Cuisinart SM-55MP Mixing Paddle Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ordered it on Feb 2 and Never received it the company "small appliances" said couldnt provide me with a tracking # and said they would do an investigation which later cancelled when I called Amazon.com. To say the least bad service from this company small appliances. Luckily I ordered through Amazon who quickly refunded my money.

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Cuisinart SM-55MP Mixing Paddle

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Rival Gel Canister Ice Cream Maker - 1 qt. Review

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(More customer reviews)COMPARISON:
Cuisinart Automatic 1.5 qt
the Rival Gel Canister, and the
Rival Electric 4&6 qt ice
I have had quite the experience with ice cream makers lately and am happy to pass on my own comparison.
I actually bought the Rival Electric 6qt ice on a whim when I passed by it in the store. This is the same one as the 4qt. ice cream maker that uses rock salt and ice, just larger. (I know it's the same because the inlaws have the 4qt.) It was on sale at Wal-Mart and even cheaper than Amazon.
I then exchanged the above ice cream maker, after issues I will get to, for the Rival Gel.
You'll notice, however, I have the "verified purchase stamp" on my review of the Cuisinart 1.5 qt automatic ice cream maker. That's because I gave up with Rival after continued problems with my first two ice cream makers and ordered the Cuisinart from Amazon. It's a keeper. However, you may actually prefer one of the other ones I used more if your needs are different from my own so I'll break down my experiences and you can decide:
But first...some TROUBLESHOOTING that may help you regardless of the ice cream maker you choose. Is your icecream more of a milkshake than ice cream? I have some chef tips:
1.Never put in chunky ingredients from the beginning. They don't allow the butterfat to freeze correctly. They need to be added at the end (chocolate chips, fruit, etc.)
2.Never use imitation vanilla extract. It contains propylene glycol which not only isn't as good as regular vanilla, it prevents milk and cream from freezing well. Use pure vanilla only.
3.Your ingredients should be cold prior to adding them to the ice cream maker.
4.If you have an electric ice cream maker it needs to be on and spinning prior to putting the ingredients in. If you add the ingredients first and then turn it on, the edges will freeze first to the bowl and your middle won't catch up. (Unfortunately you can't do this on the Rival 4 and 6 qt electric so it always wound up a little runny for me.)
5.If you use an electric gel-bowl ice cream maker the bowl should be stored at the back of your freezer where it is coldest. If your freezer is full of other foods, it will actually be colder than if it is empty so an empty freezer may mean you need to freeze your gel-filled ice cream bowl longer.
6.Cream has a higher butterfat content than milk so it begins to melt far faster and will take longer to freeze so you will see differences from soy milk, milk, non-fat milk etc.
ICE CREAM CAPACITY:
Rival Electric (RE) 4 or 6 qts, depending upon which model you choose.
Rival Gel (RG) one quart
Cuisinart Automatic (CA) 1.5 qts
NOISE LEVEL:
RE: loud; cannot hold a conversation in the same room it's in
RG: loud; cannot hold a convesation in the same room it's in
CA: surprisingly quiet...not silent but quite a purr compared to the other two.
BUILD:
RE: Cheaply made which wound up being our problem. The outside core is a very flimsy plastic. Thinner than my Tupperware. Not only did this not insulate the ice well which resulted in fast melting, it also wore down after a week of the motor popping out of the locked position and it's flexibility allowed pieces of ice to get lodged in the sides and make the motor stop. This is so common that it says in the owner's manual that when it does this you need to stop it and move the ice. This means you always need to be watching it during making. Happens on both size models which is why I had to exchange this originally for the gel model at Wal-mart. That flimsy plastic wore down after just one week from the motor popping off of the lock sockets.
RG: Made better than the other model except the top leaves air in too close to ice cream which means it doesn't freeze as well and the fill hole is on an angle rather than top and is very small so ingredients spill easily.
CA: I like the make, compact so no warm air is inside, sturdy, stores more easily with cord compartment, heavy-duty with no flimsiness or easily broken parts.
CONCEPT:
RE: Winds up costing more due to needing to buy rock salt and crushed ice each time. The manual states to use crushed ice only and this is because the top pops off easily and ice can get lodged between spinning bowl and the side. For some crazy reason, the paddle doesn't spin, the bowl does which means it makes the ice migrate and melt easily. Rock salt should not go down your sink so we would also walk it outside to the street. You don't want it in your yard either. Very messy with all the rock salt and ice being poured in while running in comparison to the other two models.
RG: Freeze the gel bowl for about 24 hours and use no rock salt or ice.
CA: Same as the RG.
ISSUES:
RE: Had lots of problems with having to fool with it during the process to make it work right, turns off automatically even if the icecream is runny when it senses the edges are done.
RG: Motor overheats easily and when it does this it turns off automatically and won't allow you to start it again for another 20 minutes. An ice cream maker isn't needed to mix ingredients but to whip air into it so it doesn't freeze as an ice block but instead becomes fluffy. This means you ruin your mix and have to start over. They need a more powerful motor to avoid this rather than an auto shut off which ruins your batch.
CA: Does not turn off automatically and has never overheated. If you need more freezing time, you can just keep on going. I haven't yet had any problems with my Cuisinart but will report back if one comes up.
TIME NEEDED TO WORK:
RE: Usually 50 min
RG: Usually 35 to 38 min
CA: Usually 20 to 30 min
The time will vary per ingredients. I based the above all on my plain vanilla recipe.
All models come with a basic recipe book but they are so basic you'll probably want a good ice cream recipe book. I love the Ben and Jerrys one because it's not just recipes, but goes into the science of making the perfect bowl too. The Cuisinart has the nutritionals to every recipe, the Rival doesn't. You probably don't want to see the calories of ice cream anyway. Especially chocolate!
WARRANTY:
RE 1 year
RG 1 year
CA 3 years
ICE CREAM CONSISTENCY:
RE: I was very disappointed in the Rival Electric. It runs until it senses the outside edges are done but this left my inside ice cream edges not whipped. It says to get it hard you should freeze it for 4 hours but the next day, since air wasn't whipped in, it left it a block of ice and I couldn't even scoop it. Because of this and then the plastic lock in wearing out is why I returned it for the Rival Gel.
RG: I got a good batch but it was still softer than I wanted, however the next 2 times the motor got hot and, as per the owners manual, apparently this design flaw is common enough that it turns itself off when this happens and won't start again for another 20 min leaving me with 2 bad batches so I returned it.
CA: If you like yours soft, 20 min seems to work well for that but I usually go all the way to 30 min to get the perfect consistency of whipped air into the icecream allowing it to be soft but still easily scooped days later. Even on high butterfat ice cream recipes we had a perfect consistency so I fell in love with this one. That was the main thing for me, to get a good whipped up ice cream. Not an icy one even days later. This one is advertised as having a "heavy duty motor" which may mean the difference in it not overheating.
CLEANING: Owners manual of all say to clean parts in warm soapy water, not the dishwasher.
CONCLUSION: Although the Rival Electric holds more ice cream which is perfect if you are making it for a big crowd, I have had no negative results with the Cuisinart since I ordered it while the other makers were returned to the store...and I rarely return anything. However, it's also possible I just got unlucky so if you want a large capacity and have easier access than I do to crushed ice, it might be worth a try.
For me, the Cusinart 1.5 qt is just the right size to keep the ice cream fresh for us before it's time to make another batch. For a large family, it may not work, but we nibble on it for a week then make another batch and that works great for us and since the consistency and motor where better than the Rival Gel for me this remains my pick.


