ice cream makers?

Glaucus · 29-08-2008, 18:08

Does anyone have an ice cream maker?

There seems to be so many on the market, what should I be looking out for?

lostkat · 29-08-2008, 18:58

My Mum bought a Magimix one years ago when they had only just come on the market and it was absolutely ****e. I tried to log into Which?Online for some reviews for you, but it would seem that my father has changed his password. Grrrr!!!

This one seems to come out well in the Amazon reviews and I like the fact that you only freeze a disc, not the whole ruddy bowl.

Mark · 29-08-2008, 19:16

Which? Best Buys, in order - name, score, and price.

Cuisinart Ice-cream bucket ICE 25 78% £50.00
SIMAC Il Gelataio GC 5000 73% £200.00
Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 72% £25.00
Magimix Gelato Chef 2200 71% £229.00

I don't think I've ever seen one personally that does an even passable job (most of them were downright ****e), but I'll defer to their judgement. I can pull up the reviews if they will help.

Flibster · 29-08-2008, 19:21

Good fast food mixer and liquid nitrogen is all thats needed, or at a pinch, dry ice and a food mixer.

*been watching Heston again... slow day at work*

Parents had one for a while. It was cack.

Glaucus · 29-08-2008, 19:21

Any chance of the review for the £25 one as I really don't want to spend hundreds. When it will only be used several times a year.

divine · 29-08-2008, 19:44

My mum makes perfectly nice ice cream all the time and she's never even contemplated buying an 'ice cream maker'. What exactly do they do you can't do yourself?

lostkat · 29-08-2008, 20:02

They just mean that you don't have to spend 8 hours freezing it and stirring it every few hours to keep the ice crystals small. It just accelerates the process, that's all. I don't reckon I'd use one enough to warrant buying one though.

Mark · 29-08-2008, 20:11

Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 72% £25.00

Quality of ice cream: 3 stars
Ease of assembly: 5 stars
Ease of operation: 5 stars
Ease of cleaning: 5 stars

he Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 is a dream to use and clean, but produces ice cream that is less refined than our other Best Buys.

Its unusual design uses a pre-frozen bowl that rotates around a fixed paddle to churn the mixture – most others have a moving paddle and fixed bowl. The bowl rotates quickly, mixing the ingredients very well, but it freezes less consistently than other Best Buys.

We found that the paddle chops and smears soft fruit slightly as it turns, giving you a bitty mixture. The combination of fruit getting stuck between the paddle and the bowl and the mixture thickening occasionally prevented the bowl from turning smoothly.

The mixture is clearly visible and the lid has a large dosing hole for adding it into the freezing cavity without mess or spillage. It freezes quickly, taking less than 30 minutes to freeze pre-chilled mixes - they only need up to three hours in the freezer to firm up.

This model’s quick and very easy to assemble; the housing base and lid lock the bowl and paddle in place with a simple twist-lock action. The controls are effortless to use. The pieces are easy to clean and the paddle can be removed without the user getting messy, but the freezer bowl must be allowed to reach room temperature before it can be washed in warm water.

It’s provided with 39 recipes, including ice cream, sorbets and mousses and also healthier options, such as sugar-free ice cream.

Pros: Exceptional value, easy to use, quiet

Cons: Ice cream is not superb, must pre-freeze bowl overnight

Credit: Which? Online

Glaucus · 29-08-2008, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostkat

They just mean that you don't have to spend 8 hours freezing it and stirring it every few hours to keep the ice crystals small. It just accelerates the process, that's all. I don't reckon I'd use one enough to warrant buying one though.

Exactly, I don't make it often but if I can get a cheap one which does a reasonable job I'll be happy.
I want to make some chicory ice cream to go with a chocolate marquise. For the next meal I do, which will be almost before I move into my new place. Can't wait to start having dinner parties again.

Cheers mark, sounds like it'll be good enough for what I want. not planning to make any with fruit ion it.

Burble · 30-08-2008, 08:32

My mother occasionally makes ice cream sans ice cream maker and it still comes out really well.

I did toy with the idea of getting an ice cream maker but didn't bother in the end and carry on giving Mr. Ben & Mr. Jerry money instead.

29-08-2008, 18:08	#1
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	ice cream makers? Does anyone have an ice cream maker? There seems to be so many on the market, what should I be looking out for? __________________

29-08-2008, 18:58	#2
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	My Mum bought a Magimix one years ago when they had only just come on the market and it was absolutely **e. I tried to log into Which?Online for some reviews for you, but it would seem that my father has changed his password. Grrrr!!! This one seems to come out well in the Amazon reviews and I like the fact that you only freeze a disc, not the whole ruddy bowl. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?**

29-08-2008, 19:21	#4
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	Good fast food mixer and liquid nitrogen is all thats needed, or at a pinch, dry ice and a food mixer. been watching Heston again... slow day at work Parents had one for a while. It was cack. __________________

29-08-2008, 19:21	#5
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	Any chance of the review for the £25 one as I really don't want to spend hundreds. When it will only be used several times a year. __________________

29-08-2008, 19:44	#6
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	My mum makes perfectly nice ice cream all the time and she's never even contemplated buying an 'ice cream maker'. What exactly do they do you can't do yourself? __________________

29-08-2008, 19:16	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Which? Best Buys, in order - name, score, and price. Cuisinart Ice-cream bucket ICE 25 78% £50.00 SIMAC Il Gelataio GC 5000 73% £200.00 Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 72% £25.00 Magimix Gelato Chef 2200 71% £229.00 I don't think I've ever seen one personally that does an even passable job (most of them were downright ****e), but I'll defer to their judgement. I can pull up the reviews if they will help.

29-08-2008, 20:02	#7
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	They just mean that you don't have to spend 8 hours freezing it and stirring it every few hours to keep the ice crystals small. It just accelerates the process, that's all. I don't reckon I'd use one enough to warrant buying one though. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

29-08-2008, 20:11	#8
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 72% £25.00 Quality of ice cream: 3 stars Ease of assembly: 5 stars Ease of operation: 5 stars Ease of cleaning: 5 stars he Russell Hobbs Temptations 13863 is a dream to use and clean, but produces ice cream that is less refined than our other Best Buys. Its unusual design uses a pre-frozen bowl that rotates around a fixed paddle to churn the mixture – most others have a moving paddle and fixed bowl. The bowl rotates quickly, mixing the ingredients very well, but it freezes less consistently than other Best Buys. We found that the paddle chops and smears soft fruit slightly as it turns, giving you a bitty mixture. The combination of fruit getting stuck between the paddle and the bowl and the mixture thickening occasionally prevented the bowl from turning smoothly. The mixture is clearly visible and the lid has a large dosing hole for adding it into the freezing cavity without mess or spillage. It freezes quickly, taking less than 30 minutes to freeze pre-chilled mixes - they only need up to three hours in the freezer to firm up. This model’s quick and very easy to assemble; the housing base and lid lock the bowl and paddle in place with a simple twist-lock action. The controls are effortless to use. The pieces are easy to clean and the paddle can be removed without the user getting messy, but the freezer bowl must be allowed to reach room temperature before it can be washed in warm water. It’s provided with 39 recipes, including ice cream, sorbets and mousses and also healthier options, such as sugar-free ice cream. Pros: Exceptional value, easy to use, quiet Cons: Ice cream is not superb, must pre-freeze bowl overnight Credit: Which? Online

30-08-2008, 08:32	#10
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	My mother occasionally makes ice cream sans ice cream maker and it still comes out really well. I did toy with the idea of getting an ice cream maker but didn't bother in the end and carry on giving Mr. Ben & Mr. Jerry money instead.