Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream

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Photo Credit: Stevep b CCO via Pixabay

Few people can resist the lure of a delicious ice cream scoop or two, especially on a hot day. The only thing that spoils the fun is that the treat is hard to savor slowly, like one would a piece of candy, without ending up with a sticky, melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia's Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana may have found an unlikely ally to help solve this age-old problem — cellulose fiber extracted from banana plant waste.

Bananas, as you probably know, grow in bunches on a tree-like perennial herb. Each cluster is attached to a central stalk, called a rachis, which is discarded once the fruit has been harvested. The team, led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began by extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from powdered rachis. The tasteless, odorless macro fibers, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, were then added in various concentrations to 100 grams of ice cream mix.

A banana rachis is circled in this photo (Credit: Robin Zuluaga Gallego)

With the right amount of CNFs mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than conventional ice cream, extending both its shelf life and the amount of time the treat can be enjoyed. Even more exciting was that the fibers increased the viscosity of low-fat ice cream to levels higher then its full-fat counterpart. Since this is what determine’s the frozen treat’s creaminess and texture, CNFs could help create healthier ice cream without compromising on taste.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in New Orleans on March 21, 2018, next plan to investigate how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, affect the behavior of CNFs in other frozen treats.

Photo Credit: B Kowsky CCO via Pixabay

The Colombian researchers are not the only one working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a naturally occurring protein called BSIA (Bacterial Surface Layer A) was remarkably effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams scrambling to be the first to get to market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks promising.

Resources: newatlas.com, acs.org

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Kolluru, Sowmya. “Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream.” DOGOnews, DOGO Media, Inc., 27 May, 2018, www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

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Kolluru, S. (2018, May 27). Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream. Retrieved 2021, January 25, from https://www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream

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Kolluru, Sowmya. “Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream.” DOGOnews. May 27, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream.
546 Comments
  • rainbowbite
    rainbowbiteThursday, December 10, 2020 at 4:56 pm
    I dream, you dream, we all dream of this ice cream! 🍦🍧🍨
    • wolfieland
      wolfielandTuesday, October 27, 2020 at 12:39 pm
      this is a must need!
      • winterblizzards
        winterblizzardsMonday, October 19, 2020 at 8:08 am
        YUUUUUUM!
        • appledusk657
          appledusk657Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 5:14 am
          Yes! My hands won't have to get wet! I want this ice cream right now! Hooooooooooowwl! Hoooooooooooowwwwl!
          • gachabloxy
            gachabloxyMonday, May 11, 2020 at 6:03 am
            love this,cause i am a gigantic icecream lover :D
            • bsc
              bscThursday, May 7, 2020 at 8:34 am
              Cool!
              • 0953122
                0953122Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 8:09 pm
                I love ice cream !
                • HibbyMonday, November 4, 2019 at 3:58 pm
                  Great information for my science project.
                  • ocean_lover
                    ocean_loverMonday, October 14, 2019 at 5:35 am
                    Now my hands won't be sticky!😆🍦
                    • PriscillaFriday, August 2, 2019 at 5:35 pm
                      So cool!! I love this!Yummy😊😊

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                      Kolluru, Sowmya. “Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream.” DOGOnews, DOGO Media, Inc., 27 May, 2018, www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

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                      Kolluru, Sowmya. “Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream.” DOGOnews, DOGO Media, Inc., 27 May, 2018, Web. 25 Jan. 2021.

                      Chicago

                      Kolluru, Sowmya. “Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream.” DOGOnews. May 27, 2018. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream.

                      APA

                      Kolluru, S. (2018, May 27). Banana Plant Extract May Be The Key To Slower Melting Ice Cream. Retrieved 2021, January 25, from https://www.dogonews.com/2018/5/27/banana-plant-extract-may-be-the-key-to-slower-melting-ice-cream

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