Gelato course: low fat milk powder

[Sussan Estela Olaya]

Hi Zenobia, thank you for your question!.

The low-fat milk powder or skimmed milk powder mentioned in the recipe is simply fat-free milk powder (also known as skim milk powder). It’s not sweetened it’s just natural milk powder with no added sugars, and it’s a very common ingredient in artisanal ice cream making because it adds proteins and milk solids without contributing extra fat.

If you can only find whole milk powder or skimmed (fat-free) milk powder in your country, go with the skimmed version, which is the most suitable for this recipe. Whole milk powder can be used in some formulations, but it will slightly alter the balance of fat and solids, so the recipe would need to be adjusted accordingly.

As for products labeled as “dairy whitener” or similar, it’s important to be cautious. Many of these are not pure milk powder—they may contain added ingredients like glucose, vegetable oils, unwanted stabilizers, or artificial flavorings. These are not recommended for ice cream making, as they can negatively affect both the texture and the flavor.

Ideally, the label should clearly state “100% skimmed milk powder” or something similar, with no added ingredients.

Hope this helps!

Best regards.