Ice-Cream Machine Reviews

I recently bought a really great ice cream machine and I happened to be browsing the internet and I saw this waffle cone maker. At first, I thought, "O.K., not another gadget!" but after reading several descriptions of the machine I decided to buy it. Thank God for going with my first mind!! This machine is incredible. After reading the brief instructions, I mixed up my batch of waffle cone mix (Chef's Choice) and set out on my adventure. Spraying a small amount of olive oil onto the heating pads (I always spray oil for the first time of each use) I poured my first coaster-sized amount of mix onto the machine; closed the lid and waited for the appropriate time to elapse. After opening the lid, out came this good smelling circular cone. Immediately, I lifted the cone using a rubber spatula; used the cone roller as indicated and Viola!! A great cone!! Not to mention the wonderful smell permeating my house!!
It took me two tries to get the right amount of mix to make the perfect cone. I had some of the mix slide out the sides of the machine...no problem, just wipe it off. When making your cone fold a small amount at the bottom before you begin rolling the cone; or pinch the bottom of the cone when rolling so that your ice cream will not come out at the end; or put some melted chocolate, butterscotch or caramel at the bottom and let it get hard...a tasty plug!!
The only thing I can think of that would make this one package complete is if the company would supply a rubber spatula, the towel (they mention using) or perhaps a pair of cotton gloves to help roll the cone...it is hot!! However, I really use just my hands. I get a better feel of the roller this way. And, please do not let these couple of items dissuade you from purchasing this machine. That would be terrible. We should all, hopefully, have a rubber spatula and towels!!
Cleaning the machine is a breeze. The non-stick heating pads are greatly appreciated.
I highly recommend this machine. What a great addition to any household that loves ice cream!!
Be Blessed!!

This is the best way to draw customers into our ice cream shop. They smell the waffle cones baking and we can't sell enough. Is there some way to guide me to a source or supplier who sells the waffle cone mix. The ice cream store I worked in 2 years ago bought the mix and all you had to do was add water. I can't seem to find out who sells it. It's quick and you can mix up any amount at a time instead of a full recipe. I would appreciate your help. Your cone maker is wonderful!
Thanks, Judith K. Tooker

My kids love waffle cones but they cost much $ at ice cream parlors and the store. Bought this waffle cone maker & its easy to use - just throw the cone ingredients in a bowl, stir, put the batter in the pan and 1 minute later you have a delicious fresh waffle cone. Could'nt be easier & I've saved lots of $ having cones at home instead of at the ice cream stands. Fun to make with groups of kids too!

I had always hesitated to buy an ice cream maker. When I was a kid, it was the old hand cranker in an ice bucket. Fun but a lot of work! Simac's Gelataio Junior is superb for sorbets and other frozen goodies. Just put the ingredients in the cannister and within minutes you've got dessert! Also great for cocktail parties! Almost everyone likes frozen daquiris. I almost always have fresh fruit or vegetables around. The possiblities are unlimited for finding new ways to serve cold or frozen surprises. Best of all, I know exactly what is in it! I had doubts about the price...but it has paid for itself many times over and everyone looks forward to the next surprise. Like Cranberry Sorbet at holidays? Or just good old vanilla or banana cream ice cream with strawberries or crushed nuts? Ymmmm.

We've used this machine 2-3 times/week for the last 2 years. it makes super ice cream & the removable canister is key (hygiene). Despite the heavy use, we've had no problems of any kind with it...

A wonderful Ice Cream Maker - the best I've ever had. I had purchased one 20 + years ago, and when I moved, gave it to my cousin. Big Mistake! I love the new model and have enjoyed my little adventures in making ice cream and sorbets. Yes, it is heavy - and I live in an apt. with minimum space. However, I purchased a rolling cart at [a store], and keep the Machine on it in a closet. There's a handy plug available, so don't have to move the item into the kitchen. I have a bit of trouble plugging in the top motor. Sometimes it doesn't align properly and then, the paddle won't rotate. Takes a bit of doing. And yes, it does take more than 20 minutes to make ice cream but well worth it!
Susan in OR

