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Ice Cream Makers Buying Guide
Whether you envision churning ice cream outside during a lazy summer day
with the kids, or you hope to whip up a decadent gourmet gelato in a sleek, stainless steel countertop
appliance, there is an ice cream maker perfect for you. Regardless of your style, once you own an ice
cream maker, you can make delicious, fresh ice cream with no preservatives or additives and a taste
that far surpasses that of store-bought ice cream.
THE QUICK SCOOP
Ice cream makers, which also make sorbet and frozen yogurt, are available in
a few general variations. To summarize, they are: gel canister styles, which have a canister that needs
to be pre-cooled in a freezer for about 24 hours and as long as two days before use; built-in freezer styles,
which have their own compressor and do not need to cool for more than a few minutes in advance; and the
traditional bucket style, which uses ice and rock salt to cool the ice cream as it is being made. Gel
canisters are most economical, with traditional bucket style more expensive, and the compressor style
most costly.
When choosing your ice cream maker, keep in mind what is important to you.
Convenience, ease of use, quantity of ice cream that can be made at once, and space and storage
options should be considered.
Judging by convenience and ease of use, the compressor style is the winner, with gel canisters next,
and bucket style requiring the most effort. However, the bucket style models can make four to six quarts
at once, while most gel canister and compressor style models make only one and a half to two quarts
at once.
Space is an important factor. If you decide on a compressor style ice cream maker, you will probably
need permanent room on your countertop since they are too heavy to move and store easily. If you choose a
gel canister style, you will need enough room in your freezer to store a canister for a day or
two while it cools. If you pick a bucket style model, you will want to have room to use it outside or
near a drain since it can be a messy process.
THE DETAILS
How Ice Cream Makers Work
All ice cream makers work on the same basic principal. A dasher, or paddle, mixes the ingredients
and scrapes the sides in the inner container, which rotates. In the outer container, a freezing agent
is used to make and keep the ingredients cold enough to become ice cream. As the ice cream is churned,
air enters the mixture. The air makes ice cream develop its smooth and creamy texture. Most ice cream
makers take about 20 to 30 minutes to make a batch of ice cream. After churning, in order for fresh
ice cream to harden to a good consistency, it often needs to go in your refrigerator in an airtight
container for a few hours.
Types
Gel Canister
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Gel canister ice cream makers are generally compact and convenient countertop
appliances. Cuisinart models are very popular and work well. Usually one to two quarts can be made
in one canister, and there are also models with two tubs that can be used at once; this option
allows you to make two flavors at the same time.
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The canister needs to be in the freezer for
24 hours to two days before use. Unless you have another frozen canister ready, you can only make
one batch of ice cream at once. For this reason, extra canisters are usually available for purchase,
though this means you need even more room in your freezer. Of course, if you don’t have room in
your freezer for at least one canister for a day or two, this option isn’t for you.
After you add your ingredients to the canister, an electric motor churns the ice cream at the proper
speed. Most units take 20 to 30 minutes to complete the ice cream.
Built-in Freezer/Compressor
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These ice cream makers have a built-in compressor that cools the
canister. At most, they need to start cooling about five minutes before you add ingredients.
After adding the ingredients, a motor churns them. You can make another batch right away, since
there isn’t a canister that needs to be in the freezer for hours. Most take about 20 to 30 minutes. These are the
most convenient option.
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However, these are a great deal more expensive than the gel canister types. They are also larger
and heavier, with some weighing about 40 pounds. You will probably want to have counter space
available to permanently store one of these units. The Lussino ice cream maker by Musso is a
popular high end built-in freezer model. Cuisinart makes one as well, but it takes about 40
minutes to churn, which is longer than average.
Bucket/Classic Style
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These models are based on the traditional way to make ice cream.
A canister is inside a large cooling bucket, which needs to be filled with ice and rock salt.
White Mountain is a company that has made this style of ice cream maker for 150 years.
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Models with hand cranks or electric motorized cranks are available. You can make four to six
quarts of ice cream at once, and there is nothing to freeze in advance. However, even with the
motorized crank, it is labor intensive, because of the need to continue to fill the bucket with
ice and salt. Also, this should be used outside or near a drain, since it gets messy.
The general consensus is that this is a fun family activity, but not necessarily the best or
easiest way to make homemade ice cream.
Ice Cream Maker Attachment for Mixer
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If you already have a mixer, you could purchase an ice cream maker attachment. KitchenAid makes one for its stand mixers.
It includes a two quart gel canister and a dasher and takes about 20 minutes to make ice cream.
It basically converts your blender into a gel canister style ice cream maker.
This option works well and is a good space saving option, as opposed to buying a new free standing
appliance.
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Extras
Additional Ice Cream Maker Features
Additional features available include electric timers
and shut off sensors, which help you to know when your ice cream is ready.
Lids with openings to allow extra ingredients to be added during operation are a great option.
Many models also have removable pieces designed to make cleaning easier. Some have stainless
steel exteriors, including the Lussino Ice Cream Maker. These features do not generally apply to
bucket style models, but are often included with the other options.
Recipes
Most ice cream makers will come with a good starting recipe book. Basic ingredients
include cream, milk or milk fat, sugar, flavoring, and sometimes eggs. There are simple recipes
that should take only a few minutes to prepare.
Scoops
If you are going to make your own ice cream, you should have a good scoop. There are
many options. One we like is the Zyliss stainless steel ice cream scoop, which costs about $9.00
and has a nice weight to it. A good quality ice cream scoop should work well on even the
hardest ice cream.
PRICE RANGES
TOP MANUFACTURERS
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