How to make homemade ice cream?
When the weather is nice and warm, it's a good time to eat ice cream or sherbet. What's better than making your own ice cream?
What kind of ice cream?
3 options are available to you:
- Traditional ice can be made in three different ways: with a base of milk, cream or yoghurt.
- Sorbet is more refreshing and less caloric than traditional ice cream. It is realized in the same way as traditional ice cream but with water and not a dairy product.
- Granita, a more crunchy alternative, is made from fruit puree and sugar.
Once you have chosen the type of ice to prepare, you must choose the necessary utensils.
With or without an ice cream maker?
The advantage of the ice cream maker is that you quickly get a creamy, smooth ice cream mix. There are two types of ice cream makers: cold storage ice cream makers and ice cream makers.
With a cold storage ice cream maker, you will make any type of ice cream but in small quantities, and you will not necessarily be able to keep it for a long time in the refrigerator. So it's ideal if you want to consume it immediately.
With a cold ice cream maker , the result is very satisfying and gives an ideal texture to your preparation, even if it does not equal that of professional ice cream parlors. However, this solution is much more expensive than the first.
If you do not have an ice cream maker , no problem! You can use a bowl and a blender to make your mix.
The preparation will however take you more time. You will need to leave your ice cream in your refrigerator for 1 hour, then in the freezer for 30 minutes. To make your mixture more aerial, you can mix your preparation after this period of time. Then put the mixture back in the freezer for 30 minutes, and repeat the mixing again 3 times. Once the operation is completed, transfer your mixture into a metal container that has been previously cooled.
Which ingredients?
Milk and cream will preferably be whole for more smoothness. If you want a lighter version, opt for yogurt.- Sugar is very important in your preparation. It brings taste and texture. The more you put on it, the less hard your ice will be.
- Choose ripe, seasonal fruits in good quantity for a more pronounced taste. You can also try more original flavors, which are difficult to find in commerce, such as cucumber ice cream. Tip: add lemon juice in your preparation to lift the scent of your ice cream.
- The final touch: to present your ice cream, you can opt for the traditional coulis of strawberry or chocolate, or whipped cream on your balls for the greediest. For a more original touch, add some fresh mint leaves and toasted flaked almonds.
What temperature ?
Before starting any preparation, make sure that all your utensils are cold. Your ice cream maker must also be ice cold when you use it: it is therefore essential to place in the freezer 24 hours before you start making your dessert.
Similarly, your preparation must be refrigerated for at least 3 hours before placing in an ice cream maker: its ideal temperature is 4 degrees. Doing so will save you time and prevent microbial growth.
Be careful to respect the cold chain: melted ice should not be refrozen.
You now have all the elements to make your homemade ice cream successful! And if you do not want to spend time in the kitchen, go to one of the many glaciers of the Grand Duchy!