How to Use a 5 Qt Wooden Ice Cream Freezer

Make ice cream in a wooden freezer.

Homemade ice cream is a fun treat for hot summer days. If you own a wooden ice cream freezer, you can make ice cream without worrying about freezing the container for at least a day ahead of time. Wooden ice cream makers typically use a combination of ice and salt to freeze the cream mixture, while an electric motor turns the ice cream container or you crank the machine by hand.

Things You'll Need

• 5 cups heavy cream
• 5 cups whole milk
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch (optional)
• 3 cups white sugar
• 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup cocoa powder (optional)
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• 25 lb. ice
• 6 cups rock salt
• Shallow container with lid
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Combine the ingredients for the ice cream in a large mixing bowl. Stir together heavy cream, milk, sugar, cornstarch and vanilla. You can also add a cup of cocoa for chocolate ice cream. Stir until the sugar and cocoa powder dissolve.

2. Place the ice cream mixture in the refrigerator overnight. You can also set aside 1 cup of the mixture and place in the freezer for several hours until nearly frozen. Place the rest of the mixture into the refrigerator. When the cup is nearly frozen, stir into the rest of the ice cream mixture.

3. Place the dasher, or tool that churns the ice cream, inside the can that holds the ice cream mixture.

4. Pour the chilled ice cream mixture into the can with the dasher and put the lid on it. Don't fill the can more than three-quarters of the way full. Filling it halfway full may be ideal.

5. Place ice cream can in the bucket on the ice cream maker.

6. Alternate adding an inch or two of crushed ice, then 1/2 cup rock salt to the bucket, until the ice and salt mixture reach the top of the bucket. If your ice cream maker is motorized, turn it on so that the bucket can rotate as you add the ice.

7. Turn the crank on a hand-cranked wooden model and churn the ice for about 20 minutes or until frozen but still soft. Churn the ice cream for 20 to 40 minutes on an electric, motorized model.

8. Pull the can out of the ice cream maker and wipe away any ice. Take the lid off and remove the dasher. You can serve the ice cream now or freeze for later.

9. Pack the ice cream into a plastic or metal container tightly, then top with a layer of plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals. Put the lid on the container and store in your freezer for up to a week.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to add more ice as the ice cream churns.

References

• Serious Eats; 10 Tips for Homemade Ice Cream Success; Lucy Baker; 2008
• Rival: Electric Ice Cream Maker
• PickYourOwn.org: White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer