Microwaving ice cream...

NiCkNaMe · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:52

Just had someone go off on one because I microwaved some ice cream to soften it up a bit (microwaved the whole tub)..... before serving it, was way to frozen to get any out.

I understand the dangers of thawing something, and reheating... salmonella and the like - but is ice cream that much of a problem? :s... I've done it for ages, always warmed the tub of ice cream up (only 20 secs to allow me to get it out!)... and never had any probs :s thought it was only really meat and stuff.

Rich_L · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:53

Punch them in the ovaries

Then nuke the ice-cream from orbit.

Hehe j/k, should be fine, the problem is when you cook food, let it cool, microwave it, then let it cool, then eat it.

Plus I'd be pretty damn peed off if I caught salmonella from ice-cream, regardless of how many times I reheated it!

Raymond Lin · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:55

i've never ever heated ice cream to "get it out"

here's a tip, run a hot tap.
Put Scoop under tap
Scoop.

Andr3w · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:56

Raymond Lin said:
i've never ever heated ice cream to "get it out"

here's a tip, run a hot tap.
Put Scoop under tap
Scoop.

Works everytime!

Lagz · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:57

Either you dont eat ice cream often and its been in the freezer for ages, or your freezer is turned up way too high

.

alexakasloth · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:57

And keep the scoop wet!

gord · 15 Aug 2006 at 16:57

You dont want to cook the cream really but.. shouldnt be too much harm..

Id rather run a hot tap as Raymond says even if not only on the scoop but on the packaging as well if its a cart'dor type device...

sir_snookie · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:04

Ice cream is one of the worst things to refreeze

NiCkNaMe · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:06

Seriously, this ice cream is proper freaky. even if you put it in a fridge it stays frozen solid. it just tastes nice, so i keep getting it. other stuff doesn't freeze too much.

geeza · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:06

drain a pack of defrosted chicken breasts over the ice-cream, that should soften it up a little!

Justintime · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:12

I always heat ice cream a little in the microwave, gives it a lovely feel.

Raumarik · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:14

Justintime said:
I always heat ice cream a little in the microwave, gives it a lovely feel.

Suit you sir!

Berserker · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:16

OK - serious post here. Let's at least try to be helpful please.

Thawing and re-freezing food encourages bacteria to grow while it's thawed. Bad idea.

Use a hot knife/scoop instead.

Also, I've never heard of ice cream being solid when only chilled, so either it's not meant to be frozen anyway, or you have your fridge/freezer set way too cold.

philio16 · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:17

Lagz said:
Either you dont eat ice cream often and its been in the freezer for ages, or your freezer is turned up way too high .

Wouldnt that be turned down way to low?

Steeps · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:38

calf out squares with a knife, so much easier

Justintime · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:40

Was'nt kidding btw, i sometimes drop some in a coffe mug and make milkshakes in the microwave with icecream.

Liverpool-Lad · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:43

Raymond Lin said:
i've never ever heated ice cream to "get it out"

here's a tip, run a hot tap.
Put Scoop under tap
Scoop.

Takes too long, just wave it over the hob for a few seconds

james.miller · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:44

i dont do it personally, but i know a lot of people who do heat i in the microwave and they have never had problems afaik. I'm certain there's a difference between heating it for a few seconds to make it soft and thawing it out completely though

danza · 15 Aug 2006 at 17:45

It's a terribly bad idea.

If you look at ice cream counters near the seaside, there have to be a number of tubs to clean the scoop in. It is because of salmonella. I'm not sure what the tubs have to have in them, but I think it's just plain water.

The problem was the salmonella germinated in the water in the single tub/on the scoop then would spread to the ice cream = food poisoning (hence now the requirement for multiple tubs)! I remember watching a program on the tv about this a while back. A guy died from salmonella that he caught from ice cream that was improperly served.

So I think it goes without saying that even melting the edges of ice cream when microwaving it to soften the bulk of it is a bad thing to do.

/I don't get out enough

Freeman · 15 Aug 2006 at 18:32

danza said:
I

/I don't get out enough

Yeah you do

It's just pretty much common sense and if people don't know the dangers of salmonella and how to stop it from getting into your food, they need to go back to school.

Heating ice cream is silly, just leave it out for a bit, about 30 minutes max before you eat it.