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.
By sealing hard-set ice cream in a layer of whipped egg whites (or sponge cake batter), followed by an outer layer of crispy cereal, cookies, or tempura-style batter, the ice cream is adequately insulated for a quick fry in hot oil.
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
FAQ
How does deep fried ice cream stay frozen?
What kind of oil do you use to fry ice cream?
How is deep fried ice cream made?
Is it safe to fry ice cream?
How do you fry ice cream balls?
Heat the oil for frying, then remove the ice cream balls, one at a time from the freezer, and dip them into the cookie crumbs. Then dip into the egg, and again into the cookie crumbs. Now, fry the ice cream for 1 to 2 minutes until the outside is golden brown and crispy.
How do you freeze fried ice cream?
Quickly roll the ice cream into better balls with your hands (I like to use disposable plastic gloves), and then roll the ice cream in the cooled crushed corn flakes. Place the fried ice cream balls back on the baking sheets and very quickly get them back in the freezer. Work fast and in batches because the ice cream will melt fast!
How do you keep frozen ice cream from melting?
Coating the frozen ball of ice cream with just the right ingredients creates a layer of insulation that protects the ice cream from 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.
How do you deep fry ice cream?
Deep Fried version: If you want to go the full mile, you can heat a few inches of vegetable or peanut oil to 365°F on the stove or in a deep fryer. When the oil is hot, gently lower each fried ice cream ball into the oil for about 20 seconds, then remove with a wire slotted spoon. Top and serve.