Ice Cream was supposedly invented in China around 200BC. Back then and up to the 20th century, Ice Cream making was a difficult and tedious process. Ice Cream was available only to royalty and powerful people. But after the advent of refrigeration Ice Cream has become extremely popular all over the world. Ice cream comes in an amazing variety of types like gelato, kulfi, dollies and a phenomenal number of flavors including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, blueberry etc. With refrigeration becoming so popular ice cream is now easy to make even at home. We will now see two of the methods in which ice cream can be easily made at home.
Ingredients required for about two servings:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- Half teaspoon of flavoring of your choice like vanilla essence, blueberry syrup, cocoa powder etc.
- Lots of ice
- Rock salt or ordinary salt if rock salt isn’t available
- Air tight plastic bags (One small and the other slightly larger) or two pots, one larger than the other
Method One (Using a plastic bag):
This method of making ice cream is ideal; as it is really quick. First mix the milk, flavoring and the sugar thoroughly. Pour this mixture into the smaller plastic bag and seal it so that the milk doesn’t escape. Next crush the ice (if possible), mix it with salt and pour it into the larger plastic bag till its about half full. Now take the plastic bag with the ice cream mix and insert it into the larger plastic bag with crushed ice and salt mixture. Seal the bag. Make sure there is no way for the contents to mix with each other. Now gently start turning, shaking, massaging the bag. In about ten to fifteen minutes the contents of the bag will turn to ice cream. Make sure you don’t shake it hard enough to burst the plastic bag. Once done, scoop out the ice cream into a dish and enjoy.
Method Two (Using pots):
This method is more useful when you have more people or need lots of ice cream (who doesn’t?). First mix the milk, sugar and flavoring. Crush some ice and add salt to it. Pour the ice cream in the smaller pot, mix it. And then the crushed ice and salt mixture into the larger pot. Insert the smaller pot inside the crushed ice solution. Make sure none of the ice gets into the ice cream mix. Keep stirring to prevent the formation of ice crystals. If you have one you can use a whisk or a hand held mixer, it would make your task considerably easier. Keep stirring without letting the ice cream mixture spill over into the ice. Once done you can scoop out and serve the ice cream.
Tips:
- Using rock salt will cool the mixture much faster.
- If you are using fruits, crush them or cut them to small pieces first or they will become rock solid.
- For creamier feel try using cream instead of milk. You could also use condensed milk.