1846

With the invention of the hand-cranked freezer in 1846, ice cream ceased to be hand-made in a large bowl. Soon after, the first commercial ice cream production began in 1851. Product designers creating premium and reduced-fat ice creams have contributed much to this evolution.

Here are a few ways to make your favorite flavor taste homemade:

1. Store your ice cream away from foods with strong scents, like frozen fish and pizza.
2. For the best texture possible, store your ice cream in the back of the freezer.
3. Dip your ice cream scoop in warm water before serving.

Before the development of modern refrigeration, ice cream was a luxury reserved for special occasions. Making it was quite laborious; ice was cut from lakes and ponds during the winter and stored in holes in the ground, or in wood-frame or brick ice houses, insulated by straw.

By the end of the 1800s, many American households stored their perishable food in an insulated “icebox” that was usually made of wood and lined with tin or zinc. A large block of ice was stored inside to keep these early refrigerators chilly. Left: An “iceman” would make daily rounds, delivering ice.

Why did hunters put dead buffaloes into holes lined with ice? to preserve their meat.

Some people would construct their houses with basements, so food could be kept cool there. Others built sheds that were used to store dried and preserved foods all year round. But there were certain items that needed to be kept cold—not cool or dry, but cold. For this reason people would harvest ice.

When January rolled around and the ice was ripe, it was time to harvest. Ice harvested from Midwestern rivers, lakes and ponds served many purposes during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The growing meat packing and brewing industries needed it. People needed ice at home, too.

Icicles are rarely sharp enough to penetrate your skin or impale you, but they can cause bad bruises and even broken bones. Dr. There could be icicles, or ice, the ledge could break, or the ladder could slip or move.”

Contents

• Chariot Racer.
• Wet Nurse.
• Armorer.
• Court Jester.
• Crossing Sweeper.
• Lamplighter.
• Pony Express Rider.
• Ice Cutter.

THE END OF THE ICE AGE The 1860s became the peak competitive period of American ice harvesting, and Tudor’s company prospered. Even during the Civil War, when the South was cut off from ice supplies in the North, the ice industry continued to grow in New England and in the Midwest.

Up in your part of the country, they’d harvest ice from the rivers in the winter time and store it in caves or rock cellars. Outside of Flagstaff were some ice caves, and saloonkeepers would harvest ice from the caves during the summer.

Iceboxes were commonly found in homes. Similar to our modern day refrigerators, these ice and food storage devices acted as coolers. Of course the insulation was less sophisticated than what’s available today, and even large blocks of ice typically only lasted for one day.