Kara Kinkade, age 10, of DeKalb, Ill., for her question:

WHEN WAS ICE CREAM FIRST MADE?

Ice cream is a popular frozen food that is made of milk, cream, sugar and flavoring. Ice cream was first made in Italy back in the 17th century and appeared for the first time in the United States in the 18th century.

The U.S. ice cream manufacturing industry started in 1851.

Early production methods consisted of placing the ingredients in a metal container, surrounded by a freezing mixture of ice and and coarse salt, and mixing them until smooth. In modern plants the basic ingredients, plus gelatin, used as a stabilizer to give the product a smooth consistency, are poured into a tank, where they are mixed and pasteurized.

The mixture is then homogenized to break up particles of butterfat, cooled, piped to a freezing tank and beaten until smooth. At this stage nuts or fruits are sometimes added.

The ice cream emerges from the freezing tank partially frozen and is packed in containers that are stored in a refrigerated room until hard.

French ice cream is enriched with egg yolks. Soft ice cream, made with the same ingredients as ordinary ice cream, is sold as it comes from the freezer before hardening.