FoodNet

Foods, their selection and preparation

1935

Page 145

Presented as published in 1935. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The steps in commercial freezing are the same as in household freezing. The mixture * is frozen in a mechanically turned freezer cooled with brine at about 27° to 29° F. until a thick, slushy consistency is obtained. During this stage air is beaten in. The ice cream is then drawn off into cans or molds and hardened in a room held at about 0° F. The beating in of air, because of its influence on crystal formation, increases the smooth¬ ness, the apparent richness, and the volume obtained from a given weight of mixture. "Overrun” or "swell” is the name given to the increase in volume which results from the incorporation of air during freezing. The factors which determine the amount of over¬ run are the viscosity of the cream, the tem¬ perature of the ice cream when drawn from the freezer, amount and kind of fillers and binders used, and the temperature of the brine. The overrun may be as much as 150 per cent. Overrun in excess of 90 per cent Commercial Freezer • The partially frozen mixture is drawn off into cans or cups and transferred to rooms held at 0° F. to harden U.S.D. A. should be avoided. This is controlled in ice¬ cream specifications by the requirement of a definite weight per gallon. SELECTION OF COMMERCIAL ICE CREAMS The rapid development of the ice-cream industry has made supplies of this popular dessert available in every community. It may be had at different quality and price levels, in a wide variety of textures and flavors, and in packages of different types and sizes. It may be had in pints and quarts ready packed, or the amount desired by the consumer is packed on order from bulk sup¬ plies. Most consumers shop around and find the ice cream they like best without much thought of quality. Some are limited to the product available at the nearest retail outlet. Standards for Ice Cream. State and local standards establish minimum levels of com¬ position and sanitary quality for ice cream. Standards for composition are stated in terms of the minimum fat content allowed, and in some cases the total solid required. In some states the fat content may be as low as 8 per cent. Some states require at least 14 per cent fat. Other states require a fat con¬ tent ranging between these two. The total solids content required is about 33 per cent in most states. Because of the ease with which air can be added to ice cream during freezing, some states require a minimum weight for a gallon of ice cream. Since bacteria develop as readily in ice cream as in milk, sanitary standards are de¬ sirable. Some states require that the mixes for ice cream be pasteurized and some specify a bacterial count for ice cream that must not be exceeded, just as is done in the sanitary standards for other milk products. The in¬ telligent consumer should know the stand¬ ards for ice cream required in her community. As a guide to the states in the establish¬ ment of the Sanitary Standards, the United States Public Health Service developed a Fro¬ zen Desserts Ordinance1 and Code, to guide states and local agencies in the development of satisfactory protective measures.