31 Ice Cream Facts Which Will Shock You – Must Read!
1. Is Ice Cream Fattening?
Yes, ice cream is fattening. The reason for this is simple. Ice cream is high in sugar and therefore also high in calories.
In addition to that, most of us eat ice cream not as a meal itself but as a dessert. Before we start bringing out the ice cream, we have most probably already finished eating a full-course meal. Adding ice cream to this will be considered poor portion control, leading to weight gain.
2. Does Ice Cream Expire?
Yes. Contrary to popular belief, ice cream does expire and spoil at some point. It takes about 2 months for ice cream to go bad after it has been opened and kept in the freezer. As for unopened ice cream, it would be a good idea to look at the “best before” dates written on the packaging.
How do you recognize bad ice cream? There are two ways to do this: by smelling it and by looking at it. Once ice cream has become moldy, it can smell a little musty. If you spot a change in the texture, changing from its usual frozen creamy look to a mixture of gooey and ice shards, then it has probably gone bad.
3. Does Coffee Ice Cream Have Caffeine?
Yes, most coffee ice creams have caffeine, as they are made from real coffee. For example, a 4-ounce serving of Haagen-Dazs ice cream contains approximately 29 milligrams of caffeine. They claim to have sourced their coffee from Brazilian coffee beans. The other ice cream giant, Ben & Jerry’s, also contains about 12.4 milligrams of caffeine per tablespoon of coffee-flavored ice cream.
For reference, the USDA mentioned that an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 95mg of caffeine. So, for those of you who have palpitations or any issues with caffeine, know your limits, and know when your favorite ice cream might cause you discomfort.
4. What Is Ice Cream In Chinese, Japanese And French?
In Chinese, ice cream is known as 冰淇淋. The first word “冰” stands for ice, while the remaining letters “淇淋” is a transliteration from English, and sounds like “cream.”
Whereas in Japanese, ice cream is simply pronounced as “aisukrimu,” which in Katakana is written as アイスクリーム.
For the people in France, they call ice cream “crème glacée,” which is pronounced like “glass” in English.
5. Does Ice Cream Have Eggs?
Some ice cream do have eggs, while some others do not. To be safe, you should look at the ingredients list in each ice cream tub you plan on buying, especially if you have egg allergies. In fact, just because one flavor of a specific brand does not have eggs in the ingredients does not mean another flavor of the same brand also does not use eggs in its production.
One example of a brand that almost always uses eggs in making their ice cream is Haagen-Dazs. Generally speaking, vanilla ice creams would most likely contain eggs as well due to the fact that it was made with French vanilla. If there are any add-ons like cakes or brownies, then it is quite likely that it contains eggs too.
6. Why Does Ice Cream Make You Thirsty?
This explanation is more biological than you might expect, but essentially it boils down to one simple answer. Ice cream is sweet and sometimes salty. Since ice cream is high in sugar and/or salt, every time you decide to eat ice cream, you are increasing the level of sugar/salt in your blood, which will attempt to draw water out of your body cells and into the bloodstream instead.
Following this, your body signals the brain that your body cells are dehydrated and are in need of water. This signal called “thirst” is triggered by a part of your brain called the hypothalamus, which is also responsible for producing many other important hormones for your daily functioning.
7. Can Ice Cream Affect A Dehydrated Face?
While there is no direct link between ice cream and a dehydrated face, it seems to be bad for skin generally, as it is high in sugar and can affect tissues such as collagen, causing dryness of the skin.
Another reason why ice cream is not a dermatologist’s favorite snack is because it is especially bad for those with an acne-prone skin. This is because ice cream often contains dairy, which tends to have artificial hormones. These can cause your hormones to be thrown off-balance.
8. Can Cats Have Vanilla Ice Cream?
Source: Freddie Addery/Pexels
Cats should only be missing out on vanilla ice cream if they’re lactose intolerant, otherwise let the cats taste some ice cream goodness! With that being said, most cats tend to be lactose intolerant, which is why you often see ice cream being listed as a forbidden food for your furry company.
