How to Choose an Ice Cream Maker

It's the summertime. It's hot. What's it time for? Ice cream, that's what! But even better is your own personal home made ice cream, done exactly the way you want it! Follow along as this article discusses how you can find an ice cream maker of your own.

 There are a number of popular manufacturers of ice cream machines you can look at such as White Mountain, Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Krups or Lello, but you should keep in mind that there are only three basic styles of ice cream machines to consider no matter which ones you look at. All three styles work around a bowel or some kind of container and a method of freezing the ice cream ingredients. The ingredients are put into the container and your method of freezing goes to work on the ingredients as the bowel or container is turned. So what are those three freezing methods we are talking about?

 The first, and oldest, style uses rock salt packed around the container to keep the ingredients below the freezing point.

 The second type to consider can be referred to as the space age type of system. The container itself in this system usually holds inside its walls some type of special liquid freezing solution. This container has to be put in a freezer, usually for several hours up to 24 hours, in order to get this liquid solution below the temperature of freezing before it can be used to make ice cream.

 The third type of unit available today is a machine that is a self-contained compressor freezer. All you need to do with this system is to pour the ingredients into the container, turn the machine on and let it create the final product for you.

 The problem with this last method is that these types of machines are usually very expensive and used in professional applications where you can sell the ice cream to recapture your cost. That means, for most of us working with a budget, we need to look at the first two methods of freezing when you buy an ice cream machine.

 The other basic requirement to consider is to have some type of method of turning the container as your ingredients mix and freeze. You can either have a hand crank method or an electric one. The first and second method of freezing containers we talked about above can either be manual or electric while the self-contained compressor freezer is usually electrically powered.

 There are other convenience features that you can look at in an ice cream maker such as different speeds, timers, automatic safety shutoffs, quieter operations or easy cleanup but you'll always need some type of freezing method and a way to turn the container and each has its own pros and cons.

 For example, the manual machines that use rock salt may be cheaper and have larger containers but they are often messy and you need to be sure you can get rock salt easily. While not as messy, the containers using the special freezing solutions may have to sit in your freezer for up to 24 hours before it can be used. That obviously limits the number of batches you can make each day. If you decide to get a larger container or an extra one to make more batches per day, make sure your freezer has the room to hold the container(s).

 But no matter which machine or method you choose, keep in mind that you are in complete control of the ingredients you use and the cleanliness of the equipment when you make your own batches of this delightful treat at home. So, the next time your family cries for ice cream on a hot day, bring out that last batch you made in their favorite flavor and watch their eyes light up!

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Home Ice Cream Makers - How They Work

Modern day home ice cream makers are sleek, easy to use and not one bit bulky. They come in two types: electric and manual. They are made in various designs, ranging from the most basic to the most complex. Even with the variation in design and make, all home ice cream makers use the same working principle. In all models, there is a canister which holds the mixture. Inside this canister is a paddle, known as a dasher. This dasher stirs the mixture as it freezes, helping keep it smooth.

Stirring also helps get air absorbed into the mixture, keeping it aerated. Without air, the mixture would become rock solid and form ice crystals, which is far from what ideal ice cream should look like. The canister is housed by a container known as the freezer bowl. This is the container that holds the freezing agent, a chemical coolant responsible for cooling the cream mixture.

This coolant is sealed inside the walls of the freezer walls or in a mixture of rock salt and ice. In order to attain the right temperature, the freezer bowl must be placed in the freezer for up to 48 hours before it can be used. Manual and electric makers work differently. With a manual one, you will be required to turn the dasher yourself for up to 30 minutes. Each batch produces the equivalent of 5 liters of cream. An electric maker does all the turning and mixing so there will be no physical exertion on your part.

All you are required to do is pour in the ingredients, turn it on and wait. It has the capability to produce those 5 liters of ice cream in less than 15 minutes. Because the technology used in electric home ice cream makers is higher than that used in the manual version, the price is higher too. If price is a constraint, you may have to settle for the manual one but be prepared to pour in more hours and energy in whipping. If you cannot sacrifice the two, you have no choice but to cough more money and get the electric one.

 Another great advantage of an electric maker is that it automatically shuts down after a specified period of time, during which the mixture will have attained the right consistency. Home ice cream makers are fun to use and allow you the freedom and joy to experiment with flavors and new recipes. In the long term, they help you save money.

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How to Pick the Best Ice Cream Maker for Your Home

Tired of having to drive to the store every single time you want an ice cream or some gelato? Sick of the queues at the checkout till? Do you secretly cringe when you look at the ingredients on the pack of your favorite store-bought frozen treats you buy? Well, here is a chance to make your very own tasty, healthy dessert at home. All you need is an ice cream maker.

 While that is easier said than done, I can show you a few tips and guidelines to picking the best one for you. Picking an ice cream maker for your home CAN be a confusing process when you are confronted with the wide range of appliances available. This article will make the process much easier. I break down the main features that differentiate these kitchen gadgets from each other and you can pick which ones are important to you to help you make a purchase decision.

 Some ice cream makers work by freezing the ice cream base using salt and ice. Others use a freezer bowl machine, while others have an in-built compressor that is used to produce your chosen frozen delight. Whichever model is chosen, you are guaranteed to enjoy your dessert in a short time.

 I have five features that you should consider when choosing an ice cream maker for your home. In no particular order, here goes:-

 a. Size of batch - Making just enough gelato or sorbet to go with dinner for you and your loved one? Or making enough to feed the whole neighbourhood? The amount of dessert you will produce is a key determinant in choosing a machine. Some produce only up to 1 litre while some others produce up to 4 litres. It's better to buy a machine with a slightly larger quantity than you would typically use. This allows for a little extra yummy treat for you when you want.

 b. Design and Looks - Whether you have a minimalist kitchen or a really retro, homely kitchen? You should keep the general feel of your kitchen space in mind when deciding which appliances to buy. Many ice cream makers come in multiple colours so it's easy to find one that will match your kitchen decor.

 c. Multiple use - Maybe you prefer the thick richness of gelato, or the smooth fruity taste of sorbets. You may even want to try out some adult slushies. You may think this will require you to have more than one frozen dessert maker, but that's not true. You can purchase one appliance that does all this.

 d. Speed of production - You can have your dessert in as little as 20 minutes, with the right kind of ice cream maker. The freezer-bowl model requires you to freeze the bowl for up to 24 hours before use, while the internal compressor model allows you to make frozen desserts almost instantaneously.

 e. Price - Ice cream makers range from over $1,000 to less than $40. This may put some people off, but, trust me, with a few adjustments, you can use the cheaper models to achieve whatever culinary masterpiece you want to. These are some of the main features to consider when considering an ice cream maker for your home. Picking the features that matter to you will greatly help you narrow down the perfect machine for you.

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Buying an Ice Cream Maker

Making ice-cream at home is not only extra convenient, but allows you to add a twist to any recipe and come with your own unique and super-delicious dessert. The variety of ice cream machines on the market is huge and you can easily find a machine that fits your needs and is well within your budget - the most affordable are the manually cranked ice-cream machines, while the self-freezing ice-cream machines are borderline professional and are capable of making high-quality ice cream and do not require pre-freezing.

If you are looking for an ice-cream maker that offers great value for money and will help you make tasty ice-cream at home, then the Kenwood IM200 Ice-Cream Maker is a model that should be on top of your list. Very affordable, yet able to produce well-aerated and delicious ice-cream or sorbet in 25 to 40 minutes time, the Kenwood IM200Ice Cream Maker has a capacity of 0.8l and is extremely easy to use and clean. The double-insulated bowl should be kept in the freezer for at least 24 hours before it is ready to use.

Another great product that is also very affordable and produces high quality ice-cream is the Cuisinart 1-1/2-Quart Automatic Ice-Cream Maker. It can make up to 1.41l of delicious icecream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt in 20 minutes time and its powerful motor allows you to add chocolate chips, fruits, or nuts towards the end of the churning. This ice cream maker is also simple to operate and very easy to clean.

If you happen to already own a KitchenAid mixer, then you don't have to buy an expensive ice-cream machine: the KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment will save you money, while allowing you to make delicious ice cream for your family or guests.

Apart from its stylish design, this is an extremely useful attachment that will let you make up to 1.9l of ice-cream in one go; the bowl has to be pre-frozen for 15 hours before use, but making the ice cream is a breeze and the attachment is very easy to clean as well.

Similar product is the Kenwood Chef Ice Cream Maker Attachment, which will turn your Kenwood Chef food processor into an ice-cream making machine. It is capable of producing up to 1l of ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt and once the bowl has been frozen, making great desserts takes only 20 minutes from start to finish.

If you are serious about making the best quality ice-cream at home, then the ICE-50BC Supreme Ice-Cream Maker is just the machine for you. What sets this ice-cream-maker apart is its self-freezing unit, which eliminates the need for pre-freezing a bowl and waiting for 24 hours before making your desserts.

With the Cuisinart ICE-50BC Supreme Ice-Cream Maker you can make ice-cream on a whim and the whole process takes less than one hour. The capacity of this machine is 1.41l and apart from ice-cream, it allows you to make sorbets and frozen yogurt as well.

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