Why does Ben & Jerry's become frozen as ice?

[Caleb]

Hi,

I was wondering, why is B&J as hard as ice whenever I take it out of the freezer? It's frustrating because I end up having to wait a while before I could scoop any ice cream because it feels like a lump of ice.

Some of the cheaper ice creams I used to buy tend to usually stay soft (not too soft though).

Is this because the B&J ice creams have less air content? And is there a way to store it so that it doesn't freeze up like this?

[calliope_nh]

My dad used to microwave it on a low power for a few ? 20-30? seconds and it would soften nicely.

[olyolyy]

I think it's the freezer temp because in my old freezer B&Js was soft (I couldn't change the temp on that one) and with my new freezer I turned it to "colder" (thinking I could make ice faster) and my B&Js is rock hard now!

[Bkeats]

What Cleo said plus higher fat content. Cheaper ice creams are more whipped and since air doesn't freeze, its easier to scoop. High fat content ice creams are denser too.

[cleobeach]

Is this because the B&J ice creams have less air content?
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Many years ago I toured the factory and I remember the guide telling us the above.

[babette feasts]

Can you turn your freezer up?

[Caleb]

What would turning the freezer up accomplish? Wouldn't it just freeze anyway?

[iluvcookies]

I think babette means increasing the temp. Maybe your freezer is too cold. I keep mine a little warmer than the recommended setting on the dial because of this reason--I hate chipping ice cream out of the container.

[babette feasts]

Yes, that is what I meant.