Ohmic heating technology in dulce de leche: Physical and thermal profile, microstructure, and modeling of crystal size growth

•Ohmic heating was used in the processing of dulce de leche.•Low optical parameters values were obtained in ohmic heating-treated samples.•Ohmic heating treatment resulted in products with lower viscosity and consistency.•Ohmic heating treatment resulted in products with lower thermal parameters values.•A delay in the lactose crystal growth was observed.