Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Homemade Ice Cream

With spring here and summer right around the corner, you might be looking forward to pulling out your ice cream machine and whipping up some delicious frozen treats with your kids. Homemade ice cream can taste great, but some common mistakes can cause you to wind up with a mess that is far from delicious. Here are some things you should avoid doing when making homemade ice cream.

One mistake many people make is using an ice cream machine that is not cold enough. The ice cream maker should be in the freezer long enough that it is frozen solid. A machine that is not cold enough will give you soupy ice cream. It should also be completely dry, or else it will not churn.

Start out with a custard base made by cooking milk, cream, and sugar on the stove and then adding egg yolks. Some people cook the mixture at too high of a temperature, which causes the eggs to scramble. Keep the temperature below medium heat and stir the mixture constantly using a rubber spatula until it is thick enough that it does not drip when you run your finger across the custard.

Some people try to reduce the fat content of the ingredients to make healthier ice cream. The best way to get creamy ice cream is to use whole milk and cream.

People often overfill their ice cream machines. This can cause the machine to overflow and make a mess. Don’t fill your ice cream machine more than two-thirds full. Make ice cream in batches.

When people mix things into their ice cream, sometimes they just dump everything in all at once. The right way is to cut solid foods into small pieces and cook something that you want to swirl into your ice cream. Add the swirl after the machine has stopped churning.

Another common mistake is over-mixing ice cream to try to freeze it in the machine. Ice cream gets to the proper texture in the freezer. Be patient.

People often take ice cream out of the freezer and try to dig in right away. Let it sit out at room temperature for five minutes and then use a wet, but not hot, scoop to serve it.

If you would rather not go to all the trouble of making your own ice cream, you can stop in at Praline’s. We serve an array of delicious and tempting flavors your family will love.