Making fried ice cream can be time consuming. Freezing single scoops of ice cream in your refrigerator's freezer before battering and deep-frying them can take anywhere from two to 24 hours. Instead, use liquid nitrogen to harden the ice cream and flash-freeze it in less than five seconds. The recommended temperature setting for a residential freezer is between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your food items frozen. Liquid nitrogen's measured temperature is minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit, obviously much greater than your freezer.
Step 1
Prepare a tempura batter for your ice-cream crust with flour, cornstarch, sugar and soda water in a mixing bowl. Another option for the crust uses crushed cookies, walnuts, cornflakes and coconut mixed together. In another dish, mix eggs and sugar to dip the ice cream in before rolling in the crushed-cookie mixture.
Step 2
Don cryogenic gloves and apron to protect your skin from the liquid nitrogen. Wear a face shield or safety goggles to protect against splashes.
Step 3
Fill a stainless-steel bowl halfway with liquid nitrogen. Pour the nitrogen slowly, as it can splash, causing freeze burns similar to frostbite.
Step 4
Scoop ice cream from the container with an ice-cream scoop. Set the ball of ice cream on a plate.
Step 5
Pick up the ice cream with stainless-steel tongs. Slowly lower the ice cream into the liquid nitrogen with the tongs. Leave the ice cream in the liquid nitrogen for three to four seconds.
Step 6
Lift the flash-frozen ice cream from the liquid nitrogen with the stainless-steel tongs. Dip the ice cream in the tempura batter, or choose the cookie mixture and dip the ice cream in the egg mixture, then roll it in the crushed-cookie mixture. Do not touch the ice cream with your fingers; use the tongs to avoid freezing you fingertips.
Step 7
Lower the battered ice cream into vegetable oil heated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep fryer. Leave in the fryer for 30 seconds to one minute.
Step 8
Lift the fried ice cream from the fryer. Drain it on paper towels.
Things You'll Need
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 16 oz. soda water
- Mixing bowls
- 1 cup crushed cornflakes
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup crushed cookies
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- Cryogenic gloves and apron
- Face shield or safety goggles
- Stainless-steel bowl
- Vanilla ice cream
- Ice cream scoop
- Plate
- Stainless-steel tongs
- Vegetable oil
- Deep fryer
- Paper towels
References
- FoodNetwork.com; Cajun Tempura Okra with Scallion Dipping Sauce; Paula Deen
- FoodNetwork.com; Fried Ice Cream; Emeril Lagasse; 2001
- Madrid Lab; Fried Ice Cream; Adam Melonas; September 2009
- Wichita State University: Liquid Nitrogen Demonstrations
- University of California, Santa Barbara: Department of Physics: Liquid Nitrogen
- MSNBC; Today Food; Move Over, Twinkies: Deep-Fried Butter is Here; Laura T. Coffey; October 2009
Member Comments