How to Scoop Perfect Ice Cream Balls

Ice cream curls as the concaved scoop cuts through.

Scooping perfect ice cream balls takes a little preparation and practice. Perfectly round ice cream scoops make a sundae or banana split look even more appealing. The temperature of the ice cream, the scoop and the serving bowl all determine the final shape of the ice cream ball. Give servings of ice cream a professional touch by perfecting your scoop technique to create symmetrical round balls. Scooping in a fluid sweeping motion curls a ribbon of sweet frozen cream back onto itself to form a ball.

Things You'll Need

• Glass or metal ice cream dish
• Metal ice cream scoop
• Large tall cup
• Kitchen towel

Instructions

1. Place a clean glass or metal ice cream serving dish in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes before the ice cream ball is touching its surface.

2. Remove the container of ice cream from the freezer and leave it on the counter to thaw for approximately eight minutes for every gallon.

3. Lower the ice cream scoop into the tall cup with the handle turned up.

4. Place the cup under the sink and fill it with hot water from the tap.

5. Pour off the water and retrieve the scoop from the cup after it has been in the hot water for two minutes.

6. Dry the warm scoop completely with a kitchen towel.

7. Take the chilled ice cream dish out of the freezer and place it on the counter next to the container of ice cream.

8. Remove the lid from the container and make a single scooping motion across the longest even surface of the ice cream no more than half an inch deep. Smaller rounded containers can be turned as you scoop to continue a scooping path along the side.

9. Watch the ribbon of ice cream as it is forced off the top of the scoop and curls back around to form a perfect ball.

10. Lift the scoop from the container and cradle the ice cream ball as you slowly transport it to the chilled ice cream dish.

11. Serve the scooped ice cream immediately and preferably indoors so the ball will retain its round shape as long as possible.

12. Put the metal ice cream scoop back into the tall cup for another hot water bath before using it to scoop more ice cream. Return the ice cream to the freezer quickly to keep it from completely melting.

Tips & Warnings

• Add whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry to the ice cream dish for a classic sundae.

References

• Foodies: Tips: How to Scoop and Serve Ice Cream
• Baking 911: Frozen: Ice Cream: How to Scoop Ice Cream