Seeing bubbles in your frozen pudina (mint) paste? Learn what causes this to happen during the freezing process and if it affects the quality.
1 Answer
Pudina (mint) paste develops bubbles during freezing due to the expansion of water content within the paste as it turns into ice, and the release of dissolved gases.
Detailed Explanation:
When you freeze pudina paste, the water molecules within it begin to slow down and arrange themselves into a crystalline structure – ice. This process causes the water to expand. Since the paste is a relatively confined space, this expansion creates pressure. Simultaneously, water naturally contains dissolved gases like air. As the temperature drops during freezing, the solubility of these gases decreases. This means the gases are less able to stay dissolved in the water and are released, forming tiny bubbles. The combination of water expansion and gas release results in the formation of visible bubbles within the frozen pudina paste. The size and number of bubbles can vary depending on the water content of the paste, the speed of freezing, and the amount of dissolved gases present.
Pro Tip:
To minimize bubble formation and maintain a smoother texture, try flash-freezing the pudina paste in small, flat portions. This allows for quicker freezing and less time for large ice crystals and gas bubbles to form.