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Hamilton Beach 68220 1.5-Quart Capacity Ice Cream Maker, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)OK, first off, all the 1.5qt ice cream makers on the market -- this one, Cuisinart's, and Krups' -- are fundamentally the same. It's a metal bucket full of some fluid that you put in the freezer; it gets very cold, cold enough to freeze 1.5qts of ice cream mix. That, and it's a motor with a mixing arm. That's really it.
So I figured, when I bought this one, that I was getting a deal; it's the cheapest of the three. Now that I've used it a few times, I'm wishing I'd just splurged, spent the extra twenty bucks, and gotten either of the others.
The mixing blade on this model doesn't seem to actually mix very well. I made a cantaloupe sherbet last night and I looked into the bowl as the arm turned, and it was just shoving the sherbet around in a circle. It wasn't churning. The sherbet wasn't frozen solid or anything, it was still pretty slushy. The arm just seems poorly designed.
I think the motor's pretty weak, too. It turns so slowly that it doesn't need to be very strong, they just gear it way down and even a weak motor can push pretty hard. But this routinely gets stuck on bits of ice cream that freeze in a layer on the bottom of the bucket. I made a frozen yogurt, which you have to put in the bucket to start (vs. pouring it through the opening while it's running) because of the thickness of the yogurt, and it had real problems churning after that. I ended up having to churn it by hand with a spatula for a while at the end.
Finally, there are just design details that aren't very good about this. The top of the motor / lid assembly is sloped, and the on/off switch is on that surface and protrudes a bit.
When you take that motor / lid off and set it down, the obvious way to do it is to rest it on its top (with the mixing arm sticking up.) This invariably hits that switch and turns it on. Whenever I'm taking it off, I'm trying to move quickly, stir the ice cream or scoop it off into a container to put in the freezer, so it's always irritating to take that lid off, quickly set it down, and have it turn on, the mixing arm starts turning, ice cream splatters, etc. This happens every time. There's not really a better way to set it down. So I have to unplug it whenever I want to put it down on the counter. It's just not very well thought-through.
Similarly, the locking mechanism involves pivoting that big blue arm up and over from one side to the other, which is cumbersome; the electric cord gets in the way, and even when you get it right, it's not a terribly snug fit; the motor can rock back and forth a bit.
Overall, you get what you pay for, and the other brands really aren't that much more expensive. Don't be a tightwad like me; splurge for one of them instead of this.

