Mint Ice Cream Recipe - How to Make Fresh Mint Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

What mint is used in mint ice cream? ›

Most fresh mint sold in grocery stores is spearmint, but you can also use peppermint in this ice cream recipe. In fact, many mint ice creams are made with peppermint rather than spearmint. Just keep in mind that since peppermint has a higher menthol content, you'll want to use a bit less of it.

Before churning the ice cream, add 1 ½ tsp of peppermint extract. Taste, and add another ½ tsp of peppermint extract if you'd like a stronger mint flavor. The amount will vary depending on the brand of peppermint extract you are using as well.

Even when minty toothpaste is at room temperature, the brain interprets the mouth sensation we're feeling as "cold." What gives your tongue that tingly chill is menthol, a component of peppermint oil. And peppermint oil or extract is the main flavoring in most mint ice creams.

Mint extract is a mixture of spearmint and peppermint, whereas peppermint extract is just that. Whether you prefer the subtle flavor of spearmint or the in-your-face flavor of peppermint, we have a recipe to suit your taste.

Food coloring is usually added to make it green, but it may be beige or white in "all natural" or "organic" varieties. According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), 3% of all ice cream sold in 2000 was mint chocolate chip, making it the 10th-most popular flavor of ice cream.

As it turns out, most premium mint chocolate-chip ice creams are white, not minty green. And those that are green use natural colors to achieve that hue. The best are made from top-quality dairy, specialty chocolate and mint extract.

"Mint" is the overarching term for over a dozen plants, and peppermint and spearmint (often called just "mint") are the most well-known. Peppermint has a 40% concentration of menthol, whereas spearmint only has 0.5%; this makes peppermint a much more powerful herb when it comes to health and culinary applications.

Eggs add rich flavor and color, prevent ice crystallization and help create smooth and creamy ice cream.

While commercially manufactured ice cream is typically made with pasteurized eggs or egg products, recipes for homemade ice cream often use raw eggs in the base mixture.

Does fresh mint have menthol? ›

Mint contains menthol. This an aromatic decongestant that might help to break up phlegm and mucus, making it easier to expel. Applying menthol ointments or vapor rubs may be a safe and effective treatment for children who have a common cold.

All varieties of mint plant produce a chemical called menthol. This is the substance that gives mint its distinctive flavor. Your body senses cold when a protein called TRPM8 is activated in your nerve cells, which then relay a current signal to your brain that it interprets as a cold sensation.

In some cases the liqueur crème de menthe is used to provide the mint flavor, but in most cases peppermint or spearmint flavoring is used.

Taste Due to its high menthol content, peppermint has a sharp, intense flavor that complements desserts. Spearmint has a more subtle, sweet taste, often used in savory dishes. Peppermint enhances chocolate, coffee, and citrus flavors. Spearmint pairs surprisingly well with lamb, pork, celery leaves, and mustard.

Menthol is a chemical naturally found in peppermint and other mint plants, but it can also be made in a lab. First added to tobacco in the 1920s and 1930s, menthol reduces the harshness of cigarette smoke and the irritation from nicotine.