We all love ice cream, there’s no doubt about that, but do you know about the history of how ice cream is made? Ice cream can be made in a variety of ways, but it’s most commonly made with an ice cream maker or machine of some sort. These ice cream makers have definitely evolved over the years, though, and some of the first ice cream makers would be unrecognizable when compared to modern ice cream machines.

With technological advancements, the advent of mass-produced ice cream like the type you can purchase at your local grocery store, and modernized at-home ice cream makers becoming more popular, it’s easier than ever to get a scoop of ice cream these days. That wasn’t always the case, though!

The First Ice Cream Maker

Ice cream in general used to be quite a rare treat. When ice cream was first invented, it was made with sometimes hard to acquire ingredients and required special cooling methods to ensure its creamy consistency didn’t melt into a puddle on the floor. Because of this, it was reserved for nobility and aristocrats who could afford to make the delicious treat. As time went on, however, ice cream became more accessible to the masses, and, consequently, a need arose for a simple and easy way to make ice cream. This is where the first ice cream maker comes into play.

The first ice cream maker was created by Nancy M. Johnson in 1842. Nancy worked hard to create a machine that helped in creating ice cream on a larger scale, and, though it was her only true invention, she patented it several times and was able to sell the rights to the ice cream maker. Her finalized ice cream maker was created in 1843, and she eventually sold the patent for her finalized machine to William Young—an ice cream maker himself—who further developed the ice cream maker and improved the design.

Nancy’s original invention was a hand-cranked ice cream freezer, of sorts, with a crank that moved a center paddle to mix all the ice cream ingredients. Reportedly, using the machine took a mere 45 minutes of hand-cranking, which might seem like a long time but was a big improvement from the previous methods of making ice cream by hand with a spoon. This ice cream maker meant that ice cream could be more quickly produced and especially rose in popularity amongst the owners of ice cream shops. With Nancy’s invention of the ice cream maker, ice cream became more readily available to the public at ice cream shops and stores.

As time went on, more and more ice cream maker developments occurred. Once making ice cream became less laborious, and therefore more profitable, innovation in the ice cream industry grew in leaps and bounds. In 1851, Jacob Fussell, who was a milk seller in Baltimore, Maryland, started the first commercial ice cream operation in the country. Jacob started making ice cream from milk that was about to go bad, saving him loads of money and allowing him to sell inventory that would otherwise go to waste. Jacob’s operation expanded rapidly, and the ability to produce ice cream on a large scale meant that it was offered at affordable prices to the public. His ice cream parlors spread as far west as Texas and stayed around into the 1900s.

The Advent of Electric Ice Cream Makers

As electricity began to spread across the country and the first refrigerators were invented, ice cream machines became even more advanced and even more popular. With refrigeration powered by electricity, ice cream could be created and stored safely, and, soon enough, electric ice cream makers were created.

Regardless of whether they were electrically or manually operated, ice cream machines all had similar components. They usually consisted of a bucket-shaped wooden or other material outer container with an inner bucket fitted with a paddle and a crank. Between the outer and inner buckets was a combination of ice and salt which kept the contents of the inner bucket at a cold temperature. The ice cream mix was poured into the inner bucket and churned with the handle, slowly freezing the mixture into ice cream. The key with any type of ice cream machine was (and still is) patience, as the freezing process takes some time!

Once the electric ice cream maker was invented in the early 1900s, there was no need for someone to physically churn the ice cream. The process, instead, was generated by electricity and was much more efficient (and much less tiring on one’s arms!) By 1919 the electric ice cream maker was prominent and meant that the ice cream industry as a whole was growing rapidly. At this time, the ice cream industry was creating around 150 million gallons of ice cream per year! Because ice cream was being created at such dizzying levels, it was much more affordable and accessible, so most families simply purchased their ice cream from an ice cream parlor or store rather than buying their own ice cream maker and creating ice cream at home.

Modern Ice Cream Machines

Since the 1900s, ice cream machines have continued to develop over time. These days, ice cream machines are largely electric, though you can still purchase hand-cranked ice cream machines if you’re in the mood for an entirely do-it-yourself dessert. One of the first manufacturers of the ice cream maker, White Mountain, created some of the first hand-cranked ice cream machines, and still created ice cream machines to this day. While they have modernized over the last hundred years or so to create electric ice cream makers, they still sell quite a few hand-cranked ice cream makers.

Many modern electric ice cream makers are incredibly quiet and efficient, taking advantage of the advances in technology over the years that allow for different settings and types of ice cream to be made all in one machine. Many of them use digital or touch screen technology, too, meaning you can create delicious homemade ice cream with the tap of a button!

If you’re interested in making ice cream at home, look no further than an ice cream maker! While technology has developed over the years to provide a streamlined ice-cream-making experience, there’s simply nothing like hand-cranking your ice cream! Now that you know the history behind ice cream makers, you can make the decision for yourself—create ice cream at home with an electric or hand-cranked ice cream maker, or head to your nearest ice cream shop like Besties Ice Cream? We’ll let you make the final call, but know that either way, you’ll end up with a delicious dessert!