Choosing the Best Ice Cream Maker for You

When it comes to choosing the best ice cream maker for you, you will need to consider the type of ice cream making method you prefer as well as the ice cream maker’s batch capacity.

Types of Ice Cream Making Methods

Rock Salt: A rock salt and ice mixture is commonly known as the old fashioned way of making ice cream. It cools the mixture with ice and salt and gives you more control over the ice cream making process, letting you experiment with quantity and speed. It consists of two containers, with space between the two where you put the ice and salt mixture. Once you have placed your ice cream mixture inside the inner container, it is time to churn. If you have a classic rock-salt maker, you will hand-churn your chosen ice cream ingredients. As you churn your ingredients, their temperature will drop and start to take on a soft-serve-like consistency. If you have an electric version, turn the paddle on and it will do the churning for you. During the churning process, you will need to keep an eye on your ice and salt mixture. If you find that your mixture has melted, it is time to add in more ice and salt.

Freezer Bowl: A freezer bowl is a popular option for the occasional ice cream maker. There is a special liquid in between the layers of the bowl, helping to bring the ice cream ingredients to the right temperature. The bowl needs to sit on a flat surface in your freezer for at least 24 hours before use, so that it will be cold enough to freeze your ice cream ingredients. Once you put your ingredients for your chosen flavor in, insert the paddle into the bowl and turn the ice cream maker on. It will churn the ice cream until it is the right consistency, usually a soft-serve texture.

Tip!

If you find yourself making ice cream often, it may be a good idea to keep your bowl in the freezer when you are not making ice cream, so it will be cold when you are ready to make the next batch.

Compressor: Compressor ice cream makers tend to be more expensive but are easy to use and allow for a quicker ice cream making process. There is no wait time between batches, letting you make back-to-back batches of ice cream. Compressors bring the ingredients’ temperatures below freezing immediately, so there is no extra prep work before making your batch of ice cream.

Ice Cream Maker Capacity

When buying an ice cream maker, it’s important to consider how often you will be using it and how big your batches will be. If you have a big family or want to make ice cream for entertaining purposes, you may want to consider a large-capacity maker. If you only want to make a small amount, you can opt for a smaller ice cream maker.

Small: A small ice cream maker holds less than 1 quart of ice cream, making it a perfect option if you do not have a lot of storage space or only want to make a single serving of ice cream each time.

Medium: Medium ice cream makers create 1–2 quarts of ice cream. It is the perfect option for making ice cream for you and one other person, or if you want slightly larger batches to keep on hand.

Large: If you find yourself needing to make bigger batches of ice cream, the large-capacity makers hold 2–4 quarts. Keep in mind that larger quantities will take longer to make.