4720 The Preparation of Ices

Whichever kind of ice is being made it is essential to start making it well in advance, and certainly as far as ordinary ices are concerned, it is impossible to prepare them at a moment’s notice.

There are two separate and distinct stages in the making of ices; they are:

Taking the second stage first, which is the same for all kinds of ordinary ices whatever their composition—the essential operation is that of freezing.

Freezing the mixture means surrounding the container of prepared mixture with crushed ice to which is added freezing or sea salt and saltpetre, in the correct proportions. The action of these two salts on the ice causes a big drop in the temperature of the freezing media and thus the rapid freezing of the preparation subjected to it.