Why did it take me so many years to try ice cream in a bag? This is such a quick and easy experiment, and students will love it. The setup takes no time at all. You likely have most of the ingredients on hand but may need to pick up rock salt (ice cream salt) or another ingredient.
Plus, click the button below to grab your free Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment worksheet for your students.
What does conducting the Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment teach?
This experiment teaches many scientific fundamentals, such as the different stages of matter and how they change phases, the effect of temperature on solubility, and the intricacies of how heat is transferred.
Is there an Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment video?
Watch this video to get step-by-step instructions in a follow-along format.
Materials needed:
- ½ cup half-and-half
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 gallon-sized plastic zip-top bag
- 1 quart-sized plastic zip-top bag
- ⅓ cup rock salt (ice cream salt)
- 3 cups crushed ice
Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment steps:
1. Pour half-and-half into the smaller zip-top bag.
Carefully add the vanilla and sugar. Seal the baggie tightly.
2. Add rock salt and ice to the larger zip-top bag.
3. Place the smaller baggie inside the larger baggie.
Seal the larger baggie tightly.
4. Shake and squeeze the baggie until the ice cream is thickened.
This can take between 5 and 10 minutes.
5. Remove the smaller baggie and taste your delicious treat!
Hint: This set of directions makes enough for a small group of students to have one spoonful each. To make enough for an entire class, you would need to triple the recipe or make several batches during your small-group time.
Get my printable experiment!
Just click the button below to receive your experiment worksheet bundle.
