How to Store Homemade Ice Cream in the Freezer
March 30, 2016
Summer will be here before you know it, and that means that many people will be enjoying the sweet taste of cold, refreshing ice cream. If you would like to make a big batch of homemade ice cream with your family, you want to make sure it lasts long enough to enjoy all of it. Here are some tips to help you choose the right container and storage method to keep your homemade ice cream fresh and creamy as long as possible.
The first thing you should do is to check the temperature of your freezer. Ice cream maintains its flavor and consistency best when it is stored at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Store your homemade ice cream in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Tupperware containers work well and are sturdy and easy to stack and organize. You want a container with a high surface-area-to-volume ratio to expose as much of the ice cream to cold air as possible. Use a flat, shallow container to help the ice cream maintain an even consistency. This type of container also makes it easy to scoop ice cream. Use a container with a tight-fitting lid so the ice cream will not absorb odors from other foods in the freezer.
Press a piece of plastic wrap tightly against the entire surface of the ice cream. This will keep ice crystals from forming on top and will also prevent the ice cream from absorbing the odors of other foods in the freezer.
Every time you open the freezer door, warm air gets in. Temperature changes can affect the texture of ice cream and create a grainy consistency. Put the ice cream container in the back of the freezer, where the temperature is the coldest and most consistent. It can help to store it underneath other foods that are frozen solid. Don’t put your ice cream on the freezer door because that is the area that experiences the greatest fluctuation in temperature.
Minimize the amount of time that your ice cream is out of the freezer. If it is half-melted, it is better to let the ice cream finish melting and rechurn it than to refreeze it. Refreezing partially melted ice cream can cause large and crunchy ice crystals to form.
No matter how airtight the container is, too much time in the freezer can cause homemade ice cream’s flavor and texture to deteriorate. Try to eat your ice cream within a week or two.