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Make homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet and more using this machine from Hamilton Beach. It's fully automatic - no stirring and no need for ice or salt like the old-fashioned machines. An extra-large ingredient opening lets you add candies, brownie bits or fruit during the mixing process. Other features include a carrying handle that locks into place and a transparent lid. Recipes included.

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Rival GC9155 Gel Canister 1-1/2-Quart 2-Piece Electric Ice-Cream Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When I first got this I followed the directions on the box for chocolate cookie ice cream exactly (which specified refrigerating the mixture for 30 minutes and freezing the gel canisters for 24 hours). This gave me something at about the consistency of a runny milkshake. My second try involved refrigerating the mixture for 18 hours and freezing the gel canisters for around 36 hours. That was more of a thick milkshake.
My winning formula was refrigerating the mix overnight and freezing the canisters for a week in a 0 degree (F) deep freezer. This produced fairly soft ice cream, but still definitely ice cream (it did harden in the freezer afterward). I haven't yet experimented to see what the minimum time for a refreeze is, but bringing them down from room temperature the first time took a very long time.
If you want to make smallish batches of ice cream fairly often, then this is the ice cream maker for you. It doesn't require you to get bagged ice to cool the mixture, and the gel canisters collapse to take up less space in your freezer if you just store them there full time. If, on the other hand, you want large batches or only want to make ice cream for special occasions you're probably better off with a bagged ice and rock salt model.

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1.5 quart capacity, fast freezing gel canister technology.Auger style mixing paddle mixes and aerates ice cream to a creamy consistency.Gel canisters nest for compact freezer storage, makes ice cream in 30 minutes, no rock salt or ice needed.

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Lello 4070 Gelato Junior Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just received and tried out the Gelato (reportedly manufactured by Simac...but the company name on the machine is Lello..don't know why a different name). Results were great! The machine is rather large and heavy, due to the self-contained compressor, but that means you don't have to plan ahead or take up freezer room to prefreeze the bucket. Makes enough ice cream for about four people, although if you need more you can start another batch right away by moving the first batch to another container (or your mouth )and refilling the bucket.
The machine runs quietly and freezes well (albeit I would add 10 minutes to times listed in the included receipt booklet). A timer is included to signal when the "set time" has ellapsed. The timer does not stop the churner or turn off the machine. However, according to the manual the machine will shut off before mechanical damage is done, if the ingredients become too frozen and the churner stops.
For a few dollars more than models requiring prefrozen buckets, you can buy this model and reap the benefits of higher priced models. You may get a larger capacity bucket on some higher priced models, but for home use this machine will put you in the ice-cream maker "big league" with no apparent short comings.

