Temperature and concentration dependent effect of partial glycerides on milk fat crystallization

Abstract Two diglycerides (distearin and diolein) and two monoglycerides (monostearin and monoolein) were added to milk fat in a concentration of 0.5% and 1%. The isothermal crystallization behavior was evaluated at 22 °C, 23.5 °C, 25 °C and 26.5 °C by DSC and pNMR. The crystallization kinetic was quantified by means of two models. It was noticed that the effect of the minor components on the crystallization behavior depends on temperature and concentration. The type of esterified fatty acids and the polar head of the amphiphilic molecule determine to what extent partial glycerides influence the nucleation and crystal growth of triglycerides. Moreover the degree of insolubility of partial glycerides in the melt determines which effect (on growth or on nucleation) predominates. Stearic acid based partial glycerides enhance nucleation at low temperatures, while at higher temperatures an interaction with the crystal growth predominates. Oleic acid based partial glycerides have an effect on the nucleation process while no interaction with the crystal growth was observed.