Here's How To Properly Mix Add-Ins Into Homemade Ice Cream

 Ice cream has a very long history. The consumption of sweet frozen treats dates back to at least 4,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia where ice houses stored ice to chill food and drinks. With so much history and rich creamy culture. it's no wonder that ice cream is still a household favorite today. The wide variety of ways to make and customize it may be the reason for its long-lived popularity. Most modern ice cream recipes require a heavy cream for the base. Pre-made ice cream milk is an option that already contains all of the ingredients needed for home churned ice cream. You could make up your own recipe or choose from our list of recipes that you must try.

When customizing ice cream, it's important to mix the add-ins to the base at exactly the right moment. If the ice cream has already hardened the add-ins won't be distributed evenly through the entire batch. If add-ins are introduced to the recipe before the base has reached a solid consistency they will fall to the bottom of the batch. Add-ins should be added to your ice cream once the churning is complete while your ice cream is solid but still soft and malleable. You can even mix add-ins directly into your ice cream churner once the ice cream is solid, using the churner to help blend the ingredients together. Larger chunks of ingredients are better to fold into your ice cream using a spatula.

It is best to add the ingredients a little at a time and blend in between. This technique helps to mix the flavors evenly into your ice cream base. Mixing in a lot of ingredients at one time can leave large clumps of candy or pretzels concentrated in just one bite. The ideal mixing of ingredients will allow you to taste an assortment of each of the flavors that you've added consistently in every bite from start to finish. Adding small solid ingredients is better than adding large ones. If you're adding Oreo cookies for example it is best to make sure that they are broken down into a crumble rather than attempting to add large chunks to your ice cream base.

Liquid mix-ins such as chocolate or caramel should also be added in intervals. These ingredients will harden throughout the ice cream base as it becomes more solid during freezing. There are options for tools and machinery you can use to churn ice cream that simplify the process. They range from hand churners to more elaborate commercial grade machines. You can also try a no-churn method that doesn't require an extra appliance. Churning at home can be a more economic option than purchasing ice cream in the grocery aisle or at an ice cream shop. Customizing it yourself allows you to make healthier ingredient choices and make your own mark on this sweet tradition that spans centuries.