It’s the classic grocery shopping dilemma: On one end of the store you’ve got produce, on the other is dairy and frozen foods, and somewhere in the middle of it all is the meat. So where do you start and where do you finish to ensure your ice cream doesn’t melt while you’re shopping or during the drive home?
Here’s what we know: Most refrigerated foods can survive a reasonable amount of time in your cart no matter which end you start on. However, if you expect to spend more than 15 or 20 minutes in the store, you should always make the ice cream aisle your last stop before checking out. (Though we’ve heard some people like to wedge meat and other chilled products around the ice cream in their carts to keep them cool during long Saturday afternoon grocery marathons.)
We all know what happens if you take your time with ice cream. It melts and continues melting in the hot trunk of your car faster than a poolside popsicle in July. There a few tricks you can try to make the trip less stressful on your ice cream, though most of them take some pre-planning.
1. Make sure the ice cream is bagged with other frozen or refrigerated items. Together they can all help to keep each other cooler.
2. Place the ice cream (along with a couple of other frozen items) in a paper grocery bag and tightly fold the top over. The bag traps the cooler air and insulates the items better from the outside temperature than a plastic bag.
3. Have an insulated ice chest or bag in your trunk to tuck the ice cream in. Of course if it’s been in your hot trunk the frozen items are going to cool down the interior – so the smaller the better.
Most ice cream contains some ingredients to help with these periods of warmer temperature, but the more you can protect your ice cream, the longer it will taste the way we intended. When that happens, you might get those weird ice crystals (an ice cream affliction called “heat shock”) and sometimes the composition of the ice cream can be affected, making it grainy or a little less creamy than the manufacturer intended.
Not to mention what happens when you want to dig into that ice cream later that evening. We all know what happens next. With ice cream scoop in hand, you discover that your Peanut Butter Ripple is still unusually soft despite spending several hours in your freezer. For some reason, ice cream just isn’t the same when it’s “too soft.” Oh, the trials we endure as ice cream lovers!
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
I transported a few gallons of Party Cake and a couple of Creamy Commotions from Leola, PA to Rural Hall, NC this past June. 7 hours flat. I put it in an insulated cooler along with a bunch of ice, some Turkey Hill tea, and some Amish made cheese and cream. The ice cream held up pretty well- of course it had melted some, but it quickly set up once I put it in the freezer and my friends got to enjoy the greatness that is Turkey Hill. If only they sold it here in the Piedmont Triad!!!
SEVEN HOURS IN JUNE! That’s impressive. And to think that some people get nervous during a 30-minute drive home from the grocery store.
In my experience with ice cream, what I do is make sure the ice cream in the freezer is away from the heating element that is the defrost cycle heaters usually located at the bottom of the freezer, next just don’t open your ice cream for 24 hours after puting your ice cream in the freezer, just like your turkey hill milk, for the coldest,and tastiest product.
i have found that if i put a piece of plastic wrap on top of my ice cream after i have opened it that i don’t have trouble with ice crystals.
Thanks to your coupon in your calender I was able to try the ice cream sandwiches and found them to be simply delicious. Had it not been for the coupon I would not have known about them. Thanks a million, Love that Turkey Hill Ice Cream
That’s some “cool advice ” about buying ice cream and what happens from grocery store to your freezer to your after dinner treat. When my wife and I go shopping we always shop for the perishable foods last especially in the summer. Some times we’ll make a special trip back to the house for these items, then go back to the store for the rest of what we need that doesn’t need refrigeration.
Since ice cream is one of our basic food groups, any suggestions on buying, transporting, refrigerating and storing of such precious tasting Turkey Hill ice cream is like a good dinner recipe , don’t lose them.
What about the MYTH ? TRUTH ? my mother said ? or I heard somewhere…. “Don’t refreeze soft icecream”. Is that true?
I finally see another way that I am blessed. I only travel about 20 mins.to the market. But, on hot days the ice cream would melt a bit. So, I bought a hot/cold storage bag at the grocery store, it works great. I can fit 12 cartons of Turkey Hill Ice Cream 4 boxes of Turkey Hill Ice Cream sandwiches and 2 bottles of Turkey Hill Ice Tea or Lemonade (the Lemonade is great by the way)
It zips shut at the top. I bought 2 one is for meat and other frozen and perishables.I also used a bag to pick up a sheet Pizza which comes in 2 boxes,zipped it shut ,put it in the back and it was much hotter than usual when I got home! Look around your market or ask .They work great! (Besides I hate melted ice cream and could never wait an hour to eat it!)
Sincerely,
Terri Rose
Just bring an ice chest and pick up some dry ice when you checkout at the grocery store. It’s pretty cheap and you’ll only need a half pound for each hour of transportation. Have them put it in a paper bag, and pack your ice cream directly below the bag of dry ice. Put any other frozen products into this chest as well.