Maya Warren shares simple recipes for making ice cream on social media.

Jeff Miller/UW-Madison (Warren); Zamurovic Brothers/Shutterstock.com (background)

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Ice Cream Scientist

Food scientist Maya Warren has a super-cool specialty . . . ice cream!

Special Sample

By Kimberly Y. Masibay

Jeff Miller/UW-Madison

Warren says making ice cream is both a science and an art.

As an expert in the science of ice cream, Maya Warren creates new frozen treats for the company SMiZE & Dream. She uses chemistry, physics, technology, and math in her work. “So much science goes into making ice cream,” she says. “And people are curious about it. So it’s a great way to connect people with science.”

Warren spoke with SuperSTEM about the sweet life of an ice cream scientist.

Maya Warren is an expert in the science of ice cream. She creates new frozen treats for the company SMiZE & Dream. She uses chemistry, physics, technology, and math in her work. “So much science goes into making ice cream,” she says. “And people are curious about it. So it’s a great way to connect people with science.”

An ice cream scientist has a sweet life! Warren spoke with SuperSTEM about it.

How did you become interested in food science?

It started when I was 6 years old. I got an Easy-Bake Oven. I remember pouring brownie mix into the toy’s tiny pan. Then I put it into the oven and watched it transform. I was so into it! That was my first experience with a chemical reaction.

It started when I was 6 years old. I got an Easy-Bake Oven. The toy had a tiny pan, and I poured brownie mix into it. Then I put it into the oven and watched it change. I was so into it! That was my first experience with a chemical reaction.

Dr. Maya Warren

Peanut butter and jelly pops

In high school, I got even more interested in chemistry. My teacher was really encouraging. That’s why I studied chemistry in college.

One day I saw a TV show that featured a flavor chemistry lab. I remember thinking, “Wow! How do I become a flavor chemist?” I decided to pursue food science.

My goal was to become an expert in ice cream. And that’s what I am. I love what I do!

In high school, I got even more interested in chemistry. My teacher really encouraged me. So I studied chemistry in college.

One day I saw a TV show about a flavor chemistry lab. I thought, “Wow! How do I become a flavor chemist?” I decided to work in food science.

I wanted to become an expert in ice cream. And that’s what I am. I love what I do!

What’s a surprising fact about ice cream?

Here’s a fun fact: Ice cream’s main ingredient isn’t cream. It’s air! You don’t really see it. You don’t taste it. But you do feel it. Air makes ice cream soft and scoopable.

Without air, ice cream would be a hard block of milky ice—like an ice pop!

I have a fun fact about the main ingredient of ice cream. It isn’t cream. It’s air! You don’t really see it. You don’t taste it. But you do feel it. Air makes ice cream soft and scoopable.

Without air, ice cream would be a hard block of milky ice. It would be like an ice pop!

How do you get air into ice cream?

Ice cream starts out as a liquid mixture. It contains milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. We freeze this mixture in an ice cream machine. It whips air into the liquid while freezing it. The whipping creates tiny air bubbles in the ice cream mixture. Tiny fat particles, milk proteins, and ice crystals coat the air bubbles. This coating traps the bubbles in the ice cream. All that trapped air gives ice cream its soft texture.

Ice cream begins as a liquid mixture. It contains milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. We freeze this mixture in an ice cream machine. It whips air into the liquid while it freezes. The whipping creates tiny air bubbles in the ice cream mixture. Tiny bits of fat stick to the air bubbles. Milk proteins and ice crystals stick too. This coating traps the bubbles in the ice cream. All that trapped air makes ice cream soft.

What’s a typical day like for you?

What’s a normal day like for you?

I do most of my work in a test kitchen. It’s filled with ice cream makers that churn up batches of ice cream.

I spend a lot of time developing new flavor concepts. Once I get an idea, I decide which ingredients to use and how much of each I’ll need to turn the concept into a new flavor. It can take up to a year to perfect a new flavor.

I do most of my work in a test kitchen. It’s filled with ice cream makers. They mix batches of ice cream.

I spend a lot of time working on new flavor ideas. When I get an idea, I pick ingredients to use. I decide how much of each ingredient I need. Then I turn the idea into a new flavor. It can take up to a year to perfect a new flavor.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Everything! It’s ice cream, chemistry, creativity, and communication. Ice cream is an amazing tool for connecting with people. You instantly have people’s attention. Sharing food science with others is my mission.

Everything! It’s ice cream and chemistry. I can create and communicate. Ice cream is an amazing tool for connecting with people. You instantly have people’s attention. I want to share food science with others. That’s my mission.

States of Matter

Ice cream contains all three states of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles. It most commonly exists in three states. It can change from one state to another when it’s heated or cooled.

Illustrations by Kate Francis

SOLID

Ice cream contains ice crystals. As a solid, ice is made up of tightly packed particles. This arrangement allows it to hold its shape.

SOLID

Ice cream contains ice crystals. As a solid, ice is made up of tightly packed particles. This arrangement allows it to hold its shape.

Illustration by Kate Francis

LIQUID

Ice cream is made with liquid cream. As a liquid, its particles easily slide past each other. A liquid takes the shape of the container it’s in.

LIQUID

Ice cream is made with liquid cream. As a liquid, its particles easily slide past each other. A liquid takes the shape of the container it’s in.

Illustration by Kate Francis

GAS

Ice cream includes air. As a gas, its particles can move freely and spread out to fill a space.

GAS

Ice cream includes air. As a gas, its particles can move freely and spread out to fill a space.

Illustration by Magictorch

DISCUSS IT!

Ice cream contains solid ice crystals. If heat were added to the ice cream at right, what state of matter would the ice become?

States of Matter

Ice cream contains all three states of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles. It most commonly exists in three states. It can change from one state to another when it’s heated or cooled.