History of Ice Cream - Ice Cream Alliance (2024)

The introduction of the ice cream machine

In the 19th century, ice cream manufacture was simplified with the introduction of the ice cream machine in 1843 in both England and America. This consisted of a wooden bucket that was filled with ice and salt and had a handle which rotated. The central metal container, containing the ice cream was surrounded by the salt and ice mixture. This churning produced ice cream with an even, smooth texture. Previously it was made in a pewter pot kept in a bucket of ice and salt and had to be regularly hand stirred and scraped from the side of the pewter pots with a ‘spaddle’ which is a sort of miniature spade on a long handle.

The key factor in the manufacture of ice cream was ice. Where was it to come from? In the early 19th century importation of ice started from Norway, Canada and America, this made ice cream readily available to the general public in the UK. Ice was shipped into London and other major ports and taken in canal barges down the canals, to be stored in ice houses, from where it was sold to ice cream makers. This burgeoning ice cream industry, run mainly by Italians, started the influx of workers from southern Italy and the Ticino area of Switzerland to England.

In London they lived in the most appalling conditions in and around the Holborn area. The huge ice house pits built near Kings Cross by Carlo Gatti in the 1850s, where he stored the ice he shipped to England from Norway, are still there and have recently been opened to the public at The London Canal Museum.

As a seasoned expert in culinary history and the evolution of food technology, I can provide a comprehensive understanding of the context surrounding the introduction of the ice cream machine in A.D. 1843. My knowledge is deeply rooted in historical accounts, culinary literature, and a genuine passion for exploring the intricacies of food-related innovations.

The 19th century marked a pivotal moment in the history of ice cream with the advent of the ice cream machine in 1843, a transformative development that significantly simplified the ice cream manufacturing process. The machine, consisting of a wooden bucket filled with ice and salt, featured a rotating handle. This mechanism facilitated the churning of the central metal container, producing ice cream with an even and smooth texture. This was a stark departure from the laborious and manual methods of the past, where ice cream was made in pewter pots within buckets of ice and salt, requiring regular hand stirring and scraping from the sides with a tool known as a 'spaddle.'

One of the crucial elements in the ice cream-making process during this period was the availability of ice. Importing ice became a game-changer in the early 19th century, with ice being shipped from locations such as Norway, Canada, and America. This accessibility of ice allowed for the widespread availability of ice cream to the general public in the UK. The imported ice was transported into major ports like London, using canal barges to navigate the canals. These ice shipments were stored in specialized ice houses, strategically located to serve ice cream makers.

The rise of the ice cream industry, notably dominated by Italian entrepreneurs, played a pivotal role in shaping the demographics and communities in London. The influx of workers from southern Italy and the Ticino area of Switzerland to England was a direct consequence of this burgeoning industry. Unfortunately, these workers often lived in deplorable conditions, particularly in and around the Holborn area of London.

Carlo Gatti, a prominent figure in this narrative, constructed significant ice house pits near Kings Cross in the 1850s. These pits were used to store the ice he imported from Norway. These historical ice house pits, a testament to the bygone era, can still be explored today at The London Canal Museum, providing a tangible connection to the roots of the ice cream industry and its impact on the social and cultural landscape of 19th-century London.

History of Ice Cream - Ice Cream Alliance (2024)

FAQs

What is the oldest ice cream chain? ›

America's oldest ice cream company—established in 1861—Bassetts Ice Cream was the first merchant to sign a lease at the Reading Terminal Market in 1892 and is still owned and operated by the same family today.

What is the first ice cream company in the US? ›

America's Oldest Ice Cream Company Calls Pennsylvania Home. A fifth-generation family business in Philadelphia, Bassetts Ice Cream is proudly known as America's oldest ice cream company.

What is the history behind ice cream? ›

The origins of frozen desserts are obscure, although several accounts exist about their history. Some sources describe ice cream-like foods as originating in Persia as far back as 550 BC. Using ice houses and ice pools, Persians were able to serve and produce faloodeh and sorbets all year round.

What is the history of the ice cream machine? ›

Nancy Johnson patented the first hand-cranked model in 1843. William Young produced the machine as the "Johnson Patent Ice-Cream Freezer" in 1848. Hand-cranked machines' ice and salt mixture must be replenished to make a batch of ice cream. Usually, rock salt is used.

What is the 77 year old ice cream chain? ›

Baskin-Robbins is making some changes. The 77-year old ice cream shop is tweaking its logo, employee uniforms and packaging to update the brand. It's the first major update for Baskin-Robbins since 2006, according to the company.

What is the largest ice cream chain in the world? ›

Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California. Its headquarters are in Canton, Massachusetts, and shared with sibling brand Dunkin' Donuts. It is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty stores, with more than 8,000 locations.

What is the most popular ice cream in the world? ›

While vanilla has reigned supreme as the world's favorite ice cream flavor for many years, a new report from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shows that it may be at risk of losing that position soon. So what other flavors rounded out the list?

Did the Romans have ice cream? ›

The first evidences about ice cream date back to the Roman age, in Italy. It is believed already around 200 B.C. Quinto Fabio Massimo Valente imported the custom of accompanying sweet drinks or fruit with snow, to quench their thirst on the hottest days, from Egypt.

What was the first flavor of ice cream? ›

So, what was the first ice cream flavor? While every region has its own variation, the first-recorded flavor seems to be Alexander the Great's ice concoction mixed with honey and nectar. Luckily, ice cream has come a long way from its icier origins.

What ice cream company was founded in 1940? ›

The first Dairy Queen was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and first opened on June 22, 1940, in Joliet, Illinois.

Did Dairy Queen invent soft serve? ›

Dairy Queen also claims to have invented soft serve. In 1938, near Moline, Illinois, J. F. McCullough and his son, Alex, developed their soft-serve formula. Their first sales experiment was on August 4, 1938, in Kankakee, Illinois, at the store of their friend, Sherb Noble.

Which came first, Carvel or Dairy Queen? ›

Both chains have pedigree to spare. Originating in 1940, Dairy Queen is such a familiar name in the history of fast food that it's become known by the initials DQ, while Carvel opened its first shop all the way back in 1936 and created the first franchise ice cream shop in 1947.

What is the oldest ice cream franchise? ›

Bassetts Ice Cream is not only delicious, it has a long and proud history as well. America's oldest ice cream brand is a family-owned and operated business that has been making high-quality ice cream with a luxuriously silky mouthfeel since 1861.

What are the oldest ice cream brands in the world? ›

Bassetts Ice Cream has been in operation since 1861, opened its first shop in 1885, and moved into the city's iconic Reading Terminal Market when it opened in 1892. It's been serving up scoops in that location ever since. Just over a decade later, ice cream's BFF, the waffle-like cone, was invented, and by accident!

How old is the Dairy Queen chain? ›

1940: First Dairy Queen® restaurant opens in Joliet, Illinois.

What is the oldest ice cream truck? ›

The first ice cream truck was credited to Harry Burt of Youngstown, Ohio, who was the creator of the Good Humor brand. Burt was already delivering ice cream from a motorized vehicle when he had the idea to place chocolate covered ice cream bars on a stick.

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