Creation

Using a process called overrun, air is blended into the mixture of ingredients until its volume increases by approximately 20%. By comparison, ice cream may have an overrun as large as 100%, meaning half of the final product is composed of air. The high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk gives frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother, softer consistency than ice cream. Frozen custard is most often served at –8°C (18°F), warmer than the –12°C (10°F) at which ice cream is served.

Another difference between frozen custard and ice cream is the way the custard is frozen. The mix enters a refrigerated tube and, as it freezes, blades scrape the product cream off the barrel walls. The now frozen custard is discharged directly into containers from which it can be served. The speed with which the product leaves the barrel minimizes the amount of air in the product but more importantly ensures that the ice crystals formed are very small.

Frozen custard is usually prepared fresh at the place of sale, rather than stored; however, it is occasionally available in supermarkets or by mail order. Generally, modern frozen custard stands provide only three different flavors per day: vanilla, chocolate, and a unique “flavor of the day.” Flavor-of-the-day calendars are usually made available by the store either in paper form or online. The older vintage custard stands tend to have a dozen or so standard flavors.

History

During the 1933 World's Fair, frozen custard was brought to Chicago. By the 1940s, frozen custard stands could be found throughout the East and Midwest of the United States.

Notable chains

• Abbott's Frozen Custard 1902
• Ritter's Frozen Custard 1989
• Ted Drewes Frozen Custard founded 1929
• The Original Frozen Custard 1932
• Strickland's Frozen Custard 1936
• Gilles Frozen Custard 1938
• Leon's Frozen Custard 1942
• Kopp's Frozen Custard 1950
• Meadows Frozen Custard 1950
• Hank's Frozen Custard 1952
• Fritz's Frozen Custard & Coffee 1983
• Culver's 1984
• Rita's Water Ice 1984
• Andy's Frozen Custard 1986
• Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard 1987
• Shake's Frozen Custard 1991
• Sheridan's Frozen Custard 1998
• Rosati's Frozen Custard 2001
• Freddy's Frozen Custard 2002
• Silky Smooth Ultra Creamery 2004
• Leap's Frozen Custard & Coffee 2005
• Cali's Frozen Custard Creamery 2004

See also

• Soft serve
• Frozen yogurt
• Ice cream
• Semifreddo

External links

• FDA Standards for Frozen Desserts
• Custard stand listing by State