Liquid Nitrogen & Ice Cream
October 8, 2013
Liquid nitrogen does not sound like something that would go with ice cream. So what is the story behind this seemingly successful combination of science and dessert?
Liquid nitrogen is defined as nitrogen that is cold enough to exist in liquid form. Nitrogen is odorless, colorless and non-toxic. It is not flammable. It is so cold that safety precautions are essential when handling liquid nitrogen. It’s cold enough to cause severe frostbite. Gloves are a must. It should also be used in a well-ventilated area.
Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and transport food products, preserve biological samples, shield materials from oxygen and is used as a coolant for things like superconductors and vacuum pumps.
It turns out liquid nitrogen can also be used in making ice cream.
One ice cream vendor in Oklahoma recently gave out samples of liquid nitrogen ice cream at the Tulsa State Fair.
He keeps the liquid nitrogen in stainless steel tanks, then hooks the nitrogen up to an ice cream machine. He says liquid nitrogen freezes the ice cream instantly and the faster the ice cream is frozen, the creamier and denser it is. He says his ice cream comes out about 40 degrees below zero.
This process was first developed by two chemical engineering students at Iowa State University back in 1999. Their liquid nitrogen ice cream is now a staple at the Iowa State Fair.
You don’t have to go to a state fair to try liquid nitrogen ice cream. In fact, you can go online and find plenty of recipes.
Here are the basics of most of the recipes: You’ll need a small amount of liquid nitrogen plus ice cream-making staples like heavy cream, half-and-half, sugar, a whisk and a wooden spoon. You’ll also need to choose your flavoring, something like vanilla or fresh berries.
Combine all those ingredients in a bowl and then whisk. Then add the liquid nitrogen (some recipes call for five liters for a gallon of ice cream). After adding the nitrogen, stir with a wooden spoon.
Those are the basics. Remember to follow the instructions of the recipe you choose to use. And make sure to use safety gloves and goggles when handling the liquid nitrogen.
