Combining Science & Ice Cream with the Scientific Explorer’s Ice Cream Science Kit

Ice cream is quite popular around our house and our freezer usually contains at least one carton. So, when we had the opportunity to combine science with making ice cream, we were all for it! We recently tested out the Scientific Explorer’s Ice Cream Science Kit.

Hannah with the Scientific Explorer's Ice Cream Science Kit

You start off by experimenting with two bowls of ice to see which one gets colder and freezes a bag of water – the one with the salt or the one without. You then get to make the ice cream and the kids had so much fun doing this. All 3 of them participated in this little experiment.

Here they are making the ice cream with a pillow case. Yes, a pillow case.

Through a series of experiments and easy steps, your kids can create different flavors (we made chocolate), secret recipes and learn about solids, liquids, and gases at the same time. They’re learning and they don’t even know it. Okay, they had an idea they were learning, but the fact that it involved tasting ice cream in the end meant they didn’t care.

Our final product turned out really yummy. The instructions call for shaking the bags of ice cream either in a t-shirt or pillow case and as you can see above, we chose a pillow case. It was easy for 2 kids to grab a hold of and start shaking it up and down and side to side. The pillow case did not have a drop of ice cream in it and there was no mess what-so-ever. (We saw some complaints that there was a big mess and my guess is they didn’t double bag the liquid like the instructions say or seal it well.)

Here’s a picture of our final product – sprinkles and all.

We still have syrups and other ingredients left over to make at least a few more batches. You’ll use up the included bags during the first ice cream making process, but just use your own Ziploc bags for the next few batches.

I think this would be perfect for homeschooling families or just for those who want to have some fun in the kitchen with the kids. I know I’m bad about making the time to get the kids in the kitchen (especially now that school has started) but there are so many benefits to letting them help you make dinner or do a fun kitchen experiment. Some of my greatest memories as a kid included cooking – whether it was a disastrous event where I decided to swap baking soda for baking powder or making the perfect batch of cookies.

Note: Read the instructions once through before starting the kit. It will give you a better idea of the process it’s taking you through. Also, you need crushed ice. We made some with a trusty hammer and Ziploc bag. The kids loved that part!

Extras: You need to supply your own crushed ice, milk, bowls and children for making and tasting the ice cream.