11 common mistakes that are ruining your ice cream

Cheyenne LentzJun 12, 2020, 19:41 IST

From when you buy it at the grocery store to when you scoop it at home, ice cream can be ruined in a number of ways.Shutterstock

Ice cream can easily be negatively impacted by temperature change, so it's important to handle it carefully.
Microwaving ice cream will make it easy to scoop, but it will permanently damage the texture of the dessert.
Avoid wetting a scooper with warm or hot water, as it can easily melt the ice cream and contribute to that unwelcome layer of ice crystals on top.
Storing ice cream in the back of the freezer instead of in the freezer door can help extend the shelf life of your dessert.

Ice cream is a delicious treat that can be enjoyed year-round, but it's also a fickle one that can easily melt or form ice crystals when handled or stored improperly.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to extend the shelf life of this frosty dessert.

Here are some common mistakes people make when buying, serving, and storing ice cream and how to avoid them.

You don't examine the ice-cream containers while at the grocery store.

You may want to gently squeeze a container to see if the ice cream feels soft. Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images

You don't keep the lid of the container on tightly, which can cause your ice cream to form ice crystals.

Firmly locking that lid in place can prevent those pesky ice crystals. Shutterstock

You're putting ice cream in your cart first instead of last, which can lead to a melted mess.

Your ice cream will melt as you shop, so save it for the end of your grocery trip. Shutterstock

You microwave your ice cream just to slightly soften it, which can ruin the texture of the entire dessert.

Your ice cream's texture will be ruined once you microwave it. Shutterstock

Wetting your scooper or spoon with hot water before serving ice cream is handy, but it's not great in the long run.

This common hack can actually mess with your ice cream. Shutterstock

Putting melted ice cream in the freezer won't magically fix the dessert.

Putting melted ice cream in the freezer should be avoided at all costs. Shutterstock

When it comes to storage, the worst place to put your ice cream is in the freezer door.

Your ice cream should be inside of the freezer, not in the door. Diana Haronis / Contributor/Getty

Storing ice cream next to foods with strong odors can lead to funky-tasting desserts.

Sometimes ice cream can pick up the flavors of foods that are kept near it. ben-bryant/ iStock

If your freezer isn't cold enough, your ice cream can't thrive.

You can't always control the exact temperature in a freezer, but you can often alter it. Shutterstock

It's fine to eat ice cream that's been open for longer than a week, but it may not be as tasty as when you first brought it home.

Once you open a carton of ice cream its flavor can change. Shutterstock

Covering your ice cream with wax paper or parchment paper can help you avoid that unpleasant layer of icy crystals.

You can fold or cut the paper to fit the top of the carton. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Pastry chefs and bakers share the 6 best and 4 worst desserts to order

Cookies on the Business Insider India website