More importantly, chocolate ice cream, or any chocolate-related products for that matter, should be avoided at all costs. This is because chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can become toxic when they enter a cat’s body, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. So if you’re enjoying your own chocolate, remember that cats and humans have very different bodily needs, so keep it to yourself and don’t give it to your pets!
9. What Is The Difference Between Ice Cream And Frozen Yogurt?
Frozen yogurt, as the name suggests, is made with yogurt, whereas ice cream is made of milk. Essentially, ice cream is higher in fat, but frozen yogurt is higher in sugar, and they certainly taste different as well.
Some will say that frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream due to the lower fat content and lower calories. However, this is not the case if you overeat frozen yogurt as well. Like we always say, eating too much of the same thing is never a good thing, no matter how much “healthier” it may seem.
One more thing worth mentioning is that the probiotics present in yogurt are usually not present anymore once they have been frozen.
10. Is Ice Cream Solid Or Liquid?
Ice cream is a mixture of all three states: solid ice, liquid sugary water, as well as air as a gas. Ultimately, ice cream is made of globules of ice mixed in sugary water. This would come off as no surprise to anyone. But what’s surprising to everyone is the presence of air.
The truth is, air is found in every ice cream, and is the reason why ice cream always weighs less than the volume it is intended for. While some of you may be quick to say that this is the ice cream producer’s way of financially cheating you, it simply is not true. Having air within your ice cream actually allows for the softness in your ice cream.
11. Can Ice Cream Cause Diarrhea?
Eating too much of anything can cause diarrhea, but if you have found yourself experiencing diarrhea every time you eat some ice cream, chances are you have lactose intolerance.
Assuming that cleanliness is not the reason, and you are eating a normal amount of ice cream, then you might want to get yourself a doctor’s appointment to see if you have a condition called lactose intolerance. This condition makes it difficult for you to digest any food that contains lactose, which is a type of sugar commonly found in dairy products, such as milk, cheese, cream, butter ice cream, and yogurt.
12. Can You Eat Ice Cream On Keto?
Since ice cream is high in carbs, it is not a good idea to eat ice cream while you are on a keto diet. A keto diet is a low-carb diet which functions to stimulate ketosis, which is a process of burning fats without having to burn any carbs. In other words, by eliminating carbs from your diet, your body will resort to burning fats straightaway.
Some say it is okay to have a limited amount of ice cream as long as you do not exceed the amount which will offset your body’s ketosis. However, it is best to just avoid eating the conventional high-carb ice cream and opt for sugar-free sorbets instead.
13. Does Ice Cream Cause Acne?
Ice cream does not cause acne in someone who is not prone to getting acne per se, but it should be avoided in acne-prone skin as it can lead to worsening of acne. This is because ice cream is made of dairy, which may contain artificial hormones injected into the livestock in order to increase the speed of milk production.
Another reason why ice cream can cause acne is because it can lead to the production of insulin in our bodies, which in itself can naturally worsen acne. All in all, it may be surprising to you, but milk and ice cream and other dairy products should be avoided if you want clear skin!
14. What Does Red Bean Ice Cream Taste Like?
Red bean ice cream tastes a bit more earthy and hearty than a normal vanilla ice cream. It tastes like, well, red beans, but a little colder and sweeter. Most red bean ice cream you see would also be literally mixed in with red beans to give the ice cream an added texture which is not in your typical vanilla-flavored ice cream.
This is a popular dessert choice in many Asian countries, especially in Japan, where they are known as Azuki ice cream. Even though most people would associate red bean with a savory meal, it is more often cooked as a dessert in Asia. It can be served either as a sweet red bean soup, or as premade ice cream like this.
15. Who Invented Soft-Serve Ice Cream?
Soft-serve ice cream, which is basically ice cream with lower fat content and produced at a higher temperature, was first invented by a Mr. Tom Carvel.
