Techno-functional effect of stevia extract substitution on dry fig-fortified ice cream

Added sugar-free functional ice cream was formulated and produced with dry fig (Ficus carica cv. Sarilop) and stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) extract. In this context, four different ice-cream formulations including 1%, 4%, 7%, and 10% (wt:wt) stevia extracts prepared by microwave-assisted method and a sucrose-added control sample were studied. Viscosity values of sucrose-free samples declined with 1% and 4% stevia substitutions, whereas increased with 7% and 10% stevia concentrations compared with the control sample. The 7% stevia-substituted ice cream and sugar-added sample revealed similar viscosities and sensory properties while stevia substitution led to higher complete melting rate (64%), total phenolic content (TPC) (162%), and antioxidant capacities (11% and 31%). Sugar replacement and stevia concentrations significantly affected the pH value, overrun, first dripping time, and color values. Aroma compounds of stevia-added ice creams differed from the control sample and decanal derivatives (octadecanal, 9-octadecenoic acid, and cyclononasiloxane) were of major volatile compounds in added sugar-free samples.