Ice cream, one of the most popular cold drinks in summer, is widely loved for its cool taste and rich nutrition. However, do you know what the ice cream production process looks like?Let's take a look at it together.
1. Raw material selection and processing.
The raw materials of ice cream mainly include dairy products, sugar, fruits, etc., and the selection and processing of these raw materials is the first step in the production process. First of all, it is necessary to choose fresh, pollution-free, antibiotic-free raw materials, such as fresh milk, fresh fruits, etc. Secondly, the raw materials should be pretreated, such as washing, peeling, and pitting the fruit.
2. Mixed blending.
Mixing the processed ingredients according to a certain proportion is an important part of ice cream production. Pay attention to the amount of sugar used in the blending process to ensure that the sweetness of the ice cream is moderate. At the same time, it is necessary to add the appropriate amount of stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc., to improve the taste and texture of the ice cream.
3. Homogenization treatment.
Homogenization is an important part of the ice cream production process, with the aim of making the ice cream more delicate and homogeneous. Homogenization needs to be carried out under high pressure, the mixture is heated to a certain temperature, pressurized by a high-pressure pump, and then processed through the homogenization valve, so that the fat, protein and other components in the mixture are fully emulsified to form a uniform ice cream slurry.
Fourth, cooling crystallization.
The homogenized ice cream slurry is cooled to a certain temperature so that the fat, protein and other components in it begin to crystallize. During this process, the temperature and time should be controlled to ensure the quality and taste of the ice cream.
5. Hardening and molding.
After cooling and crystallization, the ice cream needs to be hardened and molded to make it more stable in shape and crisp in taste. Hardening molding needs to be carried out at a lower temperature, usually taking several hours. During this process, the moisture in the ice cream gradually freezes, creating a stable ice cream texture.
6. Packaging and storage.
Hardened ice cream needs to be packaged and stored to preserve its quality and taste. The packaging material should be food-grade materials, and the air should be avoided when packaging to prevent the ice cream from oxidizing and deteriorating. The temperature and humidity should be controlled during storage to ensure the taste and quality of the ice cream.
In short, the production process of ice cream includes raw material selection and processing, mixing and blending, homogenization, cooling and crystallization, hardening and molding, packaging and storage. These links need to be operated in strict accordance with the requirements to ensure that the ice cream produced has a delicate taste, uniform texture and stable quality. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to hygiene and safety in the production process to ensure the hygienic quality of the products.