To enjoy your ice cream and frozen desserts, it is crucial to store and handle these delicacies in the right way. When you expose frozen treats to temperatures above 10 degrees, they tend to start melting, which affects their structure and even flavour characteristics. Regardless of where you buy your favourite ice cream, improper handling and storage will almost certainly affect the quality of the snack.
Tips for Storing Ice Cream
Avoid Re-freezing
It would be best if you did not allow your ice cream to soften then freeze again. Once the ice crystals in ice creams melt, they tend to develop into large crystals when re-frozen. The large lumps are often unpalatable and can even harm your teeth, causing sensitivity.
Check on Temperature
Always regulate your freezer temperature between -5 degrees and 0 degrees to prevent the small ice crystals from melting. The ideal serving temperature, however, is between 6 -10 degrees. Ensure that you take the serving you want to consume instead of removing the entire ice cream container from the freezer.
Store Inside the Freezer
Avoid storing ice cream next to the freezer door since the temperature levels are often subject to fluctuation due to the regular opening and closing of the door. Store it deep inside the freezer to allow it to maintain its tiny particles.
Seal Surrounding Food Stuff
Another essential tip that you should keep in mind is to avoid storing your ice cream next to unsealed foodstuffs as they can affect the flavour. Also, once you open an ice cream container, ensure that you seal it immediately to keep your frozen treat in the best condition possible.
Shop Frozen Treats Last
While at the supermarket, ensure that the ice cream is the last product to purchase to keep it fresh and chilly by the time you are done shopping. You should also store it separately from other products, more so warm food products that could increase surrounding temperatures and thus melt your ice cream.
Observing these tips will help to ensure that your ice cream and frozen treats remain delicious and yummy, even after several servings.