Facts About Ice Cream - Part 5

Index

1. Is all ice cream the same? What are the types of ice cream?
2. What is Artisan Ice Cream?
3. Where can I find Artisan Ice Cream?
4. Ice Cream Factoids
5. Ice Cream FAQ

Why is a Knickerbocker Glory so named?
The shape of the knickerbocker glory glass (wide at the top tapering down to narrow at the bottom) got its name from the knickerbockers of Dutch settlers who arrived in New York at the start of the twentieth century. The flared pants were worn tucked into trousers and inspired this now world famous dessert.

Is Ice Cream a Good Food?

With the growing issues of diet and nutrition, ice cream has sometimes received a ‘bit of a bad press’ but does it deserve it?

One problem that ice cream has in the name itself i.e cream which most people know as a relatively high fat dairy product and some of this perception rubs off on to ice cream, but the reality of modern ice cream is somewhat different.

The major food component in ice cream is milk and, of this, milk protein is the most important. There is actually more milk protein in a quality dairy ice cream than in the same weight of milk alone! In addition, milk contains calcium and phosphorus which are very important in the building of bone, along with some essential vitamins.

Fat is necessary in a balanced diet to provide energy, along with sugars including lactose from the milk. Milk fat is especially useful in that it will normally contain Vitamins A and D. It is only when fat and sugar are taken in excess that they can lead to overweight, particularly if little or no exercise is taken.

Another important aspect is that ice cream is very easily taken by sick people and particularly children. Its soothing feel is very helpful if you have a cold or throat infection. For those people who are unable to have ordinary sugar (diabetics for example) there are ices specially formulated for them which are extremely palatable and can give a very useful addition to their limited diet, while very similar ices are available for those who have to 'watch the inches' or are lactose intolerant.

Research has also shown that eating ice cream can actually make you feel better as it affects parts of the brain associated with good feelings. No wonder you can’t help smiling eating ice cream!

Ice Cream FAQ’s

Does ice cream contain gelatin?
Yes, although not used as extensively as it once was, gelatin may still be used in a few cases as a stabiliser. It can be found in some ice lollies and almost all mousses. It is rarely present in ice cream, however, if you are concerned that the ice cream you are going to buy may contain gelatin check the label or, in the case of a mobile ice cream van, ask to see the ingredients list of the ice cream being sold.

Does ice cream contain eggs?
A few recipes do; most do not. You would have to read the ingredients list to find out if the particular brand you are interested in contains egg. Organic ice cream is the most likely to contain egg as the only emulsifiers allowed by the Soil Association are eggs or lecithin.

Is ice cream likely to affect those with a nut allergy?
Unless the flavour suggests it, ice cream should not contain nuts or nut products, but manufacturers are being encouraged to make positive declarations about the absence or presence of nuts. With the increased awareness of nut allergies, more and more manufacturers are endeavouring to make their manufacturing processes 'nut free' by separating lines that produce nut containing products and those which do not. Other declarations are "made in a nut free environment," "it may contain nuts" even though the ingredients list doesn't show it, and "made in a factory which uses nuts".

Ice cream which is not labelled with the word 'dairy' may be made with vegetable oils which may include palm kernel oil (NB The ice cream may still contain more milk protein weight for weight than milk itself and may also contain dairy fat) some sufferers of extreme allergies may wish to look out for this.

There may be some 'danger' of nut contamination in a scooping cabinet, where the same scoop is used for both 'ordinary' flavours and for nutty ones if you have a nut allergy ask the vendor to use a clean scoop and explain why and be sure to read all labels carefully.