My father is the most discerning food gourmet. Not only did he attend culinary school, but he also is a phd in chemistry, so he knows his stuff. When we learned that he paid the six bills for this machine, we thought he was insane. Then we tasted the ice cream. Put simply, this machine will make the best ice cream you will ever eat in your life, period. It will humble store bought ice cream or the expensive kind in all those specialty boutiques, and make Ben and Jerry eat their shorts. Everyone in my family proceeded to gain twenty pounds soon after his purchase. Frankly, the ice cream is [wonderful]. The machine itself is top quality, everything stainless steel and bulletproof. If you are ready to step up to the ultimate in ice cream, this is it . . .

One word describes this machine -- WOW.

PROS
1. Fast. First thing I did with the Musso was pour in a can of warm soda, turn it on, and enjoy a slurpee like drink within 40 minutes! Probably could shave ten minutes off with a chilled can, but the UPS delivery-person had just dropped it off.
2. It is so easy to use, the first three batches of ice-cream I made with this machine was devoured at a party, despite everybody claiming to be "stuffed."
3. Clean-up? Bowl of warm water and a cloth. The blade comes off to be cleaned separately. (If you screw the nut on too tight, it's hard to get the blade off afterwards. I don't know if trapped moisture freezes it on, I just know that it can be tough to unscrew.)

CONS
1. Noise? For something that packs its own refrigeration unit and motor, I wouldn't complain.
2. Calories? Whipping cream, heavy whipping cream, sugar, and egg yolks are not good for the waistline or arteries.
3. Price? Yes it's expensive, though cheaper now than before. But I no longer have to go out and buy high quality ice-cream or Slurpees. That's money saved in the long run.

My only complaint is that the bowl seems relatively small for a 35 lb machine. However, since it "only" makes a quart in 30 minutes, I'll keep my mouth shut.

I have to admit that when we bought this ice cream maker, I was a bit skeptical and turned off by what I read here about the machine being big, heavy, and hard to clean. So I decided to wait and think it over. Then it came up on my GOLD BOX offers at about twenty percent off the current price. I couldn't ignore that savings so we bought it. Now it's been a couple weeks since we got it... and I am here to confirm the possitives and negatives about the Lussino Dessert Maker.
1) Yes, it's big! About 1.5 ft X 1 ft X 1 ft.
2) Yes, it's heavy. About 38 pounds.
3) Is it hard to clean? It is if you are extremely lazy and a big sponge and hot water is too low tech for you to use. Just remember that before you clean it, you should remove the metal stirring paddle (very easy), and use 1/2 cup of HOT water with a sponge (very easy) when cleaning... then dry with a dry towel or paper towel (it's a beautiful piece of stainless steel!).
4) Noise... as ice cream makers go, it is not that noisy, but if you are not use to it, it can be a nuisance. It is not as loud as a blender or mixer on high, but louder than a juicer.
5) Now... that we cleared those hurdles, the only real turn off is the price. Yes, it is pricy... but you get what you pay for. It's a solid machine. The built in compressor for the freezing unit is the main reason why it is heavy and more pricy. If you like to make ice cream on a whim, then this is the only way to go. But watch your waist line, it could be dangers to your diet... so stick with low fat recipes if you are health conscious (but treat yourself once in a while).

So far we've made just over 5 batches of ice cream since we got it. Overall, I am very pleased with our ice cream maker. It's made my girlfriend very happy to say the least. Experiment and play around with some of the recipes that they provide, or you may find on the web or in a recipe book... and one more piece of advice, limit the amount of ice cream your girlfriend makes with it to about 1 every week or two. ;)

We are looking forward to many more happy returns from our invenstment in our Lussino Dessert Maker.

Twenty years ago when we got married we received a White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer as a gift. It was so different than any other ice cream freezer we had ever had. The ice cream turns out so smooth and the leftovers stay so smooth and good in the freezer, not turning hard like so many other ice cream freezers we had used. We have never had a problem with it at all, until a month or so ago our daughter dropped the motor on the ground and it broke--so we decided to purchase a new ice cream freezer. We would not purchase any other than the White Mountain. We have made many different flavors--the freezer works great with fruit and nuts, choc. chips,-anything. From the time our kids were little and still today as they are teenagers and beginning to leave home--we all look forward to the special days when we gather around and make homemade ice cream. It has become a tradition in our family. This is a great machine!!!!!