On Memorial Day in 1934, the Greek-born American man suffered a flat tire and ended up having to sell his partially melted ice cream on his truck in a parking lot. As a result of this, he made more profits over the two days of selling partially melted ice cream than he did selling hard ice cream.
This gave him the idea to sell soft-serve ice cream rather than “hard” ice cream at a fixed location on a truck, now better known as an “ice cream stand.”
16. Can You Eat Ice Cream On Your Period?
If you suffer from period cramps, then eating ice cream during your period might make your cramps even worse. The reason for this is because ice cream contains arachidonic acid, which can increase inflammation and aggravate your period pain.
Another reason why you should avoid eating ice cream on your period is because, if you tend to have sweet cravings during your period, then you might easily overeat ice cream, which can lead to unwanted weight gain.
17. Is Vegan Ice Cream Healthy?
Since vegan ice cream has no dairy at all, they also have lower saturated fat levels and zero cholesterol. This is the main health benefit of vegan ice cream compared to a normal dairy-based ice cream. However, the sugar tends to remain high even in vegan ice cream.
LDL cholesterol is what is known as “bad cholesterol” and only exists in animal fat. It can contribute to many diseases such as heart attacks. You will not find these bad cholesterol in vegan ice cream, but its high sugar content still makes it an unhealthy food overall.
18. Is It Bad To Eat Ice Cream When Sick?
Eating a scoop of ice cream or two can make it less painful when dealing with sore throat, but having too much ice cream can worsen inflammation due to its high sugar contents.
All in all, it is okay to eat ice cream when you are sick as long as you know when to stop.
19. Does Ice Cream Cause Constipation?
Eating too much ice cream can certainly cause constipation. The reason for this is because ice cream is high in calcium, which means it has high-binding properties.
Other than that, it is also quite well established that the lactose in ice cream can cause gas and bloating. For someone who is already struggling with constipation, this can cause further discomfort and should be avoided as much as possible.
Previously, we also talked about how ice cream can worsen heartburn, which you can read about here.
20. Can You Eat Ice Cream While Pregnant?
As long as the ice cream is made of pasteurized milk, is a well-known brand which is bought from a clean place, and you take it only in moderate amounts, it is perfectly safe to eat ice cream while pregnant.
There are myths about how eating ice cream while pregnant can affect the development of a baby’s brain, but there is no association between the two at all. The main risk of eating too much ice cream while pregnant is that you might gain too much weight and subsequently develop gestational diabetes, which can have detrimental effects to your baby if left untreated. All in all, it is good to practice a healthy diet while you are pregnant instead of giving in to your sweet cravings.
21. Can You Eat Freezer Burned Ice Cream?
If you have ever decided to throw away ice cream which has been frosted over (also known as freezer burned), you might have wasted a perfectly safe tub of ice cream. While it is totally safe to eat freezer burned ice cream, they do not taste quite as good as they did without the freezer burns.
Since there is some strange metallic taste associated with any food that is freezer burned, it is common practice to throw them away, thinking that it is no longer safe for consumption. But all it means to be freezer burned is that the food is more dehydrated than before, and all you have to do is to scrape off the dried frozen portions and continue eating what’s beneath.
22. Does Chick-Fil-A Have Ice Cream?
Yes. The Chick-fil-A® Icedream® Cone or Cup is a dream come true for anyone looking for a quick cooldown in the midst of the summer heat. However, for anyone looking for a dairy-free option, this is not the right place to go to.
The cone also contains wheat and soy, which are not suitable for those who are allergic or those who have celiac disease.
23. Can You Refreeze Ice Cream?
Yes, but it is better if you don’t try to refreeze ice cream. This is a common question asked by many and often leads to dinner table arguments which many ultimately have no answers to.
The reason it is unsafe is because Listeria outbreaks can happen in melted ice cream if left to melt outside the freezer for too long and then refrozen in the freezer. That is why we never recommend eating directly from the ice cream tub. Instead, use a spoon, take out some of the ice cream from the tub and transport it to a bowl, then immediately put the tub back into the freezer. This is and has always been the safest way to eat ice cream.
