There are many reasons to make homemade ice cream (some may say go to the trouble of making it!)—from fabulous flavor to tons of fun (family fun!). These are the top 12:
1. It's crazy delicious. This is the single most important reason. It's all about the flavor. Homemade ice cream, without artificial ingredients, fake thickeners, or unnatural stabilizers to keep it "fresh" for weeks (or months!) in the grocery store freezer, is amazingly flavorful and actually fresh tasting. It's true. If you take the time to make homemade ice cream, you will see that store-bought, even the super high-quality kind, lacks a certain...just-made quality. Make something with fun flavors, like Spumoni ice cream.
2. It's easy. Despite what you might think, making homemade ice cream is relatively easy. You don't even need an ice cream maker! Or rock salt!
3. Fruit ice cream is even easier. It's true, There's a whole method for making fruit ice cream that makes it even easier than other kinds of ice cream. Check it out with this Blueberry Ice Cream recipe.
4. It turns a glut of fresh summer fruit into dessert. Since, as just mentioned, fruit ice cream is so easy to make, if you have a bunch of super-ripe summer fruit sitting around (peaches, plums, strawberries, and more!) and you're not sure what to do with it before it skirts over that edge from super-ripe to no-thank-you-mushy, use it to make ice cream!
5. Pies get lonely. Homemade ice cream gives them some delicious à la mode company.
6. Cakes get lonely, too. Why do people never say "cake à la mode"? Why is it "cake and ice cream" instead? These are questions for the ages, but when they arise, simply add some homemade ice cream to the mix and feel lots better.
7. People freak out about how good buttermilk ice cream is. Seriously, Buttermilk Ice Cream is remarkably easy to make and has a mysteriously light and bright flavor that will get your guests guessing what that flavor is. Prepare yourself to convince them that, no, it's not lemon.
8. Everyone at the table will stand in awe of your culinary moxie. If impressing others is something you like to do, there are few better ways to bowl over guests than by serving homemade ice cream. Prepare yourself for phrases like "You're amazing" and "I can't believe you did this" and "This is the best thing I've ever tasted."
9. It's hot out. Too hot to go to the store. Full stop. Freeze stuff instead.
10. It's also horribly humid. Ice cream won't lower the humidity, but it will make you care less about how terribly sticky the air is.
11. You need an excuse to open the freezer a lot. And cool down. And taste homemade ice cream.
12. Children should know where ice cream comes from. And adults, too. Making ice cream is a fun (and delicious) family "project" on hot days. And, honestly, a happy reminder of summer on colder days, too.
FAQs
Freshly made ice cream is smoother and tastes fresher too. And because you're not forced to use unhealthy levels of fat as you would with no churn ice creams, the flavors can come through stronger and brighter.
Why make ice cream at home? ›
It's crazy delicious.
It's true. If you take the time to make homemade ice cream, you will see that store-bought, even the super high-quality kind, lacks a certain...just-made quality. Make something with fun flavors, like Spumoni ice cream.
When you are making homemade ice cream What is the scientific reason for constantly stirring it? ›
Ice cream's creaminess depends on the size of the ice crystals that form during freezing-the smaller the crystals, the creamier the texture. Rapid chilling and constant churning encourage the water in the ice cream mixture to form lots of minuscule “seed” crystals; this process is known as propagation.
Is homemade ice cream healthier? ›
Opt for homemade
When making ice cream at home, it's easier to control the amount of added sugar. "It will also be free of any allergens you may need to avoid, as well as any gums or stabilizers," says Largeman-Roth.
Why is ice cream important in our daily life? ›
“Ice cream stimulates the thrombotonin, which is a hormone of happiness and helps in reducing the levels of stress in the body. Ice cream is made of milk, which contains L-triptophane, which is a natural tranquilizer and helps in relaxing the nervous system. It also helps prevent symptoms of insomnia.”
What is the scientific reason for ice cream? ›
Ice cream is an emulsion—a combination of two liquids that don't normally mix together. Instead, one of the liquids is dispersed throughout the other. In ice cream, liquid particles of fat—called fat globules—are spread throughout a mixture of water, sugar, and ice, along with air bubbles (Fig.
What is the secret to making ice cream? ›
When it comes to great ice cream, cold temperatures and speed are your friends: the faster you bring your base from liquid to solid, the creamier it'll be. In a 2-quart unit, a typical batch of ice cream will take between 18 and 25 minutes to churn.
How to make homemade ice cream creamy and not icy? ›
Here are some tips for making creamy, non-icy homemade ice cream: Use plenty of fat - A good ice cream base should contain ample fat, usually from dairy like cream, whole milk, or egg yolks. More fat means a smoother texture. Cook the base - Heating the ice cream base deactivates enzymes that can make ice cream icy.
Why won't my homemade ice cream freeze? ›
The first thing to look at is the recipe. Have you added too much sugar, salt or alcohol? They will lower the freezing point of the mixture. And too much of any of these ingredients could stop the ice cream freezing altogether.
Why is melted ice cream bad? ›
This is because when ice cream melts, bacteria such as listeria is given the right kind of conditions to grow and can cause people to become very ill with listeriosis. Not everyone gets sick, but be aware that you need to err on the side of caution.
Ice forms on homemade ice cream due to crystallization, and this process is usually triggered when you don't freeze your ice cream fast enough. Your recipe and storage method may contribute to crystallization as well.
What does ice cream do for the body? ›
Not only does ice cream have nutritional value, but it also is an incredible source of energy. Ice cream is rich with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which are all, needed for our bodies to produce energy. Careful on how much energy you want to get from ice cream, after all, it can also help you gain weight.
What are the healing properties of ice cream? ›
Because ice cream is rich in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, it helps your body produce energy. the proteins present in ice cream also help your body build and repair muscle tissue so it can heal faster after an injury.
What is the difference between homemade ice cream and regular ice cream? ›
Conventional ice cream purchased at the grocery store may contain chemical additives that homemade ice cream does not. These additives are used to prolong the shelf life of store-bought ice cream and enhance the color and flavor.
How long does homemade ice cream last? ›
Homemade ice creams typically have short shelf lives because they're made without chemical stabilizers, which are responsible for the longevity of store-bought versions. How long does homemade ice cream last? Most homemade ice creams will last about one month in the freezer, as long as you store them properly.