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With a minimum freezing temperature of -4 degrees F, the Simac Gelato Junior takes only about 30 minutes to satisfy your craving for a frozen confection. Plus, the built-in compressor freezer operates continuously, so you can turn out multiple flavors of ice cream while your guests finish their dinner. A 60-minute electronic timer frees you up for other activities, and an automatic safety mechanism sounds a warning beep if the integrated spatula blade gets stuck. A removable 1-quart bowl, transparent lid, and slim ingredient window all simplify operation, and the unit is also useful for crafting frozen drinks and chilled soups. Though not lightweight at 31 pounds, the Gelato Junior is fairly sleek for its class, measuring 11 by 14 by 12-1/4 inches. Simac includes a booklet of tasty ice cream, sorbet, and dessert sauce recipes, as well as an ice cream scoop.

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VillaWare V5100 Classic Ice Cream & Gelato Maker, Electric Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've read all the reviews and will give you some real concrete reasons not to buy this. I didn't expect this product to do all of the work for me and I understand the reasoning behind some of the directions, such as cooling the mixture before pouring it into the freezing bowl (the bowl will thaw out if you don't!!!!!!!!)I received this and a Cuisinart ice cream maker as gifts at the same time. I decided to keep the VillaWare since I Knew they made industrial machines. I made three batches in my VillaWare, one ice cream, one non-dairy "ice cream" and one sorbet. I just kept thinking "Is this really how it should look?". I was following all of the directions (which aren't as big of a hassle as some would make them out to be!) and I ended up with mildly frozen slush which I had to put in the freezer to make it even remotely firm enough to eat. So, I broke out the Cuisinart that I was going to return and made the exact same sorbet recipe that I had made the previous day. Good thing I did, The Cuisinart batch was more frozen after 5 minutes than the VillaWare after 20 minutes. It produced a nice sorbet that was still soft but firm enough to eat right out of the freezing bowl. These machines operate under the exact same concept so from what I could tell the problem is this; The Villaware bowl doesn't seem to be quite as cold and the paddle that is supposed to scrape the frozen mixture from the side of the bowl isn't close enough to the bowl to scrape enough off to freeze the whole batch. The paddle on the Cuisinart sits right against the side of the bowl and allows the entire batch to freeze and be scraped off and mixed in.
I'll be returning the VillaWare now
Save yourself some time and hassle and buy a Cuisinart

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With the VillaWare Ice Cream Maker you can make up to a quart of hard or soft ice cream or frozen yogurtYou can also make sherbet, gelato, sorbet, ices and frozen drinks.Just 20-30 minutes is all it takes for making quality, healthy frozen creations.Upscale design with sturdy, stainless steel housing.Ingredient bowls can be pre-frozen.Motorized drive to blend ingredients easily.Two speed selections for different consistencies.

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Donvier 837409W 1-Quart Ice Cream Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Caution: Rave Review
Why can't I get decent chocolate chip ice cream? That's what I want to know. Chocolate chip, plain, unvarnished and perfect, is a rapidly vanishing breed in the highly segmented world of commercial premium ice cream.
The Donvier lets you create the fresh flavors you want, when you want them. So, I get my chocolate chip with rich veins of beautiful Ghiradelli's milk chocolate chips and just a few semi-sweet for the heck of it. My wife's favorite is fresh peach and that's what she gets. You know what - in season, it tastes very much like a beautifully ripe peach! Only better.
Freeze the container overnight. Dump in the ingredients. Pop the lid on. Stir. Wait a bit. Stir some more. Repeat for ... minutes or so. Yesterday, I made a quart of ice cream while I was in the midst of preparing dinner for six - it was just no problem. The ice cream got such rave reviews from our guests that I was troubled at how easy it was to make.
Chocolate chip TIP: Wait until it's partly frozen up before you dump in the chips - they don't all settle down to the bottom that way.
We've had our Donvier for almost ten years and have never had a problem. Hey, what could go wrong? it's a metal bowl with a plastic handle that you turn inside it. I suppose you could break the handle with an excess of joie de vivre, but they're pretty cheap to replace. Ah, you ask, but is it easy to use? Well, turning a crank in a bowl is a fundamental human activity - *anybody* can do it!
No more need you buy Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip peanut turbot ice cream at 3 bucks a pint or so. The Donvier makes it just too easy to make incredibly good, fresh ice cream yourself.
Buy one. Now. You won't regret it.

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We all scream for ice cream! Create delicious frozen confections in 20 minutes or less with just a few simple ingredients and the 1-qt. Donvier Premier Ice Cream Maker. Uses no electricity, ice or salt. Features the patented Chillfast cylinder, plus a double-walled freezer cylinder holder for extra insulation. Also works as an ice bucket. Includes recipes and instructions.

