Love thy Ice Cream

I love Ice Cream!!! Do you????

I assume we all love Ice Cream, and you will be eating a lot this summer...

A question pops in my head, do you know how  good Ice Cream is made?

Although recipes may vary, in a sweet Ice Cream there will always be milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks. Depending on the flavour the quantity of fat and sugar can be adjust. You can literally can make Ice Cream any flavour you want, you just need an ice cream machine.

• The sugar quantity is important because the higher the sugar content the more likely is that it will melt quicker or it will not hold stiff.
• The fat content is important because the ice cream can split and turn in to butter, or have a grainy buttery consistency if is over spin.

Before it goes into the ice cream machine has to be cooked, Crème Anglaise Method, the whole mix has to reach 86 C degrees, this is important because all the bacteria from the dairy gets killed between the 80 – 85 C; as well the egg yolk thickens the liquid, trapping the air and holding it when it get spin in the ice cream machine. The creaminess will come from the yolk and the cream; the sugar will be an important factor as well, especially if you add chocolate.

An important factor as well is if the ice cream is not properly cooked, you will taste an raw egg after taste at the back of your palate, which shouldn’t be pleasant; this is important to know because it may not be pasteurised properly, essentially is not likely it will make you sick, but if you are pregnant you might want to skip it.

 In sorbets the sugar and high acidity apply as well, the higher the content the more likely it will not stay frozen. Water content is important, the higher the quantity the harder and icy like will be.

In fruit sorbets the texture tend to be nicer when the fruit are fresh and pulpy, like mango or strawberry.

Sorbets and ice creams should be kept below -13 to -15 C, any temperature below or above will affect the consistency, either too soft or hard, kept well stored can last up to a month. But is not recommended to keep it longer than that, fresh is always best, if is not properly stored will take the freezer taste and texture will change.

In the summer time I recommend Sorbets instead of any dessert, simply because it will satisfy you quickly taking off sweet cravings, and is a healthy dessert.

Enjoy your summer!