There is no question that ice cream is a popular dessert. And with so many flavors currently available, finding one that suits your taste buds has become a breeze. However, ice cream can be quite pricey-in fact, some products sell for a much as $10 for a quart! Luckily, making ice cream at home has become so simple that almost anyone can do it. And making your ice cream is not only a fun process; it is also guaranteed to save you plenty of money! A KitchenAid Stand Mixer and Ice Cream Attachment can be found at most cooking and culinary stores. In some cases, they can also be purchased online for a reduced rate.
Read the Recipe Ahead of Time
As with any cooking project, reading the recipe before you start is essential for achieving good results. Reading the recipe before starting to cook not only helps you evaluate the steps necessary to creating the final product, but also tells you exactly which ingredients will be needed, and in what order. Finally, reading a recipe before starting to prepare the ice cream will tell you if any special equipment, such as a zester or juice press, is needed.
Prepare your “Mise en Place”
“Mise en Place” is a French terms that means “everything in place.” Traditionally, this phrase is used quite a lot by professional chefs to ensure that all equipment and ingredients have been prepared, measured, and placed in a central location before the cooking process begins. Having your “mise en place” not only makes the cooking process much faster, but also prevents you from searching for a particular food item or cooking utensil during an important step. While preparing your equipment may take a bit of time in the beginning, it is essential for achieving good results.
Check the Freezer
The ice cream attachment, which goes onto the KitchenAid Stand Mixer, must be placed inside a freezer to complete the cooking process. While the ice cream attachment is not especially large, it can take up quite a bit of room in a small freezer. Before starting to make a new batch of ice cream, evaluate the current status of your freezer. If it is quite full, you may want to consider disposing of some of the things currently being held inside of it. If you cannot stand to part with the food products currently in your freezer, rethink making a new batch of ice cream!
Allow Adequate Cooling Time
Finally, making sure that the ice cream is kept in the freezer for an adequate period of time is essential for proper freezer. Each ice cream recipe will vary-but in most cases, the product must be kept in the freezer for at least 4 or 5 hours to ensure complete freezing. Check the ice cream on a periodical basis to determine where it is in the freezing process. Remember that in most cases, the further back inside the freezer you place the ice cream, the faster it will freeze.