This Hack Gives Homemade Ice Cream A Creamy Smooth Texture, Guaranteed

One of the hallmarks of DIY ice cream is the seemingly limitless possibilities for flavors. Whether you're making a simple homemade vanilla ice cream, a crowd-pleasing chocolate brownie, or a sophisticated, artisanal honey lavender, your goal is to create a smooth, creamy texture. Enter cornstarch; This pantry staple is a thickening agent often found in eggless, Sicilian-style gelato. Cornstarch gives this Italian dessert its signature dense, creamy, chewy texture that makes it unforgettable.

How does it work? Its superpower is its ability to stop the formation of ice crystals. Egg yolks keep the icy dots away in commercial ice cream; The fat freezes in a manner that makes it creamy, while the protein ensures the water doesn't turn into these bits of ice. When they do form, they create a grainy consistency that's the nemesis of the velvety, lush bite you want to achieve. Using cornstarch is one of the tasty tips for making homemade ice cream, but how much to add can be tricky.

The amount of cornstarch needed can vary. The ratio can range from 1 cup of liquid to 1 to 3 teaspoons of starch. However, too much can quickly turn your ice cream from creamy to chalky, so start with a conservative amount and make adjustments as needed. It's a process of trial-and-error until you find the creamy, gummy consistency you're hoping to achieve with homemade ice cream.

When do you add it? It's best to stir it with some cream and create what looks like a slurry before you whisk it together with warm milk. Once you've done this, bring it to a boil and watch it thicken. Let this mixture cool to room temperature before you place it in the fridge to chill. This could take anywhere from a few hours to overnight for it to get cold enough. Once it has, pour it into your ice cream maker; You should soon have the smoothest ice cream you've ever tasted. If you want to add flavor and cornstarch simultaneously, try adding some instant pudding mix to homemade ice cream. Cornstarch is one of the primary ingredients in these mixes, so you get that same creamy, chewy texture that cornstarch alone can add.