Ice Cream scoop

[kaylasdad99]

No, it doesn’t go in CS, it’s a factual-type question…

I have an ice cream scoop that I bought several years ago. It looks kind of like this, and appears to be filled with liquid. I no longer have the packaging, but IIRC, that packaging contained a warning that the scoop should not be run through the dishwasher.

What would happen if I were to run it through the dishwasher, and why would that happen?

[Darth_Panda]

Apparently the heat will break the seal that keeps the liquid in, and then it can either get in your ice-cream or just make the scoop less useful (it’s in there for a reason).

I was hoping it would be more devastating - dishwasher explodes, creates a mini black hole, brings disco back in style. Oh, well.

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f8/why-exactly-cant-ice-cream-scoop-go-dishwasher-55394/

Edit: OK - things are getting more exciting:

Hazard: When the liquid-filled ice cream scoop is exposed to warm water, the cap and seal at the end of the scoop handle can fly off with substantial force, posing an impact injury hazard to nearby consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The Pampered Chef has received 16 reports including damage to kitchen items and six reports of personal injuries including lacerations, bruises and redness caused by caps coming off the base of the handle.

Description: The dippers are metallic gray aluminum with a plastic dome-shaped cap on the base of the handle. “Pampered Chef” is imprinted in the cap. The ice cream dippers measure around seven inches in length. A non-toxic liquid is sealed inside the handle of the product which conducts the heat of your hand to more easily scoop hard ice cream.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12062.html

And, finally, a straight-up explosion:

On Tuesday July 19th I was cooking pasta. I went to drain the hot water from the pot in the sink. The only things in the sink were 3 bowls, the strainer and the Pampered Chef Dipper ice cream scooper. While pouring the water into the strainer the dipper EXPLODED. Force enough to shatter the bowls, cut my hand, throw the pot from my hand about 10 feet away, blow curtains off window. Whatever was inside the handle got all over my kitchen. Including getting into my eyes and mouth. I promptly contacted Pampered Chef via email and phone to get a description of what product was inside the handle.

http://saferproducts.gov/ViewIncident/1194527

[kaylasdad99]

Ho-lee cats!

How disconcerting is it that I’m a 56-year old man, and the first reaction that crossed my mind when I read that was: COOOOL!

[Digital_is_the_new_Analog]

I’ve washed that style in the dish washer hundreds of times. No explosion yet.
Maybe next time.

Your mileage may vary.
-D/a

[AaronX]

It’s filled with antifreeze, isn’t it? To keep the scoop warm so it can “cut” the ice cream?

[jayjay]

On Tuesday July 19th I was cooking pasta. I went to drain the hot water from the pot in the sink. The only things in the sink were 3 bowls, the strainer and the Pampered Chef Dipper ice cream scooper. While pouring the water into the strainer the dipper EXPLODED. Force enough to shatter the bowls, cut my hand, throw the pot from my hand about 10 feet away, blow curtains off window. Whatever was inside the handle got all over my kitchen. Including getting into my eyes and mouth. I promptly contacted Pampered Chef via email and phone to get a description of what product was inside the handle.

This is the woman in the “As Seen On TV”-type product ads, isn’t she?

Incidentally, these scoops have been recalled.

ETA: Whoops…should have read the links…

[Michael63129]

@AaronX

It’s filled with antifreeze, isn’t it? To keep the scoop warm so it can “cut” the ice cream?

I think its just regular water, no anti-freeze needed, which won’t help keep it warm anyway; water by itself is plenty good at doing that (much higher specific heat than metal). Also, water expands enough when it warms to explain the explosions, without involving some low boiling point substance, if inside a rigid enclosure (going from 0 to 100C results in about half the change in density when it freezes).

[Leo_Bloom]

@Darth_Panda

…
I was hoping it would be more devastating - dishwasher explodes, creates a mini black hole, brings disco back in style. Oh, well…]

Cripes, I never thought of those ramifications. :eek:

[AaronX]

@Michael63129

I think its just regular water, no anti-freeze needed, which won’t help keep it warm anyway; water by itself is plenty good at doing that (much higher specific heat than metal). Also, water expands enough when it warms to explain the explosions, without involving some low boiling point substance, if inside a rigid enclosure (going from 0 to 100C results in about half the change in density when it freezes).

But regular water would freeze when the scoop was used, reducing conductivity. Antifreeze can still flow, which removes heat faster than a solid.

[Machine_Elf]

@Michael63129

I think its just regular water, no anti-freeze needed, which won’t help keep it warm anyway; water by itself is plenty good at doing that (much higher specific heat than metal). Also, water expands enough when it warms to explain the explosions, without involving some low boiling point substance, if inside a rigid enclosure (going from 0 to 100C results in about half the change in density when it freezes).

The scoop I have (don’t know brand/model) has some liquid and some gas in the handle; I assume the gas is just air, and it allows the liquid to slosh around more easily and move heat from the handle to the scoop.

Dishwashers operate at around 180F, which can substantially increase the pressure of air in an enclosed space, and also increases the vapor pressure of any liquid water in that space (irrespective of any minor expansion of the liquid water). if the scoop’s liquid/gas chamber contains an air-water mix and is at 0 psig at room temperature, then when you take it up to 180F, it’ll be at about 10.5 psig. Our scoop has a plastic plug sealing the chamber, and it’s conceivable that that pressure might be enough to dislodge the plug.

[ZenBeam]

@AaronX

But regular water would freeze when the scoop was used,[…]

Highly unlikely. It isn’t in contact with the ice cream that long, plus you’re holding it in your hand, adding heat to the handle. You’d have to have very cold ice cream, a scoop that was already at freezing temperature, and wear a mitten or glove to prevent heating the handle. Even then, I doubt it.

[dstarfire]

I’ve seen mugs like that with a liquid in their outer walls designed to be chilled or frozen to keep drinks cold. I once accidentally ran one of the cheapies through the dishwasher and it broke the seal, so I suspect the same could happen with your ice scream scoop.