Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: Ice cream scoops



A common ice cream scoop is made from metal, is hollow inside and is
partially filled with a liquid. What is this liquid and how does it
help to scoop better?

It would be my guess that the liquid is water. This raises the heat
capacity of the scoop, allowing it to remain warm for a larger number
of operations than it could otherwise do. Cold metal scoops stick to
ice cream.

Leigh

I think the liquid has a lower freezing point than water. The idea
is to conduct the heat from your hand to the liquid which then warms the
scoop. Since the liquid sloshes around as you scoop, it transfers the heat
better than if the scoop were just solid aluminum. Maybe if the scoop were
made of silver or gold, it would not need the liquid.

In ancient times the scoops were made of silver. Only the very
rich people could have them. This is where the phrase "Born with a silver
scoop in his mouth..." comes from.

Charlie