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How To Make Ice CreamMaking Ice Cream With An Ice Cream MakerIf you are new to making homemade ice cream, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good it turns out. Believe me, it will taste so much better than any store-bought ice creams. And, you'll have the added satisfaction of knowing how to make ice cream yourself.
How To Make Ice Cream Using A Traditional Ice Cream Maker With A Hand CrankCarefully follow your ice cream recipe to prepare the ice cream mixture, then set the mixture in the refrigerator for an hour to ripen and chill, unless the recipe specifies otherwise. Mixtures for frozen custard recipes may require considerable time to chill, and it's sometimes best to make them the night before and let them chill in the refrigerator.While waiting for the mixture to finish chilling, you can prepare the ice and salt. How To Prepare The Ice And SaltMaking ice cream Grandma's old-fashioned way calls for a quantity of ice and rock salt. The rock salt will melt the ice surrounding the canister creating a brine solution which absorbs the heat from the mixture allowing it to begin to freeze. Without the ice and salt present, you would not be able to make frozen desserts.Here's why: If there were no salt added to the ice, it would melt at 32°F (0°C), the melting point for freshwater ice, which is not cold enough to make ice cream. Salt speeds the melting of the ice and lowers the temperature to the melting point of saltwater ice, approximately 29°F (-2°C), depending on the saltiness. The lower melting temperature is necessary for the ice cream to freeze. Rock salt, sometimes called ice-cream salt, is available for sale at most hardware stores. The coarse salt sold for use in water softeners also works quite well and is inexpensive. You can also use coarse sidewalk salt. Ordinary table salt may be substituted in a pinch, but it is more expensive to use and doesn't perform nearly as well as coarser salts. You can purchase ice by the block at many convenience stores, or you can freeze small containers of water in your home freezer. Empty yoghurt containers work quite well for this, or you can build up a large stockpile of ice cubes. Place the ice block in a heavy cloth bag and hit it repeatedly with a hammer to break it into small pieces. Afterwards, dump the ice pieces into a non-metal container and mix it with the salt. Some find it handy to have a small, shallow wooden box made to prepare the salt and ice in. The wooden box may be kept handy for whenever you need it. When you go to make ice cream, set the quantity of ice you will need for the freezing process in the clean box and use an ice pick and a hammer to break the ice into small enough pieces. After the ice is all broken up, take about one-third as much rock salt, as there is ice, and pour the rock salt into the box over the ice. Use a small plastic garden trowel or some other non-metal utensil to mix the ice and salt thoroughly together. It's always a good idea to use a plastic drop sheet to protect the floor or working surface from spilled saltwater -- salt is corrosive. Some prefer to wear rubber gloves when handling rock salt. How To Make Ice Cream With A Hand Crank MachinePack the prepared ice and salt into the space between the freezer canister and the tub by using a wooden stick or spoon to tamp it down tight. Do not use metal utensils, as the salt will ruin them. Let everything sit for 5 minutes to allow the freezer canister to become icy cold.When you're ready to freeze the ice cream or water ice mixture, pour it into the freezer canister until it is about 1/2 to 3/4 full. Never fill the can too full. Always leave room for the mixture to move about and expand. Next, confirm that the blend of ice and salt in the tub is packed slightly above the level of the ice cream mixture in the can, then carefully install the paddle mechanism and tightly seal the lid to prevent any saltwater from seeping in and spoiling the ice cream. Those used to making homemade ice cream with a hand-cranked freezer recommend letting the freezer sit for 2 minutes or so before trying to turn the crank. When the ingredients chill to the point that you can feel a slight resistance, you are ready to begin cranking the freezer. Crank slowly first, but then maintain a steady pace until you can feel the cream stiffening and the turning getting tougher. It may take from 20 to 30 minutes depending on the ice-salt blend and the type of ingredients you are freezing. If it doesn't seem cold enough after 10 minutes of cranking, just add a bit more salt and ice to the tub. As you learn how to make ice cream, experience will teach you how much salt to use. Too much salt will cause the cream to freeze too quickly, and it will have a coarser texture from not being stirred enough. But, if it freezes too slowly, it will have a buttery texture from being stirred too much. Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it and make ice cream that has a perfect texture. In any event, its texture is bound to be superior to any store-bought variety. How To Pack The Frozen Ice CreamWhen the mixture reaches the firm texture of "soft ice cream," it is ready to pack in a freezer container. You can tell when it reaches this stage since it becomes very difficult to turn the crank. Continuing to crank beyond this stage is needless, as it will not improve its quality.Before opening the canister, wipe the top of the container with a clean, dry towel to remove any traces of saltwater, then carefully remove the lid and paddles. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the frozen ice cream off the sides of the container into the center. Depending on the recipe you are using, this is the time to mix in any fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or jams, and the like, but make sure that any solid ingredients are finely chopped. Large pieces of frozen fruit are too difficult to eat. Pack the ice cream in a sealable freezer container or in a mold for freezing. Verify that the lid is tightly secured, and then place the container or mold in the kitchen freezer for at least an hour or two while the ice cream finishes freezing and ripening. Or, if you wish to continue following the old-fashioned method of making homemade ice cream, pack down the ice cream in the canister, verify the lid is clean and free from salt, and then tightly reseal the canister. Drain the liquid brine and repack the bucket with more ice and salt. Cover the freezer with a heavy blanket or scatter rug and leave it to sit for at least an hour while the ice cream finishes freezing and ripening. Why Homemade Ice Cream Is The BestMany ice cream purists claim that making it the old-fashioned way is the only way to obtain the unique texture and superior taste of homemade ice cream. The hand cranking gives it a unique consistency, and the fresh, all-natural ingredients give it a unique flavor. Truly, it's the best ice cream you can ever hope to taste. And by knowing how to make ice cream the old-fashioned way, you'll be able to indulge your taste anytime.Here's the good news: you can still purchase hand-crank ice cream makers like the ones Grandma used. The procedure used with a modern hand-crank ice cream machine is very similar to that used with an old-fashioned ice cream churn. White Mountain Ice Cream Maker Review How To Make Ice Cream With An Automatic, Electric Ice Cream MakerLearning how to make ice cream with an automatic ice cream maker is simply a matter of following the simple instructions that came with the appliance, and adapting the old-fashioned ice cream recipes for the quantities needed.Watch the short video below for instructions on how to make ice cream, and some helpful tips on making ice cream at home. 
There's a rewarding satisfaction that comes when you learn how to make ice cream at home. You simply can't beat the premium, all-natural taste. Your family and friends will love it.
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