Ice Cream: What You Need to Know

1. What is Ice Cream?
   • Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from a mix of ingredients like milk, sugar, and flavors. It can also have air whipped into it, making it light and creamy.
2. Ingredients in Ice Cream:
   • Milk Fat: This makes ice cream rich and creamy.
   • Milk Solids-Not-Fat: These are proteins and other solids that help with texture.
   • Sweeteners: Sugar is the most common, but there are others like corn syrup.
   • Stabilizers and Emulsifiers: These help keep the ice cream smooth and prevent ice crystals from forming.
   • Flavors: These can be anything from vanilla to chocolate to fruit.
3. How is Ice Cream Made?
   • First, the ingredients are mixed together and heated (this is called pasteurization).
   • Then, the mix is cooled and whipped to add air.
   • After that, it’s frozen in a special machine that keeps mixing it to make it smooth.
   • Finally, it’s packed and frozen solid.
4. Types of Ice Cream:
   • Regular Ice Cream: Has a lot of milk fat (at least 10%).
   • Low-Fat Ice Cream: Contains less fat (3-7%).
   • Nonfat Ice Cream: Has almost no fat (less than 0.5%).
   • Gelato: An Italian style that is creamier and has less air.
   • Frozen Yogurt: Made with yogurt and often has live bacteria that are good for digestion.
5. Ice Cream Around the World:
   • Different countries have different rules about what can be called ice cream. For example, in some places, ice cream can be made with non-dairy fats.