Instrumental analyses were used to evaluate the rheological properties of regular (10%), reduced-fat (6%) and low-fat (3%)
ice cream mixes and frozen ice creams stored at −18 °C. The reduced-fat and low-fat ice creams were prepared using 4% whey
protein isolate (WPI) or 4% inulin as the fat replacement ingredient. The composition, colour, apparent viscosity, consistency
coefficient, flow behaviour index, hardness and melting characteristics were measured. No effect of WPI or inulin was obtained
on the colour values. Compared with regular ice cream, WPI changed rheological properties, resulting in significantly higher
apparent viscosities, consistency indices and greater deviations from Newtonian flow. In addition, both hardness and melting
resistance significantly increased by using WPI in reduced-fat and low-fat ice creams. Inulin also increased the hardness
in comparison to regular ice cream, but the products made with inulin melted significantly faster than the other samples.
Keywords Ice cream - Whey protein isolate - Inulin - Rheology - Low-fat - Reduced-fat