Summer Isn't Over Yet! More Tips on Ice Cream and on Steaks to Grill Outdoors

The kids may be going back to school, but that doesn't mean you need to stop serving ice cream desserts or grilled steaks.  Follow the tips below, and enjoy these foods until hot chocolate sounds more appealing than frozen treats or until your grill is buried under a mound of snow.

Ice Cream Tips

The goal: to enjoy ice cream without the scream

Most people agree that ice cream is a great treat—until it turns into an ice cream headache. Never heard of this malady? Prevention (the magazine) discusses both the cause and the cure.  Here’s the story:  Sensitive nerves located above the roof of the mouth may respond to the cold temperatures of ice cream with the dilation of blood vessels; this dilation, in turn, can cause a headache.  This type of headache vanishes quickly, but, to avoid it entirely, Dr. Jason Rosenberg (director of the Johns Hopkins Headache Center) recommends the following course of action: 

1) consume ice cream slowly, or

2) before swallowing it, warm up the ice cream by holding it in the front of your mouth for a short time. 

The latter method has the added benefit of allowing you to savor each bite (or lick) a moment longer. 

The goal: to avoid freezer-burnt ice cream

Ice crystals make for unappetizing ice cream.  To avoid them, you need to know the cause.  Here it is, according to yumsugar.com: ice cream that has partially melted and then has been refrozen.  yumsugar.com has 2 suggestions for avoiding this catastrophe.  The obvious one is not to let the ice cram melt.  Take the amount you need out of the container, and put the rest back in the freezer immediately.  But suppose you're distracted and not so fast.  Here's the clever idea from Three Twins ice cream founder Neal Gottlieb: refreeze the pint upside down.  What does this accomplish?  "The melted ice cream will drip into the lid, where it can be avoided, instead of marring the still-creamy parts."

Interesting,  but don't be surprised if ice cream kept in your freezer for months still develops ice crystals even if it  was never left out at room temperature. Ice cream is not a product with a long life span.

The goal:  to make perfect ice cream at home 

Children just love this activity! However, getting homemade ice cream to come out tasty isn't easy. Here are a few tips to help you accomplish this difficult feat. They're from Cindy Dampier, writing for the Chicago Tribune. 

1)  Follow the recipe's instructions very carefully!

2) If you don't like icy ice cream, be careful when adding any ingredient that could upset the water/fat balance.  "Finding ways to add flavor without adding water is an interesting challenge. (Steeping lemon zest in hot cream, for instance, rather than adding juice, gave great results.)"     

3) Eat homemade ice cream promptly. It will begin to lose some texture within a few days.  Limp, runny, watery ice cream is not ideal.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer (available on Kindle or in hardcover format) is an excellent book with ice cream tips from an expert.

For more information about ice cream and other frozen desserts, go to ice cream on this site.  There are specific ice cream Q/As listed at the right margin.  Making your own ice cream?  Go to this link for help and more Q/As on this homemade product.  Note that the "sources" section leads you to additional articles.

Our promise: The kids will love homemade ice cream they made themselves even if it's mushy and icy. 

Tips on Grilling the Perfect Steak

The  goal: safety  (tips from Consumer Reports on Health)

Prep the grill: To do this, use a stainless-steel stiff wire brush.  Clean both sides of the grates while they are still hot.  Don't use chemicals to clean the grates.  They can leave residues that will cause fumes. Dry the grates with a paper towel that's been moistened with salt water.

Check for leaks in a gas grill: You can test a propane grill for gas leaks by doing the following: "Spray a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water over connections and along the hose.  Then turn on the tank.  If there are bubbles along the hose, replace the part.  If bubbling occurs at the connection, tighten it.

Control the flame: Remember, blackened meat can expose the diner to possible cancer-causing compounds.  Unhealthy compounds can also form when fat drips off the meat into the flame, so trim visible fat off the meat, and coat the meat with a marinade.  These steps will not only make the meat safer to eat but will also help you avoid flare-ups that are a fire hazard.

Use a meat thermometer and a clean plate: Be sure your steak is cooked to at least 145°F. Put the cooked food on a clean plate, not on the one that held the raw steak.

The goal: achieving a delicious steak

Buy a thick one:  Thick steaks cook more slowly, so there is less risk of overcooking it and getting a hard, dry entrée.

Prep your meat: Leave your steak(s) on the kitchen counter to warm up to room temperature before grilling.  However, don't overdo this.  Pathogens grow rapidly on steaks left out at room temperature.  Limit the warm-up to about 15 minutes.  Some chefs recommend rubbing a steak with coarse salt or pepper, but there's disagreement as to which is better.

First, sear; then switch to indirect heat:  Sear 3-5 minutes a side to develop char.  Then cook (covered) over indirect heat.  Use a meat thermometer to tell when it's done.  Cook it long enough to kill most pathogens (at least to 145°F).  Don't let yourself be bullied by guests who love their meat raw. 

Let it rest: No matter how delicious it looks, don't sink your teeth into the cooked steak immediately. Allow 2-5 minutes for the juices in it to redistribute.  You'll be glad you did.

For more information on grilling, consult these Shelf Life Advice articles: "Getting a Taste Thrill from the Foods You Grill" and "How to Grill Safely."

Source(s):

Prevention, “How to Lick an Ice Cream Headache,” June 2011.

yumsugar.com "How to Prevent Ice Cream from Getting Freezer Burn"

http://www.yumsugar.com/How-Prevent-Ice-Cream-From-Getting-Freezer-Burn-34914270?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Chicago Tribune, Good Eating section, "Ice cream made easier,"   July 23, 2014.

Consumer Reports on Health, "Secrets to a safer summer cookout," July 2014.

Chicago Tribune, Good Eating section, "Tips for getting the best from steaks," June 11, 2014.