Philadelphia Style Vanilla Ice Cream Food

PHILADELPHIA-STYLE ICE CREAM BASE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine cream, milk, sugar, corn syrup and salt, and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer until sugar dissolves, then transfer mixture to a container and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours and preferably overnight.
• Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and freeze until hard.

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Steps:

• 1 Prepare the ice cream mixture: In a bowl, stir together the cream and milk. Add the sugar and whisk until the sugar is dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes. Test for graininess by tasting a small amount of the liquid; it should feel smooth on the tongue and there should be no sugar visible on the bottom of the bowl when it is stirred or spooned out. Continue whisking, if necessary, to ensure that the texture of the finished ice cream will be smooth. Stir in the vanilla. 2 Chill the ice cream mixture: Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and enough cold water just to cover the ice cubes. Place the bowl with the cream mixture into the larger bowl and let cool for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the bowl with the cream mixture and place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface and on top of the bowl. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours. 3 Churn the ice cream: Prepare an ice cream maker with at least a 1-quart capacity according to the manufacturer's instructions. Remove the plastic wrap from the cream mixture and bowl. Pour the well-chilled cream mixture into the mixing container of the ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. The timing will depend on the type of machine and the temperature of the cream mixture. 4 Store or serve the ice cream: The ice cream can be served immediately, directly from the mixing container, but it will have a very soft consistency and a mild flavor. For a fuller flavor and a firmer consistency, use a rubber spatula to transfer the ice cream to a plastic freezer container. Cover tightly and freeze until the ice cream is firm, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days. The ice cream is at its best when served within 12 hours of freezing. (Philadelphia-style ice cream tends to become grainy more quickly and is best eaten within a day or two of churning.) Makes about 1 quart. 5 Pastry Chef's Tip: Even though it seems that the ice cream will be richer, do not attempt to make it with heavy cream alone. The higher percentage of butterfat in the cream tends to solidify, causing a flaky or grainy texture.

GELATO-STYLE VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup milk and the cornstarch in a medium bowl; whisk until smooth. Combine the remaining 2 cups milk, the heavy cream, sugar and salt in a medium high-sided saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar, until steaming, 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly, then pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil, about 5 minutes (it will foam up a bit). Boil, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
• Pour the mixture into a medium heatproof bowl. Stir in the vanilla. Let stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until the mixture stops steaming, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate until cold, 2 to 3 hours.
• Stir the mixture, then strain it if it looks lumpy. Transfer to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions until the consistency of soft serve. Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

30-MINUTE PHILADELPHIA-STYLE ICE CREAM RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until sugar completely dissolves. Churn mixture according to manufacturer's instructions. Serve right away as soft serve or transfer to an airtight container and harden in freezer for 4 to 5 hours. (Freezing in several smaller containers will greatly reduce hardening time.)

VANILLA ICE CREAM, PHILADELPHIA-STYLE

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup (250 ml) of the cream into a medium saucepan and add the sugar and salt. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the saucepan and add the pod to the pot. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and add the remaining 2 cups (500 ml) cream (or the remaining 1 cup, 250 ml, cream and the milk) and the vanilla extract.
• Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator. When ready to churn, remove the vanilla bean, rinsing and reserving it for another use, and then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Perfect Pairing
• To make Caramel-Chocolate Ripple Ice Cream, layer 1 cup each Fudge Ripple (page 210) and Salted Butter Caramel Sauce (page 174) into the just-churned custard.
• French vs. American
• There are two basic styles of ice cream: French-style, which is a cooked custard made with egg yolks, and Philadelphia-style, made with cream or a combination of cream and milk, but without eggs.
• French-style ice creams tend to be smoother and silkier, due to the emulsifying power of the egg yolks, which get cooked on the stovetop, requiring a bit of cooking prowess. Philadelphia-style ice creams can simply be mixed or puréed together, chilled thoroughly, and then frozen. Philadelphia-style ice creams have no egg yolks, so they tend to be a bit firmer, freeze harder, and have a somewhat chewier texture. The advantage is that they're a little lighter tasting and are easier to make.

PHILADELPHIA STYLE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients using a hand mixer to blend thoroughly.
• Refrigerate until cold.
• Make ice cream following the instructions for your ice cream maker.