Good Quality Ice Cream Maker??

[LisaDS88]

Does anyone know of a good ice cream maker brand/model? I've got some great raw recipes with nut milk and/or other such ingredients that call for an ice cream maker. I want to buy one, but I don't know what kind to get. My mom had one years ago that didn't work well at all. Does anyone have a recommendation? Thanks.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Lisa,

I bought (what I thought was a good) ice cream maker and it SUCKS! LOL!

So, upon reading a thread here once about ice cream and getting a tip from (I think it was juliebove), what I've started doing lately (and BOY does it work great) is I make the mixture for the ice cream, pour into a container (I get those either Ziploc or Glad plastic reusable bowls with lids) and freeze the mixture until solid. Then, I run hot water over the bottom and sides of the bowl to release it and then cut into smaller pieces, process in the food processor until creamy and then put back into the container and freeze.

I made some KILLER chocolate ice cream and after just those two freezer steps, it was creamy, scoopable and didn't have those little annoying ice crystals in it!

You can also just pour the mixture into ice trays and then plop out the cubes rather than in a bowl/container and having to cut into pieces...I just did it that way as all my ice trays were occupied at the time.

But it turned out better than what my sorry excuse for an ice cream maker ever gave me!

[JinxieKat]

Thank you for that idea Rawinlocs! I've been wondering the same myself and groaning at the idea of another kitchen gizmo. This will work wonderfully!!!

Jinx

[maydolphin10]

if u still do want a machine, i have a cuisinart and it works wonderfully. u freeze the container overnight beforehand and then make the ice cream in 15-25 mins. heres the one i have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JGRT/sr=1-7/qid=1151981070/ref=sr_1_7/103-5277352-3845444?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen

[fuzzywater]

if u still do want a machine, i have a cuisinart and it works wonderfully. u freeze the container overnight beforehand and then make the ice cream in 15-25 mins. heres the one i have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JGRT/sr=1-7/qid=1151981070/ref=sr_1_7/103-5277352-3845444?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen


I have this one as well and am very pleased with it. It's easy, it's quick, it's not particularly messy and for what it does, actually has a minimal number of parts to wash afterwards. It makes a very nice soft serve consistency, smooth, creamy.... and it's a fairly inexpensive model as well.

[Halo Aglow]

if u still do want a machine, i have a cuisinart and it works wonderfully. u freeze the container overnight beforehand and then make the ice cream in 15-25 mins. heres the one i have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JGRT/sr=1-7/qid=1151981070/ref=sr_1_7/103-5277352-3845444?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen

I have this one also, I love it! I HAVE been thinking about upgrading to one that doesn't need to be frozen first (don't have the money though!) but in the meanwhile I do like the one I have.

[juliebove]

I have an ice cream maker, but I wouldn't say it is a good one. It was a gift from my daughter who loves ice cream. I don't personally care for it. The problem I have with it is that you have to freeze the entire base of it for at least 2 days, preferably longer. If not fully frozen, it simply will not work. The base takes up a lot of room in the freezer. So if you want to be making ice cream as frequently as every other day, this is no good. It also makes only 4 servings at a time. The actualy processing time while it is blending takes at least a half an hour, and most of the time the stuff is still so soupy that you have to put it back in the freezer for several hours to firm up. Makes you wonder what use it is really. Because all of the recipes that came with it require you to chill the ingredients to start with.

As I said in a previous thread some time ago, I used to make ice cream using the old fashioned metal ice cube trays and a blender. I'm sure a food processor would work as well. I just didn't have one. I'm not even sure if they were around in those days. I was a kid and I'm old! Heh! The purpose of the ice cream maker is mainly to incorporate air into the mix. Supposedly it will help the mix to freeze. Mine didn't. But the blender will do this for you. You just have to keep putting it in there to mix and refreezing until you get the texture you want.

If you want to make a lot of ice cream at one time, you might consider one of those old fashioned crank ones that take rock salt and ice. I think they might take dry ice. Not sure. My grandparents had one of those and it seemed to work every time. Of course that requires you to go out and buy stuff you wouldn't have to begin with.

If you have a food processor or blender, I'd try first making ice cream with that before you go out and buy something. I'd also start with some sort of banana base. I can't tell you how many batches of recipes I tried and threw out because my husband and daughter didn't like them. But they did like the banana one. It was also the only one that stayed really frozen. Perhaps because I cut the bananas in chunks and flash froze (place on single layer on cookie sheet then freeze till firm) them to begin with. It wasn't a raw recipe though. I believe it had some cream in it. I don't think it had any sweetener. You might try a mix of bananas and nut milk and perhaps a few berries if you like those.

Another thing I used to make quite a lot is more like a sorbet or granita but really good on a hot day. Simply flash freeze some pineapple chunks then put them in the blender adding a bit of pineapple juice. Again, I think a food processor would work as well. And go easy on the juice. You can always add more but if you add too much you'll have a drink instead of a dessert to eat with a spoon. Give it a quick whip and you'll have a frozen, creamy dessert in a flash.

[shelah]

i also have the cuisinart -- love it!
many blessings,
shelah

[LisaDS88]

Thanks for all the info. I may get the cuisinart then. I'll try the ice cub tray method, too.

[Sheryl]

I just bought a Sunbeam ice cream maker in Australia with it's own freezing unit. We tried it out for the first time today and it was MARVELOUS!!! You turn it on for 5 minutes to chill the bowl, and pour in your ice cream mix. The motor turns the paddle, the freezing unit chills, and about 30 minutes later you have store quality ice cream (way better than my manual, keep the base in the freezer, one.

You can get them in the US for about $200 (I've seen them on Amazon). You might want to check them out.

I love that if you want you can make batch after batch with no delays.... unlike the ones with the frozen base you need to freeze.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Green Life]

Is there a raw food ice cream maker book out there that has delicious ice cream recipies that actually work in a icecream maker?

I will be getting an ice cream maker soon. So, can raw ice cream recipies be found for it?


Cheers!
Green :D Life

[berrymarymac]

Check out the book Vice Cream by Jeff Rogers. I've heard it has some good recipes. I need to buy it!

[Tirza]

Lest we forget, another thread featured the benefits of the Champion Juicer. The idea is to use frozen bananas or other frozen fruit. Use the blank insert instead of the screen. It works really well. Maybe another brand of juicer does this too?

But you aren't limited to just frozen bananas and fruit. You can make up any other mix like Rawkinlocs said. It can be frozen pretty quickly if you pour the mix into a flat pan. It can be cut easily into strips to be fed through the Champion, or dropped into the food processor.

I think it is kind of a waste to get a separate machine with it being this easy.

[Tirza]

Check out the book Vice Cream by Jeff Rogers. I've heard it has some good recipes. I need to buy it!
Do a search on Vice Cream right here. Someone posted a lot of recipes from it awhile ago. Try them out as a sample and buy the book if you like them.

[Sheryl]

The Sunbeam ice cream maker (with build in freezing unit) was not worth it. Almost $400 and the motor is too weak to drive the ice cream once it gets past the soft serve stage. I don't recommend it.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Linda1970]

Thank you Sheryl, for posting your feedback. I was very very interested in your ice cream maker. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. I hope you can return it since it costs so much.

[Green Life]

Check out the book Vice Cream by Jeff Rogers. I've heard it has some good recipes. I need to buy it!


Thank you SO much, both of you. I will definitely look for it.


Cheers!
Green :D Life

[Vanessa]

There is a streaming video show for chocolate icecream on www.gliving.tv...just up today. Check it out! It uses the ice cube tray method.