Ice Cream in a Bag

Have you gotten a little nervous knowing that there are less than 40 days left in the school year? I have. Last year I was really on top of my game and I compiled a Science Bucket List that kept my kids entertained throughout the summer. But there were a few experiments that we never got around to. I can’t believe we didn’t try the Ice Cream in a Bag because it is super simple and extremely tasty! My kids LOVED it!

I remember now why I added this experiment to last summer’s list because Blue Bell stopped production of their ice cream due to a major quality control issue. I can tell you now – this ice cream isn’t Blue Bell but it’s pretty darn close!

Here is a video showing you exactly how to do it and give you some tips on how to make it an awesome science experience for the kids!

What you need:

• 1 gallon Ziploc bag
• Two sandwich sized bags
• Ice
• Rock salt
• Sugar
• Ice Cream Flavor – I used vanilla but you could try peppermint extract or chocolcate
• Half-n-half

How to do it:

• Liberally mix half-n-half, sugar, and flavoring in a Ziploc bag
• Place this Ziploc bag in another bag so it is ‘double bagged’ and has less of a chance of getting rock salty-ness on it
• Place the double bagged cream in the gallon size bag with ice and rock salt
• Press most of the air out of the gallon size bag
• Proceed to let the kids shake it, toss it back and forth to each other, or do the ice cream dance for up to 15 minutes
• If the ice melts and the ice cream hasn’t formed yet – add a bit more ice and rock salt
• Keep shakin’

Science Q&A with the kids:

While you are waiting for your amazing ice cream, here are a few questions to ask them to get the science conversation started.

Why do we add rock salt? It lowers the freezing point of ice and makes it even colder. Ice can go from 32°F to to 17°F if you add rock salt!  (Be careful handling the bag of super chilly ice.. it could hurt your hands!)

Why does ice cream form? In order to melt, the ice takes away heat from something else – in this case the cream. This is why the cream forms a solid.

What happens to the outside of the bag? If you live in a humid area like Houston be prepared for a wet bag – it’s the  moisutre in the air (humidity) that forms condensation on the outside of the bag

You’ve GOT to try this one and let me know how it goes! Stay tuned for my 2016 Summer Science List that I will compile for you! Until then.. enjoy this ice creamy goodness!