Nitrogen is used in the food industry in a variety of ways. In its gaseous form, nitrogen can be used in food preservation and in beverages. In its liquid form, nitrogen can create ice cream, sorbets, and more.
Nitrogen ice cream is a new and exciting product and a fun way to enjoy your favorite cold and creamy dessert. Whether you’re an ice cream enthusiast or an ice cream producer and seller, nitrogen ice cream is an exciting new concept. There are many benefits to making nitrogen ice cream. Here’s what to know:
What is Liquid Nitrogen?
Nitrogen is an element that takes the form of a gas at room temperature. When cooled to -192 degrees Celsius, nitrogen becomes a liquid. For reference, ice is frozen at 0 degrees Celsius.
Is Liquid Nitrogen Dry Ice?
Liquid nitrogen is not dry ice. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, and its temperature is only -78 degrees Celsius.
What is Nitrogen Ice Cream?
Nitrogen ice cream is a recipe that uses liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze ice cream. This is very different from the traditional way to make ice cream, which involves either freezing the ice cream in a freezer or churning the ice cream in a churn with ice.
Benefits of Nitrogen Ice Cream
Nitrogen ice cream has many benefits.
- Customization. Nitrogen ice cream is usually made to order because nitrogen freezes ice cream almost instantly. Customers can customize their ice cream by choosing the flavor and extra ingredients they like best.
- Creamy. Liquid nitrogen prevents large ice crystals from forming, so ice cream made with liquid nitrogen is particularly creamy.
- Fresher. Whereas traditional ice cream might be made days or weeks before consumption, nitrogen ice cream is usually made to order and is ready to be consumed within minutes. This makes it much fresher than traditional ice cream.
How is Nitrogen Ice Cream Made?
If you’re going to make nitrogen ice cream, you’ll need a nitrogen ice cream machine. Nitrogen ice cream machines are capable of mixing the ice cream ingredients with the nitrogen itself.
To make N2 ice cream, you’ll start with the same ingredients you would see in traditional ice cream: cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and anything else that you prefer to add. Once the ingredients have been added to the mixer, turn the mixer on low and slowly add the liquid nitrogen. It doesn’t take long before the nitrogen freezes the ingredients and creates ice cream.
When the ice cream is being mixed, the liquid nitrogen creates an impressive fog that spills over the edge of the bowl. The fog looks very dramatic and makes for an excellent show if you’re making ice cream on the spot for customers.
Working showmanship into your process can be a good business model and make the experience more enjoyable for anyone purchasing ice cream at your establishment.
Safety Warning
Liquid nitrogen that spills on your skin can cause serious injuries from frostbite if the nitrogen is allowed to sit on your skin for just a short period. Be careful to prevent the liquid nitrogen from touching your skin or clothing.
You’ll notice that if the liquid nitrogen touches your skin only very briefly, you’re unlikely to feel any pain. You may feel some coldness, but your skin is so warm compared to the liquid nitrogen that you will warm the liquid nitrogen enough to shield your skin from the most dangerous effects.
Prolonged exposure to liquid nitrogen – even just a few seconds – can cause serious injuries. When pouring liquid nitrogen into ice cream, take special care to ensure that the nitrogen is only poured into the container.
In addition, liquid nitrogen should never be ingested as nitrogen. This can cause serious injuries.
Where Can I Get Nitrogen Ice Cream?
Only capable adults with knowledge and training in working with liquid nitrogen should handle liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. This makes liquid nitrogen ice cream an inappropriate project for making ice cream at home.
There are many liquid nitrogen ice cream stores around the country. If you prefer to eat N2 ice cream, find the nearest nitrogen ice cream store near you. Many major metropolitan areas have stores that serve this type of ice cream.
If you prefer to make N2 ice cream, this is best done in a professional setting. If you run a store or establishment that makes this kind of ice cream, be careful to train everyone who touches the liquid ice cream.
Want Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream? Find Your Supply of Liquid Nitrogen
Nitrogen is used in so many food products now that it’s becoming much easier to find nitrogen gas and liquid nitrogen for commercial use. In fact, if you’re in need of nitrogen gas, it’s better to purchase a nitrogen gas generator than to buy nitrogen in cylinders and dewars.
Nitrogen gas generators produce a limitless supply of nitrogen for an affordable cost. By contrast, purchasing gaseous nitrogen in cylinders and dewars is cost-inefficient and bad for the environment. Another challenge would be finding a place to store these cylinders.
