Two ISU alumni are expanding a liquid nitrogen ice cream project that started during Veishea.

T.J. Paskach and Will Schroeder are the owners of Nitro Ice Cream Concessions and the Blue Sky Creamery Ice Cream Cafe Franchise.

“Using liquid nitrogen to freeze things isn’t a new idea,” Paskach said.

“We discovered how to stop the freezing at ice cream temperature.”

During the 1999 Veishea, the Chemical Engineering Department made ice cream with liquid nitrogen — serving 1,500 people. Paskach and Schroeder said they wanted the process to be more efficient and be able to serve more people.

Paskach said the first prototype took about three months, and the concept, from the mixing tube to the ice cream, has basically been the same from the beginning.

“The idea happened fast,” he said. “The development takes years.”

Schroeder and Paskach participated in the “Science that Surrounds You” special event at the Science Center of Iowa on Saturday. Free samples were given after three half-hour presentations.

“It tastes like regular ice cream,” said Laura Woodford, of Johnston.

“I want the whole tub.”

Blue Sky Creamery ice cream is available in a variety of flavors in pint size containers at local grocery stores and gas stations, including Hy-Vee and Fareway.

Paskach said they talked to the frozen food managers at the stores and took samples.

“It’s a pretty easy sell,” Paskach said.

Nitro Ice Cream has been at the Iowa State Fair, Clay County Fair and Tulsa State Fair since 2001. They added the Minnesota State Fair in 2002, along with the Blue Sky Creamery ice cream shop in Ankeny, 107 N.E. Deleware.

The first franchise store was opened in 2004 in Lakeville, Minn. with two more planned for Minnesota. National franchising is in planning this year.

Shoppers at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, will be able to enjoy Blue Sky Creamery ice cream next week, but they will not be able to watch it being made.

The ice cream will be made at the Ames lab facility and scooped at Valley West.

Paskach said it is also possible to make sorbet, ice milk, frozen yogurt and gelato in this process. He said gelato and ice cream will soon be available in stores.