24. How Long Does Ice Cream Cake Last?
Ice cream cakes last for about a week if it is kept inside freezers. However, they can only last for hours if you keep it inside a fridge. If this is for a birthday party, then once the birthday girl/boy has arrived, it will take about 20 minutes in room temperature before it starts thawing.
It is okay to store ice cream cakes back in the freezer after serving it for a while, but the general rule of thumb remains the same as for any ice cream, which is to minimize the time spent outside the freezer.
25. Is There Gluten In Ice Cream And Why?
Naturally, most ice creams are gluten-free as it is made of only milk and cream. However, in some ice creams, there can be flavorings, colorings, and thickeners, which can be sources of gluten.
Generally, the simpler the ice cream, the more likely it is to be gluten-free. For example, single-flavor vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, or coffee ice cream tend to be gluten-free. However, ice cream served with cones most likely contains wheat, which contains gluten. Celiac disease patients should be aware of these differences, ask carefully before buying, and choose only the gluten-free options!
26. Why Isn’t There Any Sour Ice Cream Like Sour Candy?
While you can find a little sourness in certain ice cream products, like lemon, lime, or orange-flavored ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt, there is currently no ice cream in the market with sour candy level of sourness.
In the mass production of any food, flavor chemistry plays a big role in deciding whether or not something is worth mass-producing. It just so happens that having an ice cream that is too sour is in the crowd’s favor, and no company has found the perfect balance between the sweet and cool of an ice cream flavor, and the hardcore salivating sourness of sour candy.
27. What Was The First Ice Cream Flavor?
Believe it or not, orange flavor blossom was the first ever ice cream flavor. Things first started with King Charles of England paying ice cream makers to add orange flower water into the ice cream mix, and he paid them to keep the recipe a secret. However, as all things historical go, this ice cream flavor was written down by Grace Countess Granville.
Of course, we will have no way of knowing if there’s any other emperor or empress in some other parts of the world with a better-kept secret ice cream flavor. Who knew? I always thought vanilla would have been the first ice cream flavor in the world, given how loved and common it is now!
28. Is Vanilla Ice Cream Bad For Dogs?
It’s better to keep all ice creams away from dogs, but if you have accidentally given them a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream, it is unlikely to be really bad for them. Just as for cats, ice cream is a big no-no for any dogs with lactose intolerance.
However, this does not mean your dogs who are lactose tolerant will be spared from the dangers of ice cream. Sometimes, ice creams can contain certain artificial sweeteners which can be toxic to your dogs, one of the most prominent one being xylitol. Chocolate ice cream is a definite no.
29. In What Country Was Ice Cream Invented?
There are generally some debates about this, but it is generally agreed that China invented ice cream, which then later spread to the Western world via Italy, and were finally made available to the rest of the world by France.
It is said that China served crushed ice, which was served together with fruit juices, which may resemble modern-day sorbets. They were also said to have served sweetened ground rice with milk in porcelain bowls for the Chinese emperors.
Once again, the history of food can never be traced back to its true origins, but we do appreciate how far things have come and how universally loved ice cream is today.
30. Is Ice Cream Healthy Or Unhealthy?
While ice cream is most certainly not healthy for the body, it may be healthy for the mind, as all sweet stuff usually evoke a sense of joy which is much needed for those who are stressed out. When taken in excess, however, ice cream can definitely be unhealthy.
So the next time someone tells you to cut down on ice cream, tell them you are aware of how exactly ice cream can be unhealthy and how it can be good for you as long as you are aware of your limits!
31. How Much Do Ice Cream Trucks Make?
On average, ice cream trucks in the States make about $32,819 per year. Atkinson, Nebraska, seems to be the place with the highest annual salary for ice cream truck owners, making about $40,000 per year.
It certainly takes a lot of skills and experience to make a successful career out of selling ice cream, and in fact, there is an even more lucrative career path in the shape of an ice engineer. These people make an average of $67,000 annually, and their job involves processing and producing ice cream flavors that will later be sold on the streets to the general public.
