Product Description

This commercial-style compressor ice cream maker makes batch after batch of ice cream with no need to wait between batches and no pre-chill or pre-freezing required. With up to 1 1/5 quarts capacity, the ice ream maker features a fully automatic 60-minute timer, a stainless steel housing and a transparent lit with ingredient spout. Also includes instruction / recipe book. Transparent lid with ingredient spout Includes instruction / recipe book Limited 3-year warranty

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1009 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Cuisinart
• Model: ice50bc
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 32.90 pounds

Features

• Fully automatic 1-1/2-quart frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream maker
• Brushed stainless-steel housing; commercial-style compressor freezer; prefreezing not required
• Precise temperature control and efficient mixing; fully automatic 60-minute timer
• Ingredient spout; lid, paddle, and bowl remove for easy washing; instruction/recipe book included
• Measures 15-1/2 by 10-3/4 by 10-1/2 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Great ice cream with little fuss
Like another reviewer, I was happy to see a compressor machine available for a reasonable price. I'd owned a smaller machine with a bowl that was placed in the freezer, but the ice cream wasn't as creamy as I wanted and the results varied dramatically from batch to batch.

Armed with a gift certificate (plus quite a bit more), I ordered this machine. For the fourth of July, I made 3 flavors for a party (vanilla, chocolate, & stawberry--I went with the basics), making the bases for each the night before. The next morning, I froze all three ice creams in less than two hours. With a compressor machine, it's easy to make multiple batches one after the other. And the ice cream was a hit at the party, too.

Some tips:
1. The first batch I