Storing Ice Cream and Sorbet

When an ice cream or sorbet finishes churning in the machine, it can be eaten right away. This is actually when it tastes the absolute best. It is, however, not hard enough to form a nice-looking scoop. If you want it scoopable, ice cream must be put in the freezer for about 4 hours and sorbet for about 2. This is called hardening, or ripening, the ice cream. The length of time required depends on your freezer. Frozen treats that have been formed in pans and require slicing need to be hard, not just scoopable. Know your freezer and plan accordingly.