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Black & Decker IC200 Arctic Twister Ice Cream Mixer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I read the reviews before purchasing it, and was pleasantly surprised when I tried it out. The ice cream came out easily firm enough for cones.

Suggestions for using:
1) place parts in freezer 10-15 min. before use
2) put toppings in freezer before using (if the toppings are warm they will melt the ice cream as they are mixing)
3) Buy a half-gallon of ice cream in the rectangular carton, open it up and use a butcher knife to quickly chop the ice cream into cubes to put into the machine (doesn't take long, so the ice cream is not too soft)--note: you can just fold the box back up and put it in a freezer bag when putting it away
4) rinse the parts immediately after use--easy clean-up
5) I make ice cream for my family, and then I eat the ice cream off of the "dasher" that everyone is complaining about (It is not sharp, and you can hold it like a big popsicle, and then not much is wasted)
Improvements Needed:
1) It mixes the ice cream a little slowly
2) It would be easier if the on/off switch didn't have to be held down constantly

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Take your favorite ice cream, low fat frozen yogurt or sherbet and customize it with your choice of mix-ins! Crush and mix in the goodies of your choice by pressing down the lever. Add chips, nuts, granola, dried apricots, cookes and more! Create an instant soft serve treat which is then exuded right into a cone or cup.

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Rival GC8250 Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The ice cream maker was easy to assemble but it would not quite freeze the ice cream enough. The plastic parts seem like they are designed to last about 2 weeks. I had to run it an extra 15 minutes and even then the ice cream was runny but the motor was about to burn up. The ice cream was good after I froze it overnight but I would stick to the conventional ice and salt method after this experience. Mine is going back to the place I bought it.

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Rival 1.5 Qt Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

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Rival 8806-BL 6-Quart Oval Electric Ice Cream Maker, Blue Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received this ice cream maker yesterday and made a batch of french vanilla ice cream. I ordered Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Dessert book at the same time I ordered the ice cream maker and they both came the same day. I used the French vanilla recipe from their book. The recipe is only for one quart so I quadrupled it. I used a lot more salt than the directions with the ice cream maker calls for to get the temperature down and also used a little table salt along with shaved ice. Use enough salt with the ice and you should have no trouble getting the temperature down. The ice cream was done when the motor stopped as per the directions. It only took 18 munutes from start to finish. The brine didn't even run out the drain hole in the can before the ice cream was done. The ice cream was pretty stiff consistency right away. We ate some for a taste test and put the whole can in the deep freeze for about an hour and the stuff set up very well. The ice cream was smooth and not gritty like it can be if it takes a long time to get done. After reading some of the reviews before buying this maker, I had some reservations about buying this particular model. I see now that they were unfounded. I had no problems with it at all. I would recommend this maker to anyone looking for a reasonably priced ice cream maker. Just be sure you use plenty of salt with the ice and be sure your ingredients are good and chilled when you put them together. By the way the recipe I used is excellent. Page 35 of Ben and Jerry's book.

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Fun for the Family! Rival 6 Qt Bucket Ice Cream Maker makes homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet the fun way with this durable plastic bucket ice cream maker. New compact design with 6 quart capacity and translucent canister lid for easy viewing. Powerful motor, easy to lock motor housing - eliminates the latch system. Simple to use and easy to clean. Delicious recipes included.

