# How to Make Italian Ice at Home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479 "2007-05-10T00:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/1 "2007-05-10T00:32:57Z")
I’ve recently developed a taste for Italian Ice. Is there a way to make it at home, without buying expensive commercial equipment? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/2 "2007-05-10T01:41:39Z")
Not really, assuming you’re talking about the frozen stuff that’s somewhere between a popsicle and ice cream in consistency. About as close as you’ll get at home is a granita, and that needs nothing more than a jelly roll or sheet cake pan and freezer space. You just pour the \\* into the pan, and when it starts to freeze, stir it up with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Repeat every 20 minutes or so until it’s a uniform slush - it’ll take about two hours all told. - espresso, lemonade, cranberry juice, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/3 "2007-05-10T12:36:42Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] You just pour the \\* into the pan, and when it starts to freeze, stir it up with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Repeat every 20 minutes or so until it’s a uniform slush - it’ll take about two hours all told. [/QUOTE] A friend of mind did the same thing, but in a large mixing bowl rather than a flat sheet pan, and every 30 minutes instead of 20. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/4 "2007-05-10T12:45:40Z")
Buy a home in Italy ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/5 "2007-05-10T14:16:56Z")
Actually its very easy, as long as you understand that you’re going to have a more “crystalline” texture than what’s commercially available. italian ice is also called “water ices” - basically its just water, sugar and flavor. Lemon is one of the cheapest to try at home. You can also find lots of recipes online. Mix up a batch of water, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure the lemon flavor and the sweetness is _very_ strong because you can’t taste flavors as well in a cold medium. Get a flat pan (one with sides) large enough that the liquid is about a 1/4 inch deep. Put in freezer for 1 hour. Take out of freezer and use a spatula to scrape up and mix the frozen part into the unfrozen part. Put back in freezer. Repeat at 1/2 hour intervals until all is frozen and mixed. You can use fruit puree (watch out for chunks, they turn into icicles), I’ve done chocolate by mixing cocoa in, once I made vanilla by taking the vanilla water in which I had poached pears and adding a bit of cream… etc. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/6 "2007-05-10T19:05:55Z")
I use a frozen yogurt maker. The machine cost over $20, but less than $40 and works great. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/7 "2007-05-10T23:00:08Z")
\ Iced to Cafe Society. \ ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/8 "2007-05-10T23:15:22Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] Mix up a batch of water, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure the lemon flavor and the sweetness is _very_ strong because you can’t taste flavors as well in a cold medium. [/QUOTE] Adding finely minced lemon zest helps the flavor come out. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/9 "2007-05-10T23:37:50Z")
[Cuisinart Supreme Ice Cream Maker](http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=313&item_id=422&cat_id=10) ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/10 "2007-05-10T23:40:33Z")
Well, to start with, give it a nice comfy chair. Offer it some tea, and some light snacks. Ask it how its journey was, and mention that you have a guest bedroom if it wants to spend the night. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/11 "2007-05-10T23:55:38Z")
koee’s recipe for absolutely _perfect_ **Strawberry Lime Water Ice** Throw 1 can of frozen Bacardi Strawberry Daiquiri concentrate into a blender squeeze in the juice of 1 lime add 1/4 cup water, or rum (I make virgin ice, myself, but you can make it like Og intended) fill up the blender 1/3 of the way with frozen strawberries fill the rest of it up with ice blend the crap out of it pour it into a container and freeze Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-italian-ice-at-home/403479/12 "2007-05-11T00:12:20Z")
[QUOTE=ouryL] [Cuisinart Supreme Ice Cream Maker](http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=313&item_id=422&cat_id=10) [/QUOTE] I love mine. Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it… one of the best gifts ever.