jennster55's Full Review: Cuisinart (ICE-20) 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker
I received a $50 gift card from Linens-n-Things, and not being a fan of kitchen gadgets or knicknacks, and not needing any linens, bedding, curtains, or the like, I had a hard time deciding what to use the gift card on. Until I spotted the Cuisinart (ICE-20) 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker, that is!
Like so many people, my husband and I love ice cream most any time of the year. What a fantastic idea to be able to make it ourself -- any flavor we want, and the knowledge that there wouldn't be any weird and unpronouncepable ingredients in the finished product! The price of this machine seemed reasonable, too; just under $40.
It has a white outer canister which houses the motor, a silvery gray inner, removable liner, a white plastic mixer/aerator attachment, and a clear plastic lid which twist-locks onto the base. The cord also fits up into the bottom of the machine for easy storage. On the front of the base is the on/off switch -- very simple and uncomplicated to use. I like that.
Remembering my mom's old crank operated ice cream maker we had in the 70s, which required rock salt and seemingly hours and hours of turning the crank on the side, I couldn't wait to get home and try this out. From reading the box, it appeared you just plugged the machine in, poured in your ingredients, turned it on, and in a few minutes, had a whole bunch of fresh ice cream.
The first thing I noticed was the weight of the machine -- it's pretty heavy. The second thing I noticed was the small size of the inner bowl. Judging by the size of the box, I'd expected it to be larger. The third minor disappointment was the fact that the inner bowl needed to be completely frozen, preferably overnight, before we could make ice cream.
But minor disappointments aside, the next day when we finally were able to use it, we were very happy with the results. It couldn't be easier to use: just measure out the ingredients (there are a few simple ice cream recipes included in the instruction booklet), pour them into the fully frozen inner bowl, drop in the mixer, attach the cover, and flip the switch to turn it on.
The machine's motor is loud, so be prepared to listen to something which is almost the equivalent of a vaccum for 20 minutes or so. When the ice cream is ready, the sound of the motor will audibly change as it slows down (due to the ice cream thickening); so you'll know when to shut it off. We've never had a problem with not knowing if the ice cream is done: not only does the motor slow down, but we can't resist hopping up every couple minutes to check on the ice cream. The clear plastic cover makes it very easy to do so.
A plus: If you need to add ingredients, it's easy to pour them into the hole in the cover while the machine is on. While on, the mixer/aerator doesn't move, but instead the inner bowl spins the ice cream around it. The inner bowl is well insulated, with a gel inside it that freezes.
The mixer/aerator and clear plastic cover can be washed in the dishwasher, but the inner bowl must be washed by hand... not a big deal though. The base sometimes gets ingredients splashed on it, and since it houses the motor, it also has to be wiped off by hand.
The end result? Some of the best ice cream we've ever had. I wish the bowl was bigger, though, because the amount it makes is only good for about 4 people (though we do like our ice cream, so it may be enough for 5-6 normal people!)
Electric ice-cream maker produces up to 1-1/2 quarts in about 20 minutes Easy to use--no salt or ice required; chills to desired consistency Transpare...More at Amazon
This Cuisinart machine features a heavy-duty motor, automatic mixing arm, double-insulated freezer bowl, and an easy-lock transparent lid. The large s...More at CHEFS Catalog
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.