Fruits
Melon in gelato
Melon (cantaloupe/muskmelon) is a high-water, sucrose-dominant fruit used to make delicate, aromatic fruit gelato and sorbet. In a recipe it contributes water, moderate sugars and strong anti-freezing power relative to its sweetness.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 10% |
| Water | 90% |
| Sugars | 8% |
| Fat | 0% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 0.9% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 8.9 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 11.2 |
Typical use: 25-45% of the total recipe as ripe melon puree in a sorbet or fruit gelato.
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Use ripe, aromatic melon as a flavor base for sorbet or fruit gelato, typically as a puree. Because melon is ~90% water and only ~8% sugar, its own sugar contributes little sweetness (POD ~9) but a relatively high anti-freezing effect (PAC ~11) driven by its fructose and glucose. Compensate for the high water with added solids and stabilizer to avoid iciness, and balance total sugars/PAC with sucrose plus dextrose or a small dose of dried glucose so the sorbet stays scoopable without becoming cloying. Melon's flavor is volatile and mild, so keep pasteurization gentle and taste-adjust acidity (a little lemon) to lift it.
Origin & background
Melon (Cucumis melo) was domesticated in Africa and Asia and spread through the Mediterranean; the name cantaloupe derives from Cantalupo, a papal estate near Rome where the fruit was cultivated in the 15th-16th centuries. Per USDA FoodData Central, raw cantaloupe is about 90% water with 7.9g of sugars per 100g, of which sucrose is the largest fraction.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central, Melons, cantaloupe, raw, FDC ID 169092: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/169092/nutrients
- USDA-based nutrient detail (per 100g): https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Melons%2C_raw%2C_cantaloupe_nutritional_value.html
- Aprifel (French Fruit & Vegetable info centre / CIQUAL data) — Melon nutritional sheet: https://www.aprifel.com/en/nutritional-sheet/melon/