Automatic ice cream makers are becoming a popular household appliance. Making this delicious frozen treat at home is so much easier for us today than for those even a generation ago. In this article I will describe the 3 basic types of ice cream makers that are available.
Ice cream has been around for a couple centuries, at first it was primarily reserved for the elite because it was difficult to make. In the summer months when a frozen dessert was desired, the supply of ice was limited. Ice had to be collected in the winter and stored in an ice house, usually packed in saw dust to keep the blocks from freezing together. In the mid 1800's a home ice cream machine was invented. It consisted of a metal cylinder to hold the ingredients, a dasher (paddle) attached to a crank handle was inserted into the cylinder and the cylinder was inserted in a wooden bucket. Ice and rock salt were added to the bucket in layers. The salt lowered the melting temperature of the ice which resulted in the cylinder full of cream and other ingredients to be cooled to below the freezing point of the cream. The handle needed to be turned continuously to keep the mixture from freezing solid and to create a creamy texture.
This method of making ice cream is still used today and is the first type of frozen dessert maker I will discuss. Today's automatic version replaces the hand crank with an electric motor that does the hard work of continuously stirring the cream mixture. Of course you can still buy the hand crank models and making ice cream by hand can be a fun activity on a hot summer day. These electric dessert makers are available in the under $50 range for a four quart model with a plastic bucket. A larger one or one with a traditional wooden bucket will cost more.
The next type of automatic ice cream maker does not use ice and salt to get a freezing temperature. Instead they use a special double walled bowl (also referred to as a cylinder, tub or canister) This bowl is filled with freezer gel; similar to those reusable freezer gel packs. The gel freezes and melts slowly allowing it to keep things cold for a while. The trick to using this type of ice cream maker is to freeze the gel-filled bowl for 12-24 hours in a cold freezer. When it is time to make the frozen dessert, the frozen bowl is placed in the ice cream maker, the ingredients (pre-chilled) are added, a dasher inserted and the motor mixes the cream as it begins to freeze. These machines can also be used to make frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato and even frozen drinks like Margaritas. The gel type automatic ice cream makers are the most popular because they are easy to use and clean up afterward. They are also affordable with 1 to 1.5 qt. models available for under $50. Larger models are available in the $50-$100 range.
The third type of automatic ice cream makers are those with a built in compressor that acts as a mini freezer. To use you turn it on and add the ingredients. The machine maintains the correct temperature and continually mixes the ice cream. These models are more expensive than the freezer-gel models and cost in the $200 and up range. The advantage to these is you can make multiple batches of frozen desserts in a single day without needing to freeze multiple freezer-gel bowls.
Before you purchase an ice cream maker, you should consider:
Whatever type of machine you end up getting, please read the instructions carefully before you make your first batch and have fun making delicious frozen desserts.
Stephen Ayer is an Internet marketing consultant, writer, father and husband with a passion for helping others. He also raises leopard geckos in his spare time. Visit Stephen Ayer's blog and Boston Geckos.
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