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How is Ice Cream Made?

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Image by Becco Eliacik
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Image by Becco Eliacik

Ice cream contains as much protein as milk and three times as much fat. However, a serving of ice cream contains only about one-third as much vitamin A, calcium, and the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin as an equal amount of milk.

Commercial Preparation

Commercial ice cream is prepared from butterfat, nonfat milk solids, sugar stabilizers, and flavoring agents. Butterfat gives ice cream its creamy flavor and texture. The nonfat milk solids give it body and make it smooth. The stabilizers, such as gelatin or gum, are added to give the blend a smooth texture by preventing large ice crystals from forming during the freezing process. Sugar and various kinds of flavoring provide sweetness and add to the taste of ice cream. Natural flavorings, such as chopped or whole fruits or nuts, also add a variety of different textures.

After being mixed, the ingredients are pasteurized, usually at 155° F (68° C) for about 30 minutes. They are then thoroughly blended before being cooled in a freezer. In the freezer the mixture is whipped and becomes filled with air. This air, called overrun or swell, gives additional smoothness and lightness tt the blend. It also serves as an insulator so that ice cream can be easily eaten even though it is very cold. While still in semiliquid form, the mixture is removed from the freezer and poured into packages. The packages are stored in refrigerated rooms at -25° F (-32° C) where the ice cream hardens.

Products similar to ice cream include sorbet, ice milk, frozen custard, and tortoni. Sorbet is usually made with fruits or fruit juices, sweeteners, and small amounts of egg white or milk. Ice milk contains more nonfat milk solids and less butterfat than ice cream. Frozen custard contains all of the ingredients of ice cream with extra amounts of eggs or egg yolks. Tortoni, an ice cream made with heavy cream, sometimes contains minced almonds, chopped cherries, or other fruits. Spumoni consists of layers of ice cream that differ in flavor, color, and texture. Like tortoni, it often contains fruits and nuts.

History

The first ice dessert was probably prepared for the Roman emperor Nero Claudius Caesar during the 1st century A.D. It was made from snow and fruit juices and other flavorings. After the decline of Rome the technique for making ice desserts seems to have been lost.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo brought to Europe from the Far East a recipe for an ice dessert made with milk. The dish rapidly became very popular among the nobility, and recipes were gradually improved by royal chefs. Although kept secret for many years, the recipes eventually became known to the common people.

Ice cream was introduced to the American colonies in the late 1600's, and by the end of the 18th century the first ice cream parlors were established in New York City. In 1846 a portable hand-cranked freezer was invented, and many people began making ice cream at home. Ice cream was not made on a large scale until the late 19th century, when new methods of refrigeration were developed. As the industry grew, ice cream became available to more people. Its popularity was further increased with the introduction of the ice cream cone at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, which was held in St. Louis, in 1904.

ziplockbags 2 years ago

This is interesting. I wonder how things have changed since ice cream first began. I bet it's vastly different. The best ice cream is still home made.

juliawinston 2 years ago

I just wrote a post on the different methods of making homemade Ice Cream. I just read your really detailed post and think I want to write another hub on frozen custard. SO GOOD! All this talk is making me hungry - and ziplockbags: you're totally right, the best kind is still made at home!

MR SHUMO 22 months ago

IT IS A VEVY INTERESTING ARTACLE

zane 22 months ago

ice cream iz good

hmms 22 months ago

yeah home made is the best, 12:52 July 16, 2010

bob 22 months ago

I LIKE ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(ALOT) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lily Hopgern 22 months ago

I love ice cream!!!

Bob 21 months ago

Ice cream is yummy ;)

Longtail 21 months ago

Yes Bob, it is VERY yummy.

ice cream queen 20 months ago

i looooooovvvvvvveeeeee ice cream it is verry good

missy frantomm 20 months ago

ice cream is the best and im doing a survery a ice creamm ! :

holy crappppp 20 months ago

icccceeeee crrrrreammm is soooooooo fricken awesssssommmmeeeeee yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

jj 19 months ago

cupcakes and icecream sounds great together

EMILY 19 months ago

icecream is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gooodd.

Longtail 19 months ago

Emily, you are sooooooooooooo right about that!

gi..macca 18 months ago

YUMMMMMM im at schoool and eating ice-cream it is the best i could live on a land called all ice cream nothing else yummmmmmmmy :)

I LOVE ICE-CREAM AND NOTHING ELSE

Moxyl 18 months ago

Lovely! thx for the delicious info!

PaperNotes 18 months ago

I have watched a television show which featured how ice cream is made. It just showed the processes yet not very detailed as your hub.

Wanna be you 16 months ago

YEHHHH!!!!

jesse todd 15 months ago

i love your mom

jdawg 14 months ago

ir a retard

Tiarna 14 months ago

is there any good pages on How to make ice cream made

anji 13 months ago

wow

kilo59 13 months ago

I LOVE ICE CREAMMMMMMMM!!!! DUHH!!!

Blue Bell Inc. 11 months ago

Ice cream is amazing! i could eat a whole thing of it everyday!!! I love Blue Bell's Homemade Vanilla! Try it! It's delicious!!! Answer me and tell me if you love it! And i will send you a coupon for a free, 1 gallon, coupon at your local grocery store!! rate it on how good it was!(1-10)

Barbara 9 months ago

I LOVEEEE ICE CREAAAMMMM!!!!!!!!!

ghen ico 8 months ago

hmm yummy

so muct to love eating because of ice cream

lala_ebkk 8 months ago

ice cream iisz so effinqk qudk.....i would do anythinqk fo iiht....anywaysz idunno i jzt love iice cream.....!!!!!

lala 8 months ago

heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey

elisa 7 months ago

i love blue bell's homemade ice cream! it is delicious!

:)

jayshley 7 months ago

icecreams the best!!!!

butterfly 6 months ago

i have to make a speech at school and i choose it to be about ice cream and so far this is the only thing i found that actucally helped me and i think im gonna pass! :) thank you alot

Jasmeetkaursaini 6 months ago

I love icecream a lot

PuppyLove 6 months ago

!!!!!!!!MOST INTERESTING ARTICLE EVER!!!!!!!!

yuanitaXnitaboo 6 months ago

Well this is very informational, and im doing a project in launguage in this helps a lot. Butterfly alot is to seperate words honey!

icecreamgirl 5 months ago

yummm

omg 4 months ago

wow this is informational

12345 4 months ago

awsome! i like ice cream to. duhhh!

ellie williams 3 months ago

ice creammmmmmmm looooooooooovvvveeeeeeee uuuuuuuuu

meme 3 months ago

ice cream is so good but i like cookies and cream better than all the ice creams in the world.

Snoopy5566 2 months ago

I am doing a report on either ice cream or tigers for school. Which should i do?? any advice??

THX!! :)

jessica 2 months ago

What are you guys doing talking about ice cream

mhnutrion@opt.com 2 months ago

wow it is very interesting.for all big and small children .

lovely i love ice cream alot.

mhnutrion@opt.com 2 months ago

children like ice cream a lot and me to iiiccceee cccrrreeemmm

hiruni mapalagama 2 months ago

wow its very fun i too love ice cream.my favourite food.after i eat the rice surelly i will an ice cream everyday.but for others the fever will come but for me no never.i love ice cream soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.thank you for this indroduction execellent.very interesting.thank you verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry much.

MrDunken77 4 weeks ago

Thanks i needed this for my Science Fair!

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