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Whynter IC-2L SNO 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Whynter Sno is a fully contained 2 liter ice cream machine. It will both churn and freeze a mix to create:
- Frozen Custard
- Ice Cream
- Ice Milk
- Gelato
- Sorbets
- and even icy beverages (think Margaritas and the like.)
========
The Pros
========
It Works!
^^^^^^^^^
(Yes, this is a big deal. How would you like it if you plunked down $200 only to find your ice cream mix comes out soup or filled with chunky ice cubes?) This machine definitely gets the job done; It makes ice cream.
It is surprisingly quiet.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
While you wouldn't want to use it in a library, this machine is actually pretty quiet. Most of us who don't have any experience with an Ice Cream Machine can only relate to the beasts they have at the local Ice-Creameries (You know the ones: Buy One, Get One Free on certain days...) These industrial behemoths are LOUD. This machine (not being an industrial behemoth) is not loud. It **IS** louder than my refrigerator (barely,) but not quite as loud as my washing machine. It's NO WHERE NEAR AS LOUD as a Blender, Food Processor, or Stick Blender (if those are your only gauges of relevance.)
You can make your own concoctions.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Some local ice-creameries will make you a custom blend of ice cream. For example, if you want chocolate chips in some strawberry ice cream, they'll do that. (Probably not nationwide chains, but the local shop might.) But ask them to make anything crazier than that, and you're probably out of luck. Rosewater ice cream? Sorry. Green Tea ice cream? You're probably out of luck.
With this machine, you can make whatever flavors your heart desires, and that's pretty cool. (Just don't save me any Alligator Sherbet, ok?)
Ease of Use / Capacity.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This thing is EASY to use. For example, to make a simple vanilla ice cream, take 2 cups of half-and-half and POUR IT DIRECTLY INTO THE MACHINE'S MIXING BUCKET. DO LIKEWISE WITH 1/2 CUP OF SUGAR. Add a tablespoon of vanilla, and run the machine. About 45 minutes later, you'll have medium soft serve ice cream. NOTE that I do not say "Bring this mixture to a boil," nor do I say "Mix it," nor anything like that. In fact, when I tried this mix, I could even hear the churn running over the grains of sugar in the churning bowl. But, 45 minutes later, nothing but super-fine ice cream.
The other plus side is this machine's capacity. It's nice to be able to make a larger quantity of a mix if the mix is a bit more complicated (ie: a custard, which may require the incorporation of eggs, and possible cooking of the eggs.) This way, you can make a larger batch of mix, followed by a larger batch of ice cream.========
The Cons
========
It's NOT dishwasher safe!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
While I won't say "Cleanup is hard," (there are really only 2 things to clean: the bowl and the beater,) you still can't just toss them into the top rack of your dishwasher to get the job done. You'll also need to wipe off the top plastic cover with a sponge, dishrag, etc... because it's permanently attached to the motor (which doesn't lend itself to easy cleaning.) The same thing holds true if your mix overflows the bowl and gets into the machine itself. (Don't worry, it's easy to clean, but again, you can't put the whole machine into your dishwasher [it's electrical, y'know,] so you'll have to clean it with a sponge or dishrag...) In other words, it would have been nicer if the freezing bowl (into which the mixing bowl sits,) the mixing bowl, the churn, and the plastic cover all been removable and dishwasher safe. They're not, but, to Whynter's credit, they are pretty easy to clean.
The label came off
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Petty? Yes. But it's an indicator as to the design of the machine. The label is a stiff label affixed to the rounded "tub" area of the machine. Had the machine been designed with a flat areat onto which the logo could be affixed, the label would still be there. (Mind you, this is "straight out of the box."
Little or No Documentation
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The documentation isn't bad (for what there is of it, but there aren't any recipes that come along with it. Also, there's no indicator as to the Maximum Fill Level of the Churn bucket. Overfill it, and you've got an ice cream that won't set properly, or have enough air mixed into it; or worse: ice cream base spilling into the freezing chamber. NOTE: You **CAN** go onto the website and download some recipes, but it would have been GREAT if they would have spent the extra $.38 and printed out some copies of at least a simple vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry mix recipe and thrown it into the box.
"Add-Ins" chute too small
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Do you like "Add-Ins" (ie: gelatin-based fruit-flavored candy animals and the like) in your ice cream? Well, you'll need to stop the machine, open the top, add the Add-Ins, then restart the churn (which, ideally, you'd wait 6 minutes for, since the compressor doesn't like to start and stop without a 6 minute breather.) The current model has a chute large enough for sprinkles and MAYBE very small cookie crumbs, but not chocolate chips. Again, not the worst thing in the world, but... hey! You know.
It can be slow
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This machine COULD conceivably turn out a batch of ice cream in 30 minutes, but that's only if the mix is nearly frozen to begin with (

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With the WHYNTER SNO frozen dessert ice cream maker, you can make a spread of delectable desserts in about 20-40 minutes. With this versatile wonder you can not only make premium ice cream but refreshing sorbets, Italian gelato, sherbets, fresh frozen yogurts and other treats. Our professional quality ice-cream maker offers premium features not found in budget ice cream makers. A built-in compressor freezer allows for continuous use without the inconvenience of having to pre-freeze the mixing bowl. You will never have to use any freezer space before being able to make your favorite frozen dessert. This unit includes an electronic timer, ice cream scoop, and we'll even send you some secret recipes.

