One of the most important ingredients in ice cream is, not surprisingly, the cream. But cream has a tendency to float in milk or other liquid mixtures because it’s lighter and it doesn’t always like to play by the rules.
That’s where the homogenizer comes in. The homogenizer is one of the most powerful machines in the Turkey Hill Dairy. It’s basically a high pressure pump (up to 2500 psi), that shears the ice cream mix at extremely high rate of speed. This process breaks the heavy cream into tiny molecules which allows them to mix freely with the rest of the ingredients in ice cream to create a smooth and creamy, finished product.
On the left is a picture of a homogenizer. It’s not much to look at, but it’s a pretty important part of the ice cream making process.

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.
Wow! That’s some pretty impressive piece of machinery. What does it weigh when it’s full? How many gallons of cream do you mix at a time? When you add the cream to the rest of the ingredients, how many gallons of ice cream do you get from one batch? When you taste T.H. ice cream you, it tastes so close to homemade. Just keep up the good work! Who gets to lick the bowl when its done?:) LOL
how did they make ice cream without the homogenizer?
shake, shake, shake.
or
shake, rattle and roll.
Good to know that TH Ice Cream not only tastes good, but they take the time to make it good FOR you! If that’s what it takes to make the stuff so creamy and good, then by all means – keep up the good work!
How much does one homogenizer cost? Are the different ingredients put in the machine in the same order all the time? TH ice cream is great, taste just like the homeade ice cream we make every summer.Thanks
The technology that goes into making your ice cream is amazing. I wonder how long it takes to clean the homogenizer between batches?
Then why does home churned Ice Cream taste so good?
I love this blog, I am learning so much about the world of ice cream.
Keep the info coming!
I remember as a child getting milk delivered in bottles when in winter the cream would freeze at the top. It was a special treat to eat some of it. I always thought that since the cream came to the top it did not have to be homogenized. By around 1960 I don’t think you could get non-homogenized milk.
Who comes up with these machines? Holy Cow…
I missed a few days Turkey Hill – a terrible stomach bug. But I’m back!
I knew the word homogenized but didn’t really know what it meant. Now I do – great! I enjoyed the other entries and photographs I missed as well. Some good advice from Ernie about having your cake and ice cream and staying in shape.
Good to be feeling well again.
If the cream wasn’t homogenized and you still made ice cream with it,, would it separate in the ice cream carton or would it actually just not mix well, to begin with?
Good to have you back, CJ. As for everyone else’s questions, we’ll run them by Ernie. He’s the man with the answers arouhd here!
Is it really noisy piece of machinery.
I
Just found your product a couple of weeks ago. Purchased Vanilla Bean because it didn’t have any funny named items in the ingredients. It was wonderful. I’m sure the machine helped this. Will buy again. Thanks.
Everyday I learn something new about my favorite ice cream. Last night the lemon Duetto was delicious! Tonight banana splits!! Great idea this web site, its like going to school for ice cream! Thanks again Turkey Hill!
The homogenizer is a unique piece of equipment.No wonder Turkey Hill tastes so great. I love T H so much that I think I’m sprouting pinfeathers! Keep on truckin’.
Thank goodness for the homogenizer so we can have Turkey Hill. I wonder how much ice cream can be made at one time?
who needs the technical stuff, just make good ice cream T. Hill !!!!!!!!!
LOL- I first read it as ‘suprisingly, not the cream’! So you can tell, I was pretty confused when I kept reading about cream!!!
Maryann (I will also post this on today’s blog), which was your favorite?
People addicted to Mint Chocolate Chip unite!!!!!!!
I would love to have a homogenizer in my home with the amount of icecream my family and I eat:)
we are manufactory of homogenizer,from China.if need ,just send inquiry to my email evabusiness88@hotmail.com.thanks.
we are manufactory of homogenizer,from China.if need ,just send inquiry to my email evabusiness88@hotmail.com
thanks.