Chapter 66: Saltpeter to make ice? No, it's ice water!

"It was you three who said that my ice plum cheese was not tasty enough?" Chef Wang asked condescendingly.

These three little girls were so cute, with their big eyes twinkling, and Wang Yuchu couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth a little.

No, you can't laugh, be serious!

Zhu Lan and the others immediately understood that what they had said just now had been heard, and the imperial chef came to call them to task.

Zhu Lan and Qin Yuwei were a little embarrassed, but Qiao Youyou nodded without thinking:

"Yeah, everything I make at home tastes better than this."

Not only was chef Wang Yu laughing out of anger, but even the apprentices who were watching started laughing.

You should at least give a draft before bragging!

"It's wrong for children to lie!" Wang Yuchu was a little angry.

How did their parents teach their children to tell lies so easily?

Can you make it at home and make it better than his?

He was willing to risk the dignity of his career as a chef to expose this lie!

"I'm not talking nonsense." Qiao Youyou tilted her head.

"It's just the milk that ferments and turns sour. Leave a little bit after each meal and add more milk next time. It will become new yogurt after a while. I also know to keep it warm..."

Wang Yuchu's face changed and he wanted to cover her mouth immediately.

This was a secret he discovered by accident, how could this little girl know it! ?

And how can you be so outspoken and just say whatever comes out of your mouth?

Wang Yuchu glanced around secretly.

The apprentices around were either looking at the clouds in the sky or the vegetables in the yard.

In fact, everyone was listening with their ears perked up!

"Ahem!" Wang Yuchu interrupted quickly, not allowing Qiao Youyou to continue speaking.

He glared at the apprentices and said, "What are you looking at? Get back to work!"

After the apprentices left reluctantly, Wang Yuchu lowered his voice and asked Qiao Youyou.

"You really... have done it before?"

He still didn't quite believe it.

Could it be that this method is not uncommon among the common people, but I have lived in the palace for too long and am ignorant of it?

Qiao Youyou nodded, but she used to make it with a yogurt maker.

Zhu Lan suddenly had an idea. "Master, how about this? We can help you improve the ice plum cheese, and you can let us take a portion away?"

How could Wang Yuchu not understand what she was thinking and hesitant.

He wanted to refuse, but he also wanted to know if there was any way to make it taste better.

Zhu Lan sighed and said, "Alas, this ice plum yogurt doesn't live up to its name. If it was just taken out of the ice cellar and was cold, it would be delicious!"

Wang Yuchu sneered: "Ice? If it's iced, can ordinary people like you still afford it?"

What a joke! Ice is something that only princes, nobles, or wealthy families can afford!

It costs a lot of money to build an ice cellar, store the ice in the winter, and use it slowly throughout the year!

These kids have no idea how much it costs to buy and store ice!

Just open it and it will come.

"It's only a few months now, where can we find ice? Let's go, let's go, you are talking about something unrealistic."

He waved his hand, ready to send them home.

"What if we could really make ice?"

"Then can I call you chef?" Wang Yuchu suddenly felt that he was sick. Why was he so serious with these three little kids?

So much time and effort was wasted.

Zhu Lan smiled faintly, turned around and left with Qiao Youyou and Qin Yuwei.

Wang Yuchu watched the three people leave, shook his head, and thought to himself that he was really too idle.

…

Less than an hour later, Chef Wang was preparing the ice plum cheese to be sold tomorrow.

Shengzi suddenly rushed in in a panic.

"Master, those three girls are here again! They said... they brought ice with them!"

Wang Yuchu didn't believe it.

Not to mention that there is no ice at this season, even if you go to the market to buy it, it is rarely available.

Zhu Lan and the other two were still standing in the courtyard, and all the apprentices in the kitchen ran out to see.

"I heard they can make ice? That makes me laugh to death. It's so hot, are they dreaming?"

"Isn't this some kind of magic trick?"

"Impossible! Even if it's a magic trick, they can't make ice out of thin air! Unless they are gods!"

When Zhu Lan saw Wang Yuchu coming out, he asked someone to find a basin and fill it with clean water.

It was noon, the sun was hanging high in the sky, and the sunlight was extremely dazzling.

Wang Yuchu also wanted to see what tricks they were going to play.

"Come on." Zhu Lan nodded to Qiao Youyou and poured the white powder into the basin.

This is the method of making ice with saltpeter that Zhou Da taught everyone before.

This method takes advantage of the fact that potassium nitrate absorbs a lot of heat when it dissolves.

The three of them actually went to buy saltpeter just now, and Zhu Lan, who was very smart, even found someone to grind it into powder.

This is done on the one hand to increase the dissolution rate and make ice faster.

On the other hand, it is to prevent Wang Yuchu and others from knowing what the powder is at a glance, so as to ensure the effect of the show.

All the powder was poured into the water, and Zhu Lan found a wooden stick to stir it.

After a while, white crystals appeared in the water.

Before long, the entire basin of water began to move.

Afraid that people around him couldn't see clearly, Zhu Lan simply placed the basin on the ground.

Basin-shaped ice fell out, sparkling in the sun.

"Oh my God, is it really ice?!" The people around exclaimed, and there was no mocking look on their faces anymore.

Even Wang Yuchu's eyes widened.

Some people don't believe it and want to get closer to take a look.

Wang Yuchu shouted, "Get out of the way!"

He walked forward himself, stretched out his hand carefully, and touched the hard object.

Hiss——!

Wang Yuchu retracted his hand because of the cold, and became even more shocked and suspicious.

It’s still a long way from winter, and they actually... created ice out of thin air?

But……

Wang Yuchu's face darkened and he asked, "What did you put in it just now? Is this ice still edible?"

"Of course you can't eat this, but if you make enough of this ice, it can not only help you store food, but also make cool desserts in the summer."

Zhu Lan had also seen the ancient people's method of making ice with saltpeter when he was studying ancient books. It is said that first use a large basin to fill with water, add saltpeter, and then put a small basin of water into the large basin.

The ice formed by the melted saltpeter in the large basin can be used to freeze the water in the small basin, thus making edible ice.

But Zhu Lan asked Zhou Da, this method is only theoretical and almost impossible to achieve in practice.

Even if we can barely achieve this, it is impossible to produce it in large quantities.

So Zhu Lan gave up directly.

Wang Yuchu looked at the crystal clear ice and admitted that he was moved.

He had been a royal chef for more than 30 years and was familiar with all kinds of dishes. He knew that many dishes could only be prepared in the cold winter.

Once the temperature is too high, the taste will be greatly reduced.

If he could make ice, he would be a milestone in Daliang’s culinary history!

"Okay, tell me how to make ice, what are your requirements?"