Why does my ice cream get crispy in my float?

Why does my ice cream get crispy in my float? - Person Holding Ice Cream Cone

I float my ice cream with Diet Pepsi. I'm always excited for when the ice cream gets crispy. It gets crispier when I use cold soda instead of room temperature. Is my soda freezing in the ice cream?



Best Answer

I think I know what you mean, but is the ice cream "crispy" only on the surface? Unless your ice cream becomes crispy in its interior as well, (which I could not explain), I think it's simply as you speculate, the water in the soda is freezing into a crust of ice around the surface of the ice cream ball. This would explain why it is more noticeable when the soda is cold.




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Why does my ice cream get crispy in my float? - Crop person showing delicious ice cream cone on street
Why does my ice cream get crispy in my float? - From above of light blue ice cream cart equipped with metal glasses with scoop above basket with waffle cones and paper cups
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Quick Answer about "Why does my ice cream get crispy in my float?"

The soda on the outside is warmer than the ice cream when poured over it. This melts some ice cream and dilutes the soda with sweet creamy goodness. Sometimes the ice cream will be cold enough to freeze parts of the soda onto the ice cream causing this "crispy" shell that I like.

Why is my ice cream crispy?

Freezer burn occurs as ice begins to evaporate over time in the freezer. As moisture leaves the ice cream and mixes with the air, it refreezes on the surface, creating those unappetizing crunchy crystals on top, according to Ben & Jerry's.

Why does ice cream get icy in a float?

Do you know how it works? It's basically the same as what is going on with the Mentos and Soda Fountain, except not as messy. You are knocking the carbon dioxide in the soda out of solution. Bubbles of air in the ice cream provide nucleation sites around which carbon dioxide bubbles can form and grow.

Why does ice cream crystalize in a root beer float?

A bubble of carbon dioxide is released when carbonated root beer contacts ice cream. Root beer float foam is created by the expansion of bubbles contained in the ice cream, which are protected and molded into large heads by the fat in the ice cream.

How do you prevent crystals in ice cream?

To prevent ice crystals from forming on ice cream, place a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap directly on the surface. Press it firmly onto the ice cream so that it forms a tight seal. Cover with the lid and return to the freezer.



You've Been Storing Ice Cream Wrong Your Entire Life




More answers regarding why does my ice cream get crispy in my float?

Answer 2

Turns out that my soda is freezing.

I ran a rudimentary experiment with white ice cream and dark soda. Here's a picture showing the soda freezing inside of the ice cream.

Soda freezing in my ice cream

The soda on the outside is warmer than the ice cream when poured over it. This melts some ice cream and dilutes the soda with sweet creamy goodness. Sometimes the ice cream will be cold enough to freeze parts of the soda onto the ice cream causing this "crispy" shell that I like.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Lukas, Maria Orlova, Maria Orlova, Lukas