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Lello 4090 Gelato Pro Quart Ice Cream Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been making ice cream in a Cuisinart macine for years but I wanted to regain my freezer space from the 2 canisters I had to keep ready.. I also wanted to make good gelato since I can't go to Italy all the time. This machine delivers the real experience for both. It also can chill wine in just a few minutes. I had first bought the Lussino 4080 by Musso at about twice the price. It was terrible. Too soft right out of the machine and full of ice crystals when put in the freezer for any amount of time. It didn't get firm, it became a rock. I returned it and got the Lello Gelato Pro instead. It is quieter, has a washable bowl, weighs much less and makes a larger amount of ice cream. It's no contest. This machine is great

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Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, Stainless Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this frozen dessert maker. I have used it at least once every night since it arrived 2 weeks ago. It's so simple to make a delicious frozen dessert with this machine, just mix up your ingredients (or you can just turn on the "churn" switch and have this machine mix it) and pour it in. 30-40 minutes later your dessert will be frozen to perfection.
The machine has a 60 minute timer which acts as a master on/off and two buttons, one to "churn" (mix) and the other to "chill". I often start it just before we begin our meal so we'll have a freshly made dessert when we're done.
This machine does an excellent job of making frozen desserts. We've made perfect fresh lime, cantaloupe and blueberry sorbets as well as delicious smooth and creamy ice creams like Mocha, Chocolate and Honeydew Melon. Because this machine is so easy to use, it allows you to be creative, often, and without the fuss of ice, salt or prefrozen bowls.
The 1-1/2 quart capacity is perfect for an average family, with some to spare, though for big parties you'd have to make more then one batch. Of course multiple batches are no problem with this machine and we've done 3-4 batches in a row more then a few times. Unfortunately since the bowl is not removable (the blades and cover are) you'll have to clean it out with a sponge and warm/soapy water between batches of different flavors.
You will need to have a permanent space for it since it is heavy and not the type of appliance you'd want to move in and out of a cabinet. This machine is really beautiful too with its stainless steel body/blade and eye appealing curves, it occupies a prominent spot in our home and has been a conversation piece. I consider it a practical "luxury" appliance.
This is a solid well built machine that should last a long time, my only concern is with the plastic cover, though it does seem sturdy enough. The plastic cover does however allow you to see your dessert while its being made, great for kids (and adults) anxious for dessert.
If you or your family loves frozen desserts, this is the machine for you. I've been looking at it for awhile now, I'm so glad I decided to buy it.

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With the Musso Lussino frozen dessert maker, you can have delicious fresh desserts in minutes. These desserts not only include rich ice cream, but silky sorbets, Italian gelato, frozen yogurts, and refreshing frozen drinks.

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DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker with Self-Refrigerating Compressor Review

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(More customer reviews)Being a manager of a kitchen retail store gives me a little edge because I can see a few of these machines in person. Our store carries the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker that has the prefreeze bowl, we also carry the Cuisinart self refrigerated unit, and the Delonghi gelato machine. We use the Cuisinart prefreeze models for our demo's we do
on Saturday's at the store. It works, but it's not the most impressive ice cream you've ever had.
I wanted something better. I looked at both of the other units I listed above. The Cuisinart unit didn't feel well made to me. I took out the bowl, etc and the arm that goes across the top of the machine to the bowl feels like it will be only a matter of time before that gets broke. I decided to try the Delonghi model.
I have used it several times now. I love it!! The first recipe I made was butter pecan ice cream. It was excellent and the machine had it ready in 30 minutes. It can take an extra ten minutes if you add alcohol to your recipe (and this recipe used Jack Daniels). The next recipe was chocolate hazelnut gelato. OMG...Yummy!
Everything we've made has been great. The machine is very simple to use and it works great. I'm very happy with my decision and hope this helps you if you're debating between machines. I would recommend this machine.
I've read that many people didn't like the Cuisinart unit because it's very loud when you use it.
This machine is not very loud. I would say that it's quieter than a blender running. I can still watch tv with it running without upping the volume. It's pretty easy to clean too. There is one area that can get crumbs when you add nuts, etc. I just wipe around in there with a moist q-tip and that's about the only "problem" I can find with this unit. I also purchased The Perfect Scoop book by David Lebovitz. Excellent recipes. Haven't found a dud yet and it also has great resources in the back of the book in regards to ordering ingredients, etc.
Hope this helps with your decision :)

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Impress dinner guests with delicious, authentic gelato--like the kind found in an Italian gelato shop--thanks to this easy-to-use countertop appliance. The unit's mixing paddle effectively blends ingredients, from top to bottom, for smooth, delicious results, while its built-in self-refrigerating compressor brings ingredients to temperatures below freezing, which frozen-bowl ice-cream makers can't do. Its built-in compressor makes it possible to mix up multiple batches, one after the other, without having to wait to re-freeze the ice-cream bowl--a nice detail when making multiple batches during a family reunion or backyard barbecue. Furthermore, it uses an energy-efficient, eco-friendly refrigerant (non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive) that doesn't deplete the ozone layer like other refrigerants. The gelato maker also provides a transparent lid for keeping an eye on the mixing process, a removable stainless-steel bowl for easy serving and cleanup, and a recipe booklet with great-tasting ideas for getting started. When finished wowing friends and family, the bowl, lid, and paddle clean up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. The gelato maker measures 12-4/5 by 15-4/5 by 9-3/5 inches.

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Hamilton Beach 68330R 4-Quart Automatic Ice-Cream Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)Just received this afternoon. Ran down to the store, bought all the ingredients, and just threw our first gallon of ice cream in the freezer. It's so cool ... and FUN! We did the quick and easy vanilla recipe that came with the recipe book, chopped up some brownies and reeses PB cups, and the motor stopped like it's supposed to in just 30 minutes. Soft serve ice cream as good as anything from the store ... and better for us. The directions are VERY simple to follow. We've never made ice cream before and didn't know squat about how to do it. Including time spent going to the store, we had our first batch within two hours after FEDEX delivered the package. We were skeptical about the loudness of the motor based on a prior review we read; the motor is really not that loud, but the sound it makes is rather obnoxious after about 10 to 15 minutes. However, it sounds just like I thought an electric ice cream maker would sound like. So, no surprises and SOOOO worth it! The price was awesome too!

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Makes ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard, sherbet & gelato, fully automatic, over 20 recipes included, Easy-Lock lid

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Cuisinart ICE-25 Classic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)This design was given to me as a gift, replacing a Krups La Glaciere that had worked well for a few years before the coolant began leaking into the freezing chamber. In terms of freezing and mixing ability - the only real differences between ice cream makers at this low-end level - the Cuisinart works very well. In fact, it seems to hold its temperature longer than the Krups model, perhaps due to the extra bit of insulation afforded by "freezing chamber in bucket" design. Also, for those familiar with the Krups, the Cuisinart actually rotates the bucket rather than the dasher; odd at first, but it works fine, and allows for faster assembling of the component parts when you're starting the freezing process. The only (minor) complaint I have is that, if you are making a sizable batch, the ice cream frequently starts to pour over the top of the dasher as it expands, even if you follow the instructions for how high the freezing chamber should be filled. It doesn't spill out of the unit, however, and the freezing process doesn't seem to be significantly disturbed. In short - the Cuisinart is worth the buy, and will produce ice cream that's as good as your recipe allows.

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The Traditional styling of the Cuisinart Classic Frozen Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker will put a smile on every ice cream lovers face.Fully automatic, this frozen desert maker requires only the addition of fresh ingredients and the flip of a switchto make 1 1/2 quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, or those fabulous frozen drinks - icy smooth and ready to enjoy in as little as 20 minutes!

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Cuisinart ICE-40 Flavor Duo Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)I was so excited to finally receive this ice cream maker in the mail that I did it all: I make sorbet, frozen yogurt and ice cream. All came out very well. Note: eat the frozen yogurt immediately as it becomes very hard in the freezer and looses the smoothness commonly associated with frozen yogurt. I really enjoy having the two bowls. I've made two separate batches of desserts as well as a double batch. My freezer is stocked and I've never had so many wonderful choices of frozen dessert!

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Cuisinart lets you indulge guests and delight family with a variety of frozen desserts.The new Flavor Due Frozen Yogurt - Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker lets you make two flavors at once, in as little as 20 minutes!With the tough of a button, this stunning brushed metal dessert maker automatically starts the process.Ingredients are added to double-insulated freezer bowls through easy-pour spouts to create the smoothest, creamiest frozen desserts.

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