The molecular glue: how emulsifiers work

The secret science behind the upside-down Blizzard

Chapter 1

The physics of the flip

Chapter 2

The St. Louis origin story

Chapter 3

The rules of the upside-down game

Chapter 4

The secret anatomy of soft serve

YOUR GOAL

Master of The secret science behind the upside-down Blizzard

Ch 1 · The physics of the flip

joy The precise temperature control of Dairy Queen soft serve machines.

joy The Physics of the Flip

Turn it upside down but gravity can't break the yield stress

Staying intact through upheaval requires a balance of cohesion and lightness.

joy The molecular science of how emulsifiers bond different substances

The chilly sweet spot of twenty-three degrees

joy Storing the treat at minus five degrees Celsius balances pliability and solid strength, preventing a drop in viscosity

The molecular glue: how emulsifiers work

joy An upside-down cup of thick soft-serve ice cream holds a red plastic spoon.

Whip and Flip

BETA

joy Whip the ingredients and flip the cup to learn how thick ice cream resists gravity.

Fun Fact

Blizzard physics: Whipping up to 40% air into Dairy Queen's soft serve makes it light enough to resist gravity during the flip.

Glossary

viscosity (noun)
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. In 1985, Samuel Temperato capitalized on this property to launch the chain's famous upside-down frozen treat.

Gossip

Which Blizzard flavor is the absolute best?

Quiz

Which of these fluids has the lowest viscosity?

joy The physics of fluid friction and liquid viscosity.

Quiz

Which ingredient in Dairy Queen's soft serve binds fat and water to slow down melting?

joy How a high-speed spindle mixes Dairy Queen Blizzards

Quiz

Why doesn't a Blizzard fall out immediately when flipped upside down?

Quiz

What scientific term describes a fluid's resistance to flowing easily?

Quiz

What is the term for the air whipped into soft serve during production?

Quiz

What is the Celsius equivalent of the 23 degrees Fahrenheit storage temperature?

Quiz

What part of the Blizzard machine forces the soft serve against the cup walls?

Quiz

At what exact temperature in Fahrenheit is Dairy Queen soft serve stored?