There’s nothing like enjoying a scoop of fresh homemade ice cream either served on a cone or in a bowl. This frozen dessert is one of the most demanded snacks during the summers. Most ice cream makers can be used at home easily to prepare many other icy desserts for your family, including gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurts.
Having your own ice cream maker at home can be a great way to make healthier ice cream desserts and also allow you to tailor your ingredients for allergies. In either case, you can always tweak the ice cream recipes to your liking when pulling everything together in an ice cream maker to give yourself a treat.
However, choosing an ice cream maker can indeed be a troubling task when you’ve never used such accessories at home. Therefore, to make things easier for you, we’ve pulled together this 7-step guide on how to choose the best ice cream maker!
Step 1 – Choose the Right Type of Ice Cream Maker
There are several ice cream maker variants available in the market these days. You can refer to the following section to ensure you get one that matches your preferences:
Traditional “Ice and Salt” Ice Cream Makers
The traditional ice cream maker has an ice and salt mechanism to maintain a constant cold temperature in the bucket. These machines allow you to do a hands-on job by engaging in the process from the start to the end. This is especially fun when you have kids around since it may push them to participate in the summer as a family. However, it’s best to remember that it takes approximately twenty to thirty minutes of constant cranking to produce a fresh batch of ice cream through these ice and salt machines.
Gel Canister Ice Cream Makers
These machines have gel containers that you need to pre-freeze for about twenty-four hours. The containers consist of a cooling substance that helps make the ice cream-making process faster and easier. However, it’s only suitable for occasional use since you would have to refreeze the gel container for making a second batch of fresh ice cream.
Frozen Bowl Ice Cream Makers
Like a gel canister, you have to pre-freeze a bowl in this type of ice cream maker as well. However, the difference is that you can accomplish that task in around eight to twenty-four hours, which gives you some wiggle room because of the comparatively quick freezing process. Since most of these machines come with an extra freezing container, you can put that in the freezer at all times to ensure you can cook up some ice cream without waiting for the bowl to freeze at the eleventh hour.
Compressor Ice Cream Makers
Compressor ice cream makers are equipped with a built-in electric refrigerator so you don’t require any prepping time before assembling all the ice cream ingredients to make continuous batches. In short, the inclusion of a refrigerator eliminates the delay you experience with frozen bowl or gel canister ice cream makers. However, these machines are also more expensive than any other ice cream maker.
Ice Cream Balls
Ice cream balls are an ideal option for you if you’re looking for a fun way to make ice creams on your camping trips or picnics. These are small globe-like devices with a screw top on both ends. You can put all your ingredients together in the ball and roll it continuously in a “passing ball” match until the ice cream forms. Simply put, it’s a less messy and more fun way to enjoy your frozen desserts outside.
Step 2 – Consider Materials
For the most part, opting for a plastic body ice cream maker is not a wise decision since it can easily break and deteriorate as time passes. On the contrary, aluminum is usually a good material because it keeps the ice cream cold throughout the composition. Moreover, it holds moisture better.
Plus, it’s best to choose an ice cream maker with a glass lid so you can see what’s happening inside at all times, knowing the precise time when your ice cream is ready.
Step 3 – Give a Thought to Frequency of Use
If you’re getting an ice cream maker for rare occasions, you may opt for any model, even investing in one that doesn’t operate on an extra powerful machine. However, if it’s the other way around, you should get an accessory that can prepare large batches of ice cream without any mechanical hassle throughout the summers. Not to mention, some ice cream makers can be put in the dishwasher safely after disassembling. Therefore, you don’t have to wash the machine every other day yourself.
Step 4 – Think About Production Capacity
On average, most ice cream makers can produce around a liter and a half of ice cream in a single batch. However, you can explore your options to see each model’s production capacity when you’re looking for something more small or large-scale.
Step 5 – Realize Your Budget When Pondering the Freezing Attributes
We would all love to choose an ice cream maker with a self-freezing attribute at a price that falls within your budget. That’s because non-freezing models are way more inexpensive than self-freezing ones in addition to being less bulky. Not to mention, self-freezing models also cost more because of their greater electricity consumption.
Step 6 – Pay Attention to Available Storage Space
Some ice cream makers are as compact as the size of a kettle. On the other hand, some models can be as space-consuming as a food processor. Therefore, you shouldn’t forget to ensure you have enough space on your counter or in a cupboard before choosing a model. This way, you don’t have to struggle with storage afterward.
Step 7 – Don’t Forget the Noise Factor
Lastly, while we all love making homemade ice cream, the processing noise can be an annoying factor. Therefore, irrespective of the ice cream maker type you opt for, don’t agree upon a model that exceeds sixty-five to seventy dB noise level. Ultimately, it’s always a wise decision to read as many reviews as you can online before opting for any accessory. We hope this 7-step guide helps you choose the best ice cream maker for your household!