Why You Shouldn’t Refreeze Melted Ice Cream

If you have ever left ice cream out on the counter for a while or had it melt when the power went out, you may have decided to refreeze it so it wouldn’t go to waste. However, that is not a good idea since refreezing melted ice cream can affect the texture and taste and can also be hazardous to your health.

How Ice Cream Is Made

Ice cream is made from a blend of fat, oil, sugar, water, salt, stabilizers, flavors, and possibly candy or fruit that is churned and frozen. An ice cream maker agitates the mixture, and then it is frozen to a creamy consistency. The process of churning creates air pockets that give ice cream its smooth texture.

How Melting and Refreezing Affect Ice Cream’s Texture and Taste

When ice cream melts, its structure changes. The walls of the cells break and lose moisture, and fat floats above the water. When ice cream is refrozen, it does not have the same structure the second time around that it had when it was originally frozen. It can have large ice crystals and will probably not taste nearly as good as it did before it melted.

Why Refreezing Ice Cream Could Be Hazardous to Your Health

You can also be putting your health at risk if you refreeze melted ice cream. It is only safe to refreeze ice cream if it is slightly melted and has been kept cold. If it melted outside the freezer, refreezing it and eating it could be unsafe.

When ice cream melts, bacteria such as Listeria can grow. Listeria outbreaks can occur in freezers when ice cream that melted is refrozen. The bacteria can cause severe illness. To protect your health, you should err on the side of caution and throw away any ice cream that has melted instead of refreezing it.

Where to Get Delicious Fresh Ice Cream

If you would like to try some delicious, freshly made ice cream, bring your family into your local Praline’s ice cream shop. We prepare many traditional and seasonal flavors using fresh ingredients. We can serve your family sundaes with your choice of flavors and toppings. Visit your local Praline’s today.