Ice Cream Maker

Thanks, I have wanted one of these for ages, but the ones I looked at, the bowl needed to go in the freezer for ages before. Off to order one. :j

Thanks for that - just ordered one. Can't wait to try the ice cream - had better start emptying the freezer, lol.

Thanks OP

Here is the link I used:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BDGUT6

These are selling fast the item is #2 on the sales chart at Amazon only Delia's Mini chopper is selling faster

Ok there are 3 types of ice cream making methods

1) Automatic: Bowl + Mixer
2) Automatic: Bowl + Mixer + Freezer
3) Manual Hand made

Ice cream is made by freezing the ingredients. To improve the texture (by reducing the size of the ice crystals) you need to add lots of Fat or Sugar or both

Manually making ice cream is time consuming as you freeze the mix. Leave it for 25 minutes. Remix. Repeat this freeze and mix for a few times. More mixing = smoother ice cream.

The cheap units £<80 are just a mains powered mixer and a bowl. You freeze the bowl for 12 hours, add the ingredients to the cold bowl and turn on the mixer for 25 minutes. The cold from the bowl freezes the ingredients.

The expensive units >£200 have a built in freezer. Add ingredient to bowl and turn on!

The Panasonic is just a bowl + mixer BUT YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRE-FREEZE the bowl for 10-12 hours! The unit is small, like a milk pan. Add the ingredients and pop in the freezer it works inside the freezer! Hence low cost but with the advantage of no 0 hour plus preparation time.

The review on Amazon talks about "camera batteries" and suggest that rechargeable ones are available.

I've looked at the Panasonic UK site downloaded the PDF manual and its a one page with nothing other than the title!

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/514305/index.html


John Lewis site states it takes 2 lithium batteries: "it works off 2x Panasonic CR123A batteries (included) which last for about 25 uses."

http://www.johnlewis.com/230306769/Product.aspx?source=14798

There is a review in the Guardian about this unit:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,1787597,00.html
The author comments on the cost of the Lithium batteries, £2 each. I noticed on eBay you can but 10 for £10. DealExtreme also have some good protected LiIon Rechargable CR123A batteries. Hope the ice cream maker will work with these as they have a higher voltage (as they are not primary cells) and are 0.7 longer than primaries. The lower temperature of the freezer will be interesting as LiION lose there efficiency at low temp.

I've read reviews from sites in the USA about this model and they consensus is the same the running costs is high: Batteries.

I suppose if you make a batch once every 2 weeks that is one set of 2 batteries a year roughly. So £2 a year running cost does not seem too bad.

There are also rechargeable Lithium batteries for this unit. These need special chargers on ebay for around £5 to £10 pounds. The special rechargeable version of these batteries are also around £3 each on ebay, good for 500 charges. Lithum batteries keep their charge well! But low temperature are a challenge.

The Ice Cream maker is small and does not take up much space. Even though it only has an on off switch and is simple to use, the unit is computer controlled and very sophisticated.

Google for recipes for these unit, rather than buying a book and post any good recipes here.

This unit makes small batches 750ml max and it best when you make and eat the fresh ice cream without re-freezing according the the reviewers.