Ice Cream Maker - Do you use yours?

shopndrop

I am thinking of getting an ice cream maker and wonder if anyone who has got one uses it regularly or is it one of those things that sits unused after the initial excitement wears off. I bought a bread maker last year and haven't bought bread since and just wonder whether an ice cream maker is useful as we tend to buy quite a bit of ice cream.

cuddlymarm

Hi

I used mine about a dozen times and now it sits in the cupboard. The problem is that I have to put the bowl in the freezer for a few hours and never seem to have the space and the need for ice cream at the same time.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

dan1979

I have a panasonic one, you put the ingredients in then bung it in the freezer so it churns and freezes at the same time, no need to pre-freeze a container or anything like that. (runs off batteries)

It gets used loads, possibly too much. There's so many variations of ice cream you'll never get bored of it. I love a nice vanilla ice cream with various chocolate bars added *drools*

jtb2412

Absoblinkinlutely ! It's a godsend in the summer months when the kids hear the ice cream van come round ! Loads of flavours and especially good for using up slightly over-ripe fruit (we made a strawberry and cream one last year and it was lush !)

Does tend to sit in the cupboard during the cooler months but I guarantee that come end of March/April it will be out again and used frequently. As has been said before, you do need a bit of space in your freezer to freeze the bowl but if you've got a large chest (freezer !!!!) like me then it's no bother.

I'd say go for it, they're not too expensive and you can make much nicer ice cream than you could every buy in the shops :0)

lolarentt

shopndrop wrote: »

I am thinking of getting an ice cream maker and wonder if anyone who has got one uses it regularly or is it one of those things that sits unused after the initial excitement wears off. I bought a bread maker last year and haven't bought bread since and just wonder whether an ice cream maker is useful as we tend to buy quite a bit of ice cream.

Bought one about 2 years ago and still using it regularly (not so much in the winter!) My plan was to get a basic one first (where you have to freeze the bowl down first) and then if we liked it upgrade to a stand-alone one which does it's own freezing, and sell the other one on ebay or something. I bought a Magimix Le Glacier 1.5 pint and it's great, about £45 from John Lewis. I haven't bothered to upgrade to the integral freezing one (very expensive over £200) as this one is fine. Bad points are a) you need to have enough space in a deep freezer drawer to take the bowl to freeze it down and b) you need to remember to put it in there at least the day before you want to make the ice cream. Don't get anything smaller than the 1.5 pint size, and don't bother with a cheap and cheerful make - I had one some years ago and it was rubbish, motor not powerful enough to keep turning the mix once it started to freeze.

tinkerbell84

lolarentt wrote: »

Bought one about 2 years ago and still using it regularly (not so much in the winter!) My plan was to get a basic one first (where you have to freeze the bowl down first) and then if we liked it upgrade to a stand-alone one which does it's own freezing, and sell the other one on ebay or something. I bought a Magimix Le Glacier 1.5 pint and it's great, about £45 from John Lewis. I haven't bothered to upgrade to the integral freezing one (very expensive over £200) as this one is fine. Bad points are a) you need to have enough space in a deep freezer drawer to take the bowl to freeze it down and b) you need to remember to put it in there at least the day before you want to make the ice cream. Don't get anything smaller than the 1.5 pint size, and don't bother with a cheap and cheerful make - I had one some years ago and it was rubbish, motor not powerful enough to keep turning the mix once it started to freeze.

I have that one too. Had it 3.5 years and used it twice.

Made frozen yoghurt which I wasn't that impressed with. Might sell it when OH isn't looking.

champys

I use mine lots because I love ice cream and would use it even more if OH didn't have to lose weight! My bowl has its permanent place in the freezer, where it lives and goes back after use, so it is always ready to go if I fancy some ice cream. I store some frozen peas or other small items inside the bowl sometimes.

purpleivy

I have a manual one, which is a nuisance and I have always promised myself a stand alone one. Having to freeze the bowl before hand and having to stir it every couple of minutes till it's done.... it does make delicious ice cream. I'm hoping to get an electric one this year. Does anyone have the Cuisinart one?

shopndrop

Wow, amazed at how many replies in an hour. Seems like a good idea to get one but I don't have a chest freezer only a large upright one. Presume the bowl is not too big to sit in one of the drawers?

ravylesley

Yep I have an ice cream maker and last year I upgraded from one with freezer bowl to one with a built in freezer unit and it was one of the best buys I have made as I never buy expensive additive filled shop ice creams any more and best of all I dont have to give up valuable space in the freezer for the bowl any more as its just a case of pouring the ice cream mix in and switching it on

Lesleyxx

MrsBartolozzi

All this talk of ice cream's making my mouth water , and I remembered that we had intended to get one of these for the summer.
Amazon has a Russell Hobbstemptations 1.5L for £15.99.
This seems like a good deal. Does anyone have this and is it any good? (Can't find a review anywhere)

Thanks,
MrsB.