Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is
flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as
strawberries or peaches.
What gives ice cream its creamy texture?
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. Ice cream containing lots of tiny ice crystals feels
smoother and creamier than ice cream that is equally thick but with fewer, larger crystals. Constant churning helps keep
the crystals moving as they chill, so they have less time to attach to one another and form clusters that would
interrupt a creamy mouth-feel.