"The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream", quoted US poet Wallace Stevens. True to this quotation, when ice cream was invented can be traced back to 4th Century BC Roman Emperor Nero whose ice cream was then made from fresh snow topped with fruits. From such, ice cream has evolved over the years and this delight can now be enjoyed today in various types and can be bought in ice cream parlors or be made at home using an ice cream maker such as a Phillips ice cream machine.
Any sweetened frozen liquid made from milk or other dairy products and combined with fruits and vegetables is an ice cream. As was said earlier, Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar of Rome was the first to be recorded to have made ice cream. It was believed that the emperor sent his slaves to the mountains to gather snow which he used to cool his fruit drinks. Likewise, history also has it that Alexander the Great also sent slaves to climb mountain to get snow, which, he on the other hand, used as refreshments. Come the 13th Century, it was believed that the Chinese method of ice cream making was introduced in Europe by Italian explorer Marco Polo-the method Polo learned during his visits to China.
Over the years, ice cream recipes have evolved. By 1776, the first ice cream parlor in America was opened in New York City. Come 1846, Nancy Johnson established the basic method of making ice cream that is being used until today by patenting a hand-cranked freezer. By 1851, a Baltimore company established by Jacob Fussell started producing and marketing whole sale ice cream. Today, people can purchase ice cream from a number of ice cream parlors all over the world. Others though enjoy making their ice creams at home using ice cream makers like Phillips ice cream machines.
There are generally five varieties of ice cream today. These are regular ice creams, frozen custard, sherbet frozen yogurt, and gelato. Regular ice cream is made from a frozen pasteurized mix of dairy products like milk, cream, etc., sweetening agents, flavorings, stabilizers, emulsifiers, optional egg or egg yolks, and other ingredients. On the other hand, frozen custard-often referred to as French ice cream-resembles regular ice cream in the exception that this variety of ice cream contains higher levels of egg yolk solids. The next variety of ice cream is sherbet. This ice cream is has more sugar than regular ice cream and contains 1-2% of milk fats and 2-5% milk solids. Another variety of ice cream is frozen yogurt that is made from the same products as regular ice cream plus lactic acid cultures. Last is the gelato which is the most flavorful dessert among these five varieties of ice cream. Gelato is an Italian-style ice cream made by combining milk and sugar with flavorings. The mix is then cooled afterwards.
Ice cream can also be home-made using a Phillips ice cream machine or other ice cream makers. Based on the method of freezing, there are three styles of ice cream machines. These are freezing machines, anti-freeze buckets, and mechanical freezers. Ice cream machines that are made from two layers of buckets are called freezing machines. These ice cream makers use the inner layer as container for ice cream mix while the outer layer holds ice and salt. On the other hand, anti-freeze bucket feature a bucket with walls sealed with anti-freeze. The bucket should be first frozen overnight in a freezer before ice cream mix can be poured in it. Finally are mechanical freezers. These machines cool ice cream through the use of compressors.
Ice cream is a very popular dessert and a treat whether in a hot or cold weather. As such, treating oneself with ice cream prepared in an ice cream parlor or home-made with a Phillips ice cream machine is an activity one always enjoys.
Any sweetened frozen liquid made from milk or other dairy products and combined with fruits and vegetables is an ice cream. As was said earlier, Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar of Rome was the first to be recorded to have made ice cream. It was believed that the emperor sent his slaves to the mountains to gather snow which he used to cool his fruit drinks. Likewise, history also has it that Alexander the Great also sent slaves to climb mountain to get snow, which, he on the other hand, used as refreshments. Come the 13th Century, it was believed that the Chinese method of ice cream making was introduced in Europe by Italian explorer Marco Polo-the method Polo learned during his visits to China.
Over the years, ice cream recipes have evolved. By 1776, the first ice cream parlor in America was opened in New York City. Come 1846, Nancy Johnson established the basic method of making ice cream that is being used until today by patenting a hand-cranked freezer. By 1851, a Baltimore company established by Jacob Fussell started producing and marketing whole sale ice cream. Today, people can purchase ice cream from a number of ice cream parlors all over the world. Others though enjoy making their ice creams at home using ice cream makers like Phillips ice cream machines.
There are generally five varieties of ice cream today. These are regular ice creams, frozen custard, sherbet frozen yogurt, and gelato. Regular ice cream is made from a frozen pasteurized mix of dairy products like milk, cream, etc., sweetening agents, flavorings, stabilizers, emulsifiers, optional egg or egg yolks, and other ingredients. On the other hand, frozen custard-often referred to as French ice cream-resembles regular ice cream in the exception that this variety of ice cream contains higher levels of egg yolk solids. The next variety of ice cream is sherbet. This ice cream is has more sugar than regular ice cream and contains 1-2% of milk fats and 2-5% milk solids. Another variety of ice cream is frozen yogurt that is made from the same products as regular ice cream plus lactic acid cultures. Last is the gelato which is the most flavorful dessert among these five varieties of ice cream. Gelato is an Italian-style ice cream made by combining milk and sugar with flavorings. The mix is then cooled afterwards.
Ice cream can also be home-made using a Phillips ice cream machine or other ice cream makers. Based on the method of freezing, there are three styles of ice cream machines. These are freezing machines, anti-freeze buckets, and mechanical freezers. Ice cream machines that are made from two layers of buckets are called freezing machines. These ice cream makers use the inner layer as container for ice cream mix while the outer layer holds ice and salt. On the other hand, anti-freeze bucket feature a bucket with walls sealed with anti-freeze. The bucket should be first frozen overnight in a freezer before ice cream mix can be poured in it. Finally are mechanical freezers. These machines cool ice cream through the use of compressors.
Ice cream is a very popular dessert and a treat whether in a hot or cold weather. As such, treating oneself with ice cream prepared in an ice cream parlor or home-made with a Phillips ice cream machine is an activity one always enjoys.
About the Author:
Caesar Dizon is an ice cream parlor owner from Manila, Philippines. With the tropical weather in their country, his ice cream parlor is a big hit. To make sure that he serves the best ice cream, he has a wide array of ice cream machines and among those is his Sorbetiere Philips.