Our family loves this ice cream machine! It makes enough ice cream (6 quarts! not 1 to 1-1/2 quarts like the others) for our family gatherings or enough to store for future consumption. It's very simple to operate with the electric motor doing all the work and the Ice Cream is fabulous, smooth and creamy. We put it on a "rag rug" on the kitchen floor and everyone gets to help with the adding of ice/salt. It's a bit noisy, but my kids consider that part of the fun. Our only complaint is that very few recipes are included with the machine. Solution, purchase a book of ice cream recipes to supplement. Some good ones are: Frozen Desserts : The Definitive Guide to Making Ice Creams, Ices, Sorbets, Gelati, and Other Frozen Delights which gives DETAILED history/information and The Ice Cream Machine Cookbook by Melissa Clark which includes some very creative ice cream combinations.

I come from a family where homemade ice cream is a ritual and a tradition. Nearly every family gathering (4 or more per year) involves the making of homemade ice cream. People have three servings. And then a few hours later, a few more. Its quite amazing. The quantity made and consumed is large.

Most families within the larger extended family have their own ice cream maker. And all of them own and swear by these White Mountain Electric models. They have owned and used them for many years, having previously burned out many other brands before finding this brand that just keeps going forever. They even own multiple ice cream barrels so they can make multiple flavors using one bucket/motor set. (a good idea actually)

Now that I have my own home, I need an ice cream maker of my own and this will be the model. After all, I would be teased, mocked, and generally looked down upon if I bought anything else. Because the experts (my relatives) know that this is the best.

My soon to be 5 year old son is obsessed with crushed ice. So, I would spend 30 mins in the kitchen with ice in hand and a spoon to crack it with (not a fun task and it doesn't make snow).
I tried blenders and they never worked. So I went in search of a better way to satisfy my son's need for crushed ice.

I did a lot of comparison shopping before I decided to try this one. I had my doubts that it would make a real slushy or even come close to a "snow" cone. Yet, to my surprise this product really does work like it says. It makes very nicely shaved ice and it's almost like snowflakes. Thank God no more spoon and frozen hand for me! My son is very happy and Mom is a big heroine.

I didn't give it a 5 star rating because it advertised at least one flavor packet and I didn't receive any.
Alas, regular grape juice worked fine and was probably better for him.

I looked around at some of the "kids-type" sno cone makers - almost all are manual with "crank-handle" shaving methods. They were constructed poorly and had dull blades. These "kiddie" sno cone makers retail for the same price or slightly-less (few dollars) than the Rival electric. I bought this for my 11 year old son for Christmas and I opened it up to try it before we give it to him next month. I couldn't believe how well this product works. You take regular icecubes from your tray (no special molds) and load them in the top of the machine. The blade is well-concealed, so except for washing this, there is no apparent way that a child could be cut using this product. You push down on the top of the machine and for a half a tray of icecubes, you get a huge cereal bowl full of FLUFFY (like Hawaiian Shaved Ice), white snow! You can adjust the blade to make a more coarse product - like traditional sno cones. I put this product back in the box (after enjoying the shaved ice myself!) and can't wait to give him this for Christmas. For toppings you can use Kool-Aide or Target sells Sno-Cone flavors (grape, raspberry, cherry) in the kitchen product sections (by popcorn makers,etc) of their stores. This product is electric which makes it easy and efficent to operate. If you are looking for a shaved ice maker for mixed drinks for adults, or treats for the kids, this is the product to get! Well-made, easy to operate, safe, and easy to clean-up. You will LOVE this little machine, priced-right!

It is a wonderful machine! Worth the money! Why spend the [money] on a cheap character slush machine when you can buy an electric one that is easy to use for the same price? Easy to use and makes a nice, easy snack! The only thing that drives us nuts is our daughter wants a snow cone all the time now! =o)

I love this freezer. I wish I had a bigger one, but for just my husband and myself it is great. You could actually serve 4 people very easily. I used one of the recipes in the book, and added a fresh ripe banana and it was great. The first time I put it in the freezer, I laid it on it's side and it wouldn't freeze the ice cream. I sat it upright after that in the freezer and have had no more problems. Clean up is a breeze, and it freezes every bit as well as my electric freezer. It is so easy. When I wash it, I just store it right back in the freezer and it is always ready to go for the next batch. It takes about 30 minutes to make a batch and I just stir it once or twice every three or four minutes. Nothing to it!

... and boy, am i glad i didn't! this is my first attempt at making ice cream and it seems fool-proof with this ice cream maker. i'm using it to make vegan ice cream too, and the results so far have been great.

all you have to do is follow the directions and turn the handle a few times, every few minutes. plenty of time to add extra ingredients without the problems one user has posted. maybe if you have some super-cold freezer, ice cream could stick to the sides very quickly but with our freezer on high, we haven't had any problems. the bucket is easy to clean, too. parts are very durable (i've already dropped the lid, and didn't crack it) ...

no ice, no salt, _quiet_, no electricity. no moving parts to break, nothing to wear out. don't think it's hard work, either. just a few cranks every couple of minutes. if you're thinking about buying this ice cream maker, go for it. i'm glad i did.

I bought this with the Ben and Jerry's book- what a great gift idea! The machine itself is very durable and sturdy. I bought this model over an electric one because A) I didn't want to deal with the noise of an electric model and B) it's really not that tough to turn the crank every couple of minutes for a half hour (usually only 20 minutes). It's quite relaxing and it makes the end result much more satisfying.

The ice cream only gets soft-frozen, but if you throw the finished batch in the freezer for a few hours, it gets hard- frozen. Word of warning: when I first got this, it would barley fit into my studio apartment mini-freezer and I couldn't get anything to get anything but slushy. I since have moved and have a full-sized freezer and it freezes just fine now. It's not very big, but it's not practical unless you have a full sized freezer.

I've been using this machine to make multiple batches of ice cream every day, and it works wonderfully. The removable bowl is essential for quick clean-up, and allows you to swap in another bowl and dasher to quickly start a second batch. (Assuming, of course, that you've gone out and purchased these optional components) The wonderfulness of the ice cream it makes is entirely determined by the ingredients you put in, but the ice cream maker is fully capable of freezing the ice cream to a smooth and creamy consistency.

The only reason I didn't give this maker 5 stars is that, if the bowl overflows (which it may, as ice cream expands as it freezes) there are lots of holes and nooks that the ice cream can get into that are impossible to clean it out of. If you tend to fill the bowl full, be prepared for your ice cream maker to end up smelling a bit cheesey. It's not a big deal, but a little better design of the plastic housing would have eliminated this problem.

The plastic dasher also takes a bit of effort to clean; milkfat tends to stick to it. It may still be greasy coming out of the washer.

I started my foray into homemade ice cream with a Krups La Glaciere. Though I was careful with the freezer bowl, I still managed to puncture it after the 2nd use. I bit the bullet and shelled out for the Simac after that.

The ... price difference buys spontaneity, less fuss and ease of cleanup. I don't have to freeze the bowl for 12 hours before making ice cream, there's nothing fragile and all the parts that touch the ice cream come off and can go in the dishwasher. I've also never had the blades that stir the ice cream during freezing get stuck, which happened with the Krups.

The only downside with the Simac is that it's fairly large and heavy. Being able to leave it where you plan to use it would be a plus, but not a show stopper if you don't mind moving a 35lb machine to put it away.

The easiest (and quickest) way to make ice cream!

The machine is great (though the recipes in the manual are kinda... weird! Chicken Noodle Soup Sorbet?!), but not *quite* perfect (I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars if possible).

I would suggest these additions:

- Watertight freezer bowl lid - if you put too much mix in the bowl (to increase mix to air ratio, for example), it will slough out and run into places which are a bit hard to clean.

- Timed churn setting - I have seen variations of this model with a timer on the control panel, but this version doesn't have it. Would be a useful addition.

Other than that, it's great!

I bought this ice cream maker after seeing one like it on the food channel. I have one of those Rival brand ice cream makers that requires the salt and ice. What a mess! and loud!! This Cuisinart ice cream maker is wonderful! It is quiet compared to my old Rival and very easy to use. You keep the bowl in the freezer at all times, and when you make up a batch of ice cream, you just pour the cream in the frozen bowl and turn the button to ON. In 20 minutes or less, you have ice cream. I am very glad I bought this. I also purchased Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream & Dessert book and a Farberware Millennium ice cream scoop along with this maker and I would highly recommend those also!

I asked my husband to buy this machine for me for Christmas instead of jewelry, and have no regrets! I love all the sorbets, ice milks and ice creams that we can make. It is simple to use, and the results taste great!

My only complaint is how loud the machine is. I can't really let the machine run while we are having dinner unless I put the ice cream maker far away from the kitchen and dining room. But other than that inconvenience, I can't complain.

I would agree with the other reviewers -- use cold ingredients, and start your ice cream as soon as you take the bowl out of the freezer. I let my bowl freeze for at least two days before using it. I put it in a plastic bag, and then put a zip-loc bag of ice in the container just to be sure.

I have a hard time using all of the egg yolks and heavy cream to make true "ice cream" (although a splurge once in awhile isn't a bad thing!). I try to stick to the lower fat recipes. You can find endless recipes and ideas on the internet. I must admit that when in a hurry I just throw together some milk, half and half, real mexican vanilla, sugar, and a pinch of salt (no recipe here, just taste it to your own creaminess and sweetness level) to make ice cream for dessert. It's like having fresh soft serve. Yum!

If you would like your own ice cream maker, you can't go wrong with this machine!

I finally ordered this and so glad I did. What a great little machine! Knock on wood no problems yet. I also purchased the Ben & Jerry's cookbook per other reviews! So far the Sweet Cream Base and the Choc. ice cream have been big hits here. The choc. ice cream I made this evening. I only used 3 - 1 oz. choc. squares vs 4 per the recipe. Also, have used egg beaters in both recipes. Next on my list is the Williams Sonoma Ice Cream book. Thanks for all the reviews.

Look...making yogurt isn't that compicated. All you need is a good starter culture, a stable and appropriate temperature and clean equipment so you get the proper cultures growing. The Salton 1-quart does a beautiful job and you can't beat the price. If you've never made your own yogurt before, this is the unit to buy. Don't spend tons of money on a piece of equipment that does nothing more than keep the milk warm for a few hours. Realize, it is much easier to just buy yogurt at the supermarket. But if you don't like keep buying little plastic containers, and if you don't mind going to just a little effort to make your own foods, you'll enjoy making yogurt. I like to use milk straight from the bulk tank at a local dairy farm and either organic Stonyfield (NH)or organic Butterworks (VT) yogurt as a starter. Homemade yogurt doesn't always have the homogenous and solid consistency of store-bought, but I've had very good results (quite comparable with commercial yogurts) with the Salton, plus I can use whatever flavorings I want from real maple syrup to my favorite jams. I even use the yogurt in place of sour cream. The possibilities with home-made yogurt are almost unlimited!

I bought the Salton quart size yogurt maker and use it fairly often. Here's how I use it to make nonfat yogurt.

» Place the Salton yogurt maker in a convenient but out-of-the-way location where it can run for a few days. Plug it in.

» Add one cup of nonfat dry milk powder to a gallon of skim milk and mix well. This makes the resulting yogurt thicker and more nutritious. (I've read that non-instant is better for this but haven't tried it. Any experience with this, anyone?)

» Heat milk to 185-190 degrees F, stirring frequently.

» Cool milk to 110-115 degrees F. (I usually use an ice water bath. Stir the milk frequently and monitor its temperature closely. This only takes a few minutes.)

» Stir a cup to a pint of plain nonfat yogurt with live active cultures (usually from the previous batch, sometimes from a commercial product) into the cooled milk. Whisk well.

» Decant the inoculated milk into the Salton quart container and four other clean wide mouth quart canning jars. Put the Salton container in the yogurt maker and the lidded quart canning jars in the refrigerator.

» Culture the yogurt to your preferred state of solidity and tartness. It's edible in a few hours but becomes stiffer and tarter the longer you leave it. I usually let it go 24 hours (no kidding-I like it tart!).

» When the batch is done, cool it either for several hours or overnight in the fridge or, if you're dying to eat it, more quickly in an ice water bath (no stirring!). At this point the yogurt is setting. If it gets jostled or stirred anytime before it's completely cooled its consistency will be looser and runnier.

» When you're ready to make the next batch (or immediately, to keep the ball rolling until you've processed all your quarts), put a wide mouth canning jar of inoculated milk into the yogurt maker. (I used to just take them directly from the fridge. It works, but the resulting texture of the yogurt is distinctly thicker at the bottom of the jar. Now I zap the milk on half-power in the microwave in 30-second runs, stirring between, until it's at 110-115 degrees F. It works like a charm!)

SUMMARY: The Salton YM9 has been a trouble free unit. The only improvement would be larger capacity, such as the Yogourmet machine has (though at more than twice the price). Knowing what I do, I'd buy it again.

I eat a lot of yogurt. Plain. So why should I shell out so much for store yogurt when making your own is so easy?

Some of the secrets of yogurt to help you be successful:

1. Cleanliness is next to Godliness for any dairy recipe. Bacteria or other microorganisms you are inviting to the party can make off flavors, goopy results.

2. Yogurt is thickened commercially with dry powdered milk to add body to the product. American milk from Holsteins is thin and lacking in protein. Adding dry powder milk puts back in the casein that sets up to make a nice creamy, thick yogurt. Jersey cow milk is higher in fat and protein; if you have access to Jersey milk, then you might not need to add dry powdered milk.

3. If you DON'T SCALD THE MILK (bring to a boil) you will leave in enzymes that will result in a thin, porridge-like yogurt, if you are lucky. If you aren't lucky, the result will be liquid milk but spoiled. So scald the milk.

4. After you scald, take the milk's temperature. It has to be around 80-85 degrees and no more, or the culture you stir in will be killed off and again, you won't get any yogurt. Plain yogurt starter works fine. Make sure it's fresh, however.

I like my yogurt plain or with apple and sunflower seeds stirred in. But feel free to flavor yours with apple butter, jam, fresh berries, honey. Kids like it with whipped strawberries or blueberries and maple syrup.

I bought this ice cream maker a couple of weeks ago. I read all the reviews on all the different models. Based on the reviews for this machine, I purchased it. I was not steered wrong!! This machine certainly lives up to the name Cuisinart. I liked the idea of this model being a double so I could make two flavors at once or double of the same flavor. The machine is very quiet when it's running. Easy to clean too. Depending on the flavor that I make, some need to freeze a little longer (soft serve consistency)in the freezer to set up. Others are ready to eat immediately. What a wonderful way to give my family healthy ice cream. The looks on their faces when they are eating it is priceless!! I highly recommend this ice cream maker!!

We have really enjoyed this machine. It is easy to use, easy to clean, looks really good setting in the kitchen, and is very affordable. We tested the recipes in the instruction booklet and have found them to be very good and delicious (though we prefer using half-n-half, along with 2% milk, instead of heavy whipping cream and whole milk).

The noise of the machine isn't an issue. It doesn't even come close to the loud sound a blender or mixer makes.

Best of all, is the ice cream you can make within 20-30 minutes with no mess or hassle!! What more could you ask for!!

I recently bought this ice cream maker because I am a pastry chef and I wanted to experiment and have some fun. The first time that I made ice cream, I couldn't believe how easy it was! I made the pineapple sherbet from the recipe book, which has since become a family favorite. I also have made rose petal ice cream, lavender ice cream, pina colada ice cream, and bailey's Irish cream ice cream. This machine has opened many new doors for me in the dessert world. I absolutely love it, I can't wait to try out new flavors!