7 factors to consider when choosing the best ice cream maker
Thinking of buying a new refrigerator? For ice cream lovers, buying a machine can help them save a significant amount of money in the long run. For those who are health conscious, they can finally control the ingredients that go into their dessert and enjoy it with less guilt. There are countless reasons why one should buy an ice cream maker. However, before you jump in and look for one, you need to make sure you’ve picked the right one. So what are some factors to consider when purchasing one?
Price
The machines vary greatly in price. Some are as low as $ 10, while others can cost as much as $ 100,000. You must first consider your goal for getting one. Buying one for the occasional family get-together when your nieces and nephews come over? If you are only going to use your machine occasionally, you should consider buying a cheaper one. On the other hand, if you have a sweet tooth and intend to use your machine every other day, it will be worth spending a little more money to get a fully automated one.
Manual vs electric
There are two main types of ice cream maker, manual and electric. Manual machines require you to stir the base yourself during the freezing process. Electric machines come with a motor that shakes for you.
Electric machines are undoubtedly simpler and save time. However, they are less fun to use (children prefer manual machines) and because they require electrical power, they are more dangerous for children to use alone.
Noise
Some electrical machines can make a lot of noise. They are not strong enough to wake up your next door neighbors, but possibly strong enough to thwart you. For those who have a low tolerance for noise, a manual machine or perhaps a high-end electric machine is a better option for you.
Freezing method
Most machines use salt and ice or a freezer bowl to freeze the base.
Machines that use salt and ice require a ready supply of crushed ice and salt. They are often very messy to use as a lot of saline is produced in the process.
On the other hand, machines that use a container for freezing require the container to be frozen 8 to 24 hours before use. This method is much easier than the salt / ice method. However, it can be a problem if your fridge freezer is often full of food or is too small to accommodate a freezer container.
There are other high-end machines that come with a built-in freezer. These machines are definitely the most convenient but also the most expensive.
Quality of the ice cream produced
Conditions such as the speed of whipping and the method of freezing the base can have an impact on the quality of the dessert produced. Always make sure that the machine you are considering is capable of producing quality ice cream. The best way is to check with friends who have used the machine before. Alternatively, you can search for reviews on Google on the internet.
Other frozen desserts?
Some machines can only produce ice cream. Others are capable of producing ice cream, sorbets, and other frozen desserts as well. If you’re a fan of other types of frozen desserts, consider paying a little more for an all-in-one machine.
Amount of ice cream produced
Do you make dessert for your family on the weekends? Or are you preparing ice cream for a carnival? The machines differ in capacities from 1 quart to 6 quarts. Choose the capacity that best suits your needs.