Ice Cream, You Scream

Ice Cream, You Scream Abstract

The purpose for this project was to determine if it is possible to make ice cream, without an ice cream maker, at home using household ingredients and plastic bags. The problem for the project was how can a person make an afternoon snack of tasty ice cream with only household ingredients and plastic bags? The hypothesis, determined after research, was that the liquid mixture can be changed to a solid and that an ice cream can be made using household products. The combination of salt and ice is responsible for the success or failure of the ice cream.

To perform this experiment, a person needs to assemble the ice cream mixture ingredients, rock salt, ice, and plastic bags. The ice cream mixture goes into a smaller bag, sealed, then placed inside a larger bag filled with ice and salt. After turning the bags for at least 10 minutes, the mixture should solidify to ice cream. Dispose of the materials properly and enjoy.

The results of the three trials concluded that ice cream is indeed possible with these simple items. It was concluded that the ice/salt mixture maintained the cold temperatures long enough for the mixture to freeze or solidify. The conclusions supported the hypothesis that ice cream could be created from household items and plastic bags.

The consensus from the experimenters was that this is a fun project and would make an excellent activity at a party or a play date. The experimenters enjoyed having friends to complain about their cold hands. The comparisons at the end, of whose ice cream froze the best and whose didn’t were worthy of any bragging contest. Experimental Design Table of Contents

Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 5

Problem……………………………………………………………………………………………………Page 6

Research/Background Information………………………………………………………….Page 7

Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 8

Subject…………………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 9

Variable…………………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 10

Control…………………………………………………………………………………………………...Page 11

Materials………………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 12

Procedures………………………………………………………………………………………….…Page 13

Data……………………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 15

Results…………………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 16

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 17

Application……………………………………………………………………………………………Page 18

Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………..Page 19

Interview Summaries…………………………………………………………………………….Page 20

Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………Page 21

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………….Page 22 Purpose

To determine if it is possible to make ice cream, without an ice cream maker, at home using household ingredients and plastic bags.

5 Problem

How can I make an afternoon snack of tasty ice cream with only household ingredients and plastic bags?

6 Research/Background Information

After visiting many websites and reading their articles, it was determined that is will be possible to make a type of frozen ice cream. There are a variety of recipes to use with similar ingredients – milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. The selection of the project recipe was made by choosing a trusted site – Family Fun. The research also indicated that the taste opinions ranged from acceptable to quite good. Rock salt seemed to be the primary ingredient to a successful freezing process. While table salt could be used, the freezing would take much longer and results more unpredictable.

7 Hypothesis

After extensive research, I believe that the liquid mixture can be changed to a solid and that an ice cream can be made using household products. I believe that the combination of salt and ice is responsible for the success or failure of the ice cream.

8 Subject(s)

The liquid mixture

9 Variable(s)

The individuals handling the bags and mixing the liquid will be different.

10 Control(s)

Type of bags

Brand of salt

Ice

Brand of Milk

Brand of Half-n-half

Sugar

Vanilla

11 Materials

 10 - Quart plastic bags

 10 – Gallon plastic bags

 Gallon of whole milk

 ½ Gallon of half-n-half

 2 Cups Sugar

 2 oz. Vanilla

 Box of Rock Salt

 Bag of Ice

 Paper Towels

 Measuring Cups

 Measuring Spoons

 Ice Chest

12 Procedures

1. In a quart bag, combine:

1 Cup Milk

1 Cup Half-n-half

1 Tbs. Sugar

½ tsp Vanilla

2. Seal the bag completely, while trying to remove as much air as possible.

Set aside.

3. In a gallon bag:

Fill half way with ice.

½ Cup Rock Salt

4. Seal the bag and shake to mix the ice and the salt. 5. Gently shake the liquid mixture bag to mix the ingredients (verify that it is

completely sealed) before placing inside the gallon bag with the ice and

salt.

6. Seal the ice/salt gallon bag, while removing as much air as possible.

7. Turn the sealed bag over and over the next 10 minutes, trying to continue

to mix the interior bag without forcing it open.

8. Open the gallon bag and remove the smaller bag, wiping off the watery salt

mixture and check to see if the mixture has solidified.

Yes - discard the gallon bag safely and enjoy.

No - continue to number 9

9. If the mixture has not solidified, check the gallon bag to see if there is at

least ½ of the ice still in cubes.

Yes - place smaller bag back into the gallon back, seal and continue to turn. No – Dispose of salt water safely and refill bag with ice and ½ cup of rock

salt. Add mixture bag, reseal, and continue to turn.

10. Check results in 5 minutes to see if mixture has solidified.

Yes - discard the gallon bag safely and enjoy.

No - enjoy the thin milkshake.

11. Record the data.

12. Clean up the experiment area.

Data

Trial 1 – 12/12/09:

6 of 10 bags turned to ice cream

4 of 10 turned to milk shake

Trial 2 – 12/18/09:

5 of 6 bags turned to ice cream 1 of 6 turned to ice cream, unfroze, then to milk shake, could not re-freeze

Trial 3 – 12/27/09:

6 of 6 bags turned to ice cream

Results

The results of the experiment confirmed the hypothesis that ice cream was possible to make from household ingredients. Out of 22 separate bags, 17 turned into ice cream while the other 5 were certainly thicker than the original mixture. The results also indicate that operator error (human element) may be responsible for the failures as the research did not indicate a large failure rate. 16

Conclusion

Based on my experiment, I know that it is possible to make ice cream from household ingredients. I was able to confirm my hypothesis which said I could create ice cream with plastic bags and ice. I found that the human involvement determined if your mixture would solidify correctly: specifically how much the bag was turned and how hot the person’s hands were. My data shows that the ice cream was not a guaranteed result, but that operator error could occur. I realized that I got better giving the instructions with each trial.

Application I believe that most children could make a fun snack. I believe that this would be a great activity during a party, with adult supervision (salt and ice). In a party situation, I would have the children go through an assembly line adding ingredients to their bags.

Recommendations I would recommend that:

 There be adult supervision when handling the rock salt/ice mixture and

during the disposal process. If a bag were dumped on the grass or a plant,

then they would surely die.

 The weather outside be below 29.5 C to insure that the ice will not melt too

quickly.

 There is an ample supply of paper towels to wipe off the salt mixture from

the bag before pouring into a cup.

 Gloves or hand towels would lessen the cold effects on the hands, but

working with partners also helped.

Interview Summaries Mrs. Cordova, Imagine School Town Center Food Services Manager, said that while she has never made ice cream in a bag, she believes that the recipe would make a good basic vanilla ice cream. She felt that the ice might not get the mixture cold enough for “real ice cream,” but certainly enough for a snack and that it sounded fun.

Acknowledgements I would like to thank Mrs. Cordova for her expert opinion, Mrs. O’Grady for observing and tasting our product, Mrs. Underhill for her help during our trials, and my Fabulous Fourth Grade Class for their participation in this experiment.

Bibliography Cordova, Beatrice. Personal interview. 11 Dec. 2009. Food Service Manager, Imagine School Town Center

"Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag." familyfun.go.com. Family Fun Magazine, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

"Plastic Bag Ice Cream ." teachnet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2009. .

"Chp. 5 - Thermodynamics." sci-toys.com. Scitoys, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. .