Ice Cream Machine
2023-03-28
Whether you want to make sure you always have frozen treats on hand to cool off on a hot day or want to experiment with flavors and take your homemade desserts to the next level, an ice cream maker is an easy-to-use appliance that definitely deserves a spot in your kitchen.
Best compressor ice cream maker:
Compressor ice cream machines are more expensive than non-compressor models since they have a built-in refrigeration unit, but if you’re making ice cream on a regular basis, they can be worth the splurge. Constantly freezing bowls can take a lot of foresight and — more importantly — freezer space. So if you want to make ice cream frequently or experiment with flavors all the time, compressor models can save you a lot of time and effort.
While the Whynter our Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker is definitely a bigger investment than the Cuisinart, the convenience factor of this machine beats out everything else we tried. If you want the convenience of a compressor ice cream maker, the ice cream machine is absolutely the one to get.
Everything you need to know about ice cream makers:
There are lots of ways to make ice cream at home, whether it’s in a plastic bag, in a Mason jar or with a machine like those we tested. Using an ice cream machine isn’t a very difficult process, but there just are a few things you should know before you dive in. First off, most ice cream makers fall into two groups: ones with compressors and ones without. Machines with compressors have a built-in refrigeration system that chills the bowl down to freezing temperatures at the beginning of the process, while makers without this feature require you to freeze a bowl beforehand, typically at least overnight.
Freezing the bowl in advance requires some planning but isn’t too much of a chore if you have the freezer space. However, you won’t be able to make multiple batches of ice cream in a row unless you buy an extra bowl (which means you need even more freezer space). But the results are very similar to those you’ll get from a compressor model, and you’ll save a lot of money upfront.
While compressor machines are generally more expensive and heavier and take up a lot more room, you won’t have to do as much planning ahead of time (just allow time for your base to chill completely if you’re cooking it over the stove) and you can make pint after pint of ice cream without having to refreeze anything. These machines are undoubtedly an investment, but they churn out high-quality ice cream consistently and save you from worrying about freezing bowls all the time, which can be a huge plus if you make ice cream regularly.
Performance
- Texture of dairy ice cream: After making each batch of ice cream, we conducted several taste tests comparing the consistency and texture of each ice cream to one another. We judged how icy or creamy each ice cream was in relation to the rest of the pool.
- Texture of vegan ice cream: After making each batch of vegan ice cream, we conducted the same taste tests, paying attention to iciness and texture.
- Mixing time: For both dairy and vegan recipes, we timed how long each machine took to turn the liquid base into ice cream.
Usability
- Ease of preparation: We noted all the steps it took to get the machine ready for making ice cream, whether that was assembling the different parts, pre-freezing the bowl or running the machine through a pre-chill function.
- Ease of use: Once everything was ready to make ice cream, we noted all the steps necessary to churn the base into ice cream.
- Ease of cleaning: We cleaned each ice cream maker and all its components twice, taking note of how hard the different elements were to wash.
- Size: We put each machine on a counter and measured how much room it took up, comparing each machine to the others.
- Noise: We judged how loud each machine was while it was running.
- Weight: We weighed each machine and paid attention to how easy or hard it was to move it around the counter or put it in a cabinet.
Quality and design
- General quality: We felt each part of the machine and judged its quality, whether we thought it was flimsy and would break or would last for years.
- General design: We set up all the machines next to one another and ordered them by looks and design.
-
2023-08-22
-
2023-08-07
-
2023-07-14
-
2023-06-12
