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What the experts say� about eating snow as snow cream becomes a thing again
Snow cream is a popular treat thats resurging in popularity, but what do the experts say about eating snow?
Yellow or not, there are some precautions and concerns about eating snow – but that doesnt, or maybe shouldnt, stop people from eating it.
Snow cream is a tasty winter treat. Heres how to eat it and other snow-based recipes safely.
Snow cream is made from real snow
The winter dessert has been around for decades in the US and as the name would suggest, is an ice cream made with real snow..
To make the treat, you use eight cups of clean snow, with one cup of milk, S cup of granulated white sugar, and vanilla extract.
Whisk the non-ice ingredients together in a bowl before adding the snow and continuously stirring until it reaches a suitable texture. Its vital to freeze the snow after taking it in as it melts quickly.
What the experts say about eating snow
Dr. Laura Martin, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, writes that snow that has been disturbed in any way should be left alone – especially snow that has been plowed from the road or discolored in any way.
For a bigger serving of snow, safely harvested, place a clean bowl on your picnic table, deck, or similar outside structure. (Choose areas that are less likely to be disturbed by backyard critters or exposed to bird droppings). With a decent snowfall, youll be able to collect snow that is free of dirt and debris, and likely cleaner than snow on the ground, reports Dr. Martin.
Even though the snow you eat will likely have trace amounts of pollutants from the atmosphere, so does the air we breathe, and research indicates that snow is still safe to eat in moderation.
The main concern when it comes to eating recipes with snow is the potential for contaminants in the snow, from those picked up from the air to the ground.
A 2021 study found that ice crystals in the snow effectively filter our airborne molecules and actually leave the air purer after snowfall. This is great news, however, it means that the filtered contaminants stay in the snow and then falls to the ground.
According to Fox Weather, air pollutants are at their peak when a snowstorm begins. This means that the very first snow to fall collects the most airborne pollutants. Therefore, the earliest snowfall is likely the least safe to consume.
As snow continues to fall, the air becomes cleaner and cleaner. Snow that falls during an extended snowstorm’s middle or latter stages has fewer contaminants to absorb and is, therefore, more pristine, reports the publication.
The first snow is also likely to come in direct contact with the ground, absorbing chemicals and molecules like dirt, animal waste and pesticides. Instead, you should let the first snow create a layer of protection at the bottom and only take snow from later snowfall.
More recipes using snow
Snow cream isnt the only recipe to embrace the use of snow. Leather aprons is a reported New England classic, that sees people freezing maple syrup in snow.
To make the treat, heat maple syrup in a pan to 234F degrees before pouring it in a strip in the snow. It forms a taffy-like texture that is then spun into a lollypop shape.
