Ice cream Photo from Wikipedia

Did you know….

People have been enjoying frozen treats since the 4th century B.C.

Ice cream, the dairy-based treat that we know today, was brought to America some time in the 18th century.

Activity: Make a frozen treat in a bag

You will need:

1/2 c Milk
1 T Sugar or honey
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 – Quart sized zip-top bags
1 – 1 – Gallon zip top bag
3-4 c Ice
3 T Salt
Hand towel
Your favorite toppings: fresh fruit, sprinkles, nuts, cookie crumbs, etc.

Note: Alternative milks work very well, but full fat milk or cream works more quickly. 

What to do:

In the first quart bag, put the milk, sweetener, and vanilla into the bag and carefully remove the air as you zip the bag closed. Place the bag in the second quart-sized bag, and remove the air as you close that one as well.

Put the ice, salt, and the double bag filled with the milk ingredients in the 1 gallon bag. Knead the bags together until the liquid mixture turns into a solid. At one point the bag will become so cold that it will be hard to touch with bare hands. Use a hand towel to complete the kneading process. When the liquid becomes solid, open the bag with your frozen treat, add fruit, sprinkles, nuts, cookie crumbs or any other topping to your bag, grab a spoon and enjoy!

Question of the day….

How does the salt help to freeze the liquid ingredients into a solid ice cream state and what would happen if you did not add salt to the ice?

Learn More….

About: Inventors:  History of ice cream

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour:  How We Make Ice Cream – Find out how they make ice cream.

The chemistry of making ice cream in a bag

Video: What Causes Brain Freeze?