Evaluation of microbiological, antioxidant, thermal, rheological and sensory properties of ice cream fermented with kefir culture and flavored with mint (Menthaspicata L.)

Kefir is a healthy fermented dairy product, while ice cream is one of the most consumed dairy products. In this research, ice cream was fermented using a commercial kefir culture and flavored with a mint aroma in different proportions: 0% (KI), 0.2% (KIM2), 0.4% (KIM4), and 0.6% (KIM6). The study investigated the microbiological, thermal, rheological, textural, compositional, and sensory properties as well as antioxidant activity of kefir ice cream samples during 45-day storage. The lactic bacilli, lactic cocci, and Leuconostoc counts of samples were >7 log CFU/g, while the yeast counts were <4 log CFU/g. The microbiological properties (except for yeast counts) of the samples were coherent with legal limits. Antioxidant values (except for samples KIM2 and KIM6) values did not indicate significant differences (p <.05). The pH and melting rate values of the samples decreased with the addition of mint flavor, while acidity values increased. The addition of mint aroma caused significant changes in the thermal properties of ice cream. The overrun, a*, WI, and hardness values of the samples decreased based on the mint flavor concentration, whereas the viscosity and rheological increased. Samples KI and KIM2 were scored higher than other samples for all sensory properties. As a result, fermented ice cream flavored (0.2% mint) with mint could be produced as a desirable dairy product with potential functional properties.