Berry Good Cream--The iSi Dessert Whip Comes into Season

With berry season nearly here, I’m happy to write about one of my favorite kitchen gadgets—the iSi dessert whip. Made in Austria, this nifty tool makes it easy to serve pure luscious whipped cream.  Often seen behind the counters at coffee shops, the iSi dessert whip can garnish an endless parade of specialty coffee drinks and desserts. 
My kids look for the iSi when they want to add a little “wow” to  a hot fudge sundae or one of my homemade cakes, crumbles or tarts. I like my iSi whipped cream because it’s a convenient additive-free alternative to commercial products such as Redi Whip. 

Available in 1/2-pint and 1-pint sizes, the iSi dessert whip consists of an enamel coated container and a cap that holds a piping tip and a nitrous oxide charger.  The disposable recyclable N20 cream chargers must be purchased separately and are what magically whip the cream. 

Once I have loaded my container with the heavy cream, a little sugar, and some pure vanilla extract, I screw on the lid, add the decorative tip and then screw on the N20 cream charger, which results in a slight hiss. I then shake the container four or five times, remove the charger, and replace the charger with a small cap. Voila.  My pure cream can be used right away or stored in the fridge for up to 10 days. (Don’t over shake the container or shake it each time you use it. Overshaking will reduce the yield.)

Although I usually rely only on sugar and vanilla to flavor my cream, the options in the iSi are endless.  You can add chocolate syrup or any of the flavored syrups found at the coffee shops.  And, nonfat yogurt can be substituted for part of the cream to create a lower fat alternative.

So, what dessert could possibly be simpler than seasonal berries with iSi cream piped decoratively on top? Do you have a favorite way to make whipped cream and does it involve the supersonic iSi?

–Melissa A. Trainer