There are few dessert concepts quite as hard to wrap your brain around as fried ice cream. After all, dunking a large ball of the frozen food into steaming hot oil seems like it would be an exercise in frustration. Yet instead, when expertly executed, the result is a perfectly cold and creamy treat encased in crispy goodness.
Details on where the dessert was first made are murky, but the now-shuttered Mexican chain restaurant Chi-Chis has been credited with helping propel the dessert to stardom in the United States several decades ago. It can still be found on restaurant menus — often at Mexican restaurants — and its a sure way to evoke a quizzical look out of anyone whos unfamiliar with it. So, what kind of wizardry is required to create the frozen yet fried concoction?
Though the process does seem like it would take a little magic, it turns out some simple science is at work. Coating the frozen ball of ice cream with just the right ingredients creates a layer of insulation that protects the ice cream from melting.
How to make fried ice cream without it melting
To make fried ice cream, you must first scoop out the balls and place them back in the freezer to harden. By keeping the ice cream as chilled as possible, you reduce the chance of it melting while frying.
Once the ice cream balls are frozen solid, create the first layer of insulation on the outside by rolling them in egg whites or cake batter. For the second layer, roll them in a crunchy ingredient thats either sweet or savory — crushed cookies, cereal, potato chips, or panko all work well.
Now, NASA likens comets to fried ice cream, but making this treat isnt really rocket science. A less complicated analogy might be between fried ice creams outer layers and your standard cooler on a hot day. By encasing the super-cold ice cream with the outer layers of ingredients, youre protecting the ice cream from the heat, just like those ice-cold beverages in the cooler.
Fried Ice Cream Recipe | Quick Dessert | How to make icecream | FRIED ICECREAM
How do you deep fry ice cream?
When ready to fry, fill a small pot with 3 inches of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 360F. Place one of the ice cream balls on a slotted spoon and gently lower it into the hot oil. Fry one at a time for 8 to 10 seconds. Remove and gently tap the spoon on the pot, so excess oil drips off. 6.
Can you freeze deep fried ice cream?
There are many ways to do deep fried ice cream, but the principles are all the same. You wrap or coat a scoop of ice cream in a crust of some sort, then you freeze the whole thing until it is as cold as it can possibly be.
Does frozen ice cream melt when deep fried?
The ice cream does not melt when deep-fried as the scoop of frozen ice cream is large enough to stay frozen for the 10 seconds it is in the oil. This is why making sure the ice cream scoops are frozen solid and not too small before deep-frying is essential.
Can you fry ice cream?
Fry it! Fried ice cream might sound impossible, but it’s actually pretty simple. Pull out your favorite ice cream flavor and get ready to add a little extra crunch and sweetness to this classic frozen treat. Scoop out 8 scoops of ice cream onto a baking sheet. Use a spoon or an ice cream scoop to dish out 8 ice cream balls, all about ½ cup (68 g).