fat; (c) 5 to 45, preferably 10 to 40, more preferably 12 to 35% w/w freezing point depressant; (d) 0 to 7, preferably 0.3 to 6, more preferably 0.5 to 5% w/w aerating agent; and (e) 0.5 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, more preferably 2 to 5% w/w stabilising particles, wherein the frozen confection has an overrun of at least 10, preferably at least 15, most preferably at least 30% v/v when comprising aerating agent, wherein the surface of the stabilising particles is hydrophobic, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Providing ice and/or frozen fruit and/or frozen vegetable particles at least partially coated with the stabilising particles; (b) Providing one or more non-frozen concentrate components comprising any remaining ingredients, wherein one or more of the concentrate components is optionally aerated, wherein the temperature of the one or more concentrate components is independently no higher than 10, preferably 5 degrees centigrade; (c) Mixing the ice and/or frozen fruit and/or frozen vegetable particles provided in step (a) with the one or more of the non-frozen concentrate components provided in step (b); (d) Optionally hardening the mixture of step (c) by cooling it to a temperature of −15 to −25 degrees centigrade; thereby to form the frozen confection, wherein the ice and/or frozen fruit and/or frozen vegetable particles are selected from the group consisting of: (a) A size distribution of number average length 1-500, preferably 5-200, most preferably 0-100 microns; (b) A size distribution of number average length 100-3000, preferably 250-3000, most preferably 500-3000 microns; (c) A size distribution with a number average length of a first population 500-5000, preferably 750-5000, most preferably 1000-5000 microns, and (d) A size distribution of the combination of the distributions of (a) and (c).