The Drip by AQUALAB: Exploring Ice Cream Science with Abigail Thiel
02/12/25 • 18 min
Abigail Thiel is a Food Scientist and YouTuber of ‘Abbey the Food Scientist’. She is a postdoctoral researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, focusing on food quality and design, with a particular interest in ice cream microstructure, healthier fat alternatives, and sustainable food production. She joins The Drip to delve into the fascinating world of ice cream science, from its microstructure to the intricacies of creating healthier and more sustainable sweet treats.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- What are the ice cream terms "variegates" and "inclusions”?
- Understanding the healthier fats in ice cream.
- Creating a food science YouTube channel.
- Precision fermentation: milk proteins from yeast.
00:00 Ice Cream Texture Research Funding
03:48 Started YouTube During Covid Lockdown
08:40 Yeast-Based Milk Protein Production
12:50 Abby's Food Science Courses Online
15:31 Tackling Ice Cream Moisture Migration
16:36 "Mesmerizing Down Tempo Collaboration"
Jump to:
(00:53) How Abby started studying the science of ice cream through a USDA-funded project focusing on healthier fats.
(03:46) The difference between variegates and inclusions and their importance in ice cream.
(07:22) Balancing texture and health in food, and how it is a central theme in Abby's research.
(11:53) Abby's venture into YouTube during the COVID-19 lockdown.
(14:37) This episode’s song recommendation.
(15:28) This episode’s mantra.
Featured Artist and Song:
Liftoff by Adastra and Bethany Agustin
Links mentioned in this episode:
Abbey the Food Scientist – Website
Abbey the Food Scientist – YouTube
Taylor Swift, music was chosen by Abigail Thiel
Connect with the show
Abigail Thiel is a Food Scientist and YouTuber of ‘Abbey the Food Scientist’. She is a postdoctoral researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, focusing on food quality and design, with a particular interest in ice cream microstructure, healthier fat alternatives, and sustainable food production. She joins The Drip to delve into the fascinating world of ice cream science, from its microstructure to the intricacies of creating healthier and more sustainable sweet treats.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- What are the ice cream terms "variegates" and "inclusions”?
- Understanding the healthier fats in ice cream.
- Creating a food science YouTube channel.
- Precision fermentation: milk proteins from yeast.
00:00 Ice Cream Texture Research Funding
03:48 Started YouTube During Covid Lockdown
08:40 Yeast-Based Milk Protein Production
12:50 Abby's Food Science Courses Online
15:31 Tackling Ice Cream Moisture Migration
16:36 "Mesmerizing Down Tempo Collaboration"
Jump to:
(00:53) How Abby started studying the science of ice cream through a USDA-funded project focusing on healthier fats.
(03:46) The difference between variegates and inclusions and their importance in ice cream.
(07:22) Balancing texture and health in food, and how it is a central theme in Abby's research.
(11:53) Abby's venture into YouTube during the COVID-19 lockdown.
(14:37) This episode’s song recommendation.
(15:28) This episode’s mantra.
Featured Artist and Song:
Liftoff by Adastra and Bethany Agustin
Links mentioned in this episode:
Abbey the Food Scientist – Website
Abbey the Food Scientist – YouTube
Taylor Swift, music was chosen by Abigail Thiel
Connect with the show
Previous Episode
The Drip by AQUALAB: Food Safety, Shelf Stability, and Consulting Tips with Rachel Zemser
Rachel Zemser from A La Carte Connections is a lifelong food scientist and consultant, dedicated to helping companies formulate and develop innovative food products. She is the author of "The Food Business Toolkit for Entrepreneurs" and holds degrees in food science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Illinois. She has also attended culinary school in New York. Rachel joins The Drip by AQUALAB to explore the intricacies of food science consulting and entrepreneurial challenges in the food industry.
00:00 Food Science Consulting Insights
05:26 Entrepreneurs Vs. Big Brand Ingredients
08:23 Designing a Custom Snack Bar
13:02 Finding the Right Co-Packer
14:14 Evaluating Co-Packer Suitability
19:52 Preparing for Food Science Consulting
21:14 Essential Skills for Food Consultants
26:51 Food Science Consulting Expertise
28:08 Song and Mantra for Upliftment
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Rachel’s productivity hacks for self-employment success.
- Key tips for developing successful food products.
- Importance of water activity in dry foods.
- From Unilever to startups: Rachel’s career insights.
Featured Artist and Song:
Here with Me by Marshmello
Links mentioned in this episode:
A La Carte Connections
Rachel Zemser on LinkedIn
Strange Currencies by REM, music was chosen by Rachel Zemser
Connect with the show
AQUALAB
Zachary Cartwright, PhD
Next Episode
The Drip by AQUALAB: Probiotics Explained with Anđela Martinović
Anđela Martinović holds a PhD in Food Systems from the University of Milan, specializing in probiotics and gut health. As a co-founder and program development coordinator at epiSTEMe Hub, she advances science, innovation, and technology with a focus on Montenegro. Angela joins The Drip to explore the complexities of probiotics, from production to their journey in the human GI system, and the role multidisciplinary research plays in this field.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Definition of probiotics and key production/ regulation challenges
- Stages of production and importance of probiotic survival and functionality
- Role of water activity in preservation and gut survival challenges
- Angela's PhD insights on probiotics and Montenegro's market
- Emerging trends, future directions, and AI in probiotics
Jump to:
(00:53) Understanding the definition and challenges of probiotics.
(03:46) Overview of the probiotic production process.
(07:22) Importance of water activity in probiotics' journey through the gut.
(09:52) Angela’s PhD research insights on probiotic survival and functionality.
(13:46) Analyzing the probiotic market in Montenegro.
(18:10) Future directions and emerging trends in probiotics
(26:05) This episode’s song recommendation.
(26:45) This episode’s mantra.
Featured Artist and Song:
Links mentioned in this episode:
‘Uncovering the Probiotic Supplement Landscape: Market Offerings, Sales Patterns, and Future Forecasts Using Machine Learning Approach - A Case Study of Montenegro’ by Anđela Martinović et. al (2024)
Spread Your Wings by Queen, music was chosen by Anđela Martinović
Connect with the show
00:00 Probiotic Survival and Functionality
05:04 Optimizing Probiotic Production Factors
07:03 Ensuring Probiotic Stability: Key Factors
11:45 Streptococcus Thermophilus' Urase Activity Reduction
14:59 Enhancing Standards and Analyzing Sales
18:10 Multidisciplinary Collaboration Key to Probiotic Innovation
20:31 Emerging Trends in Probiotics
26:17 "Push the Temple" Review
27:07 "Releasing Toxicity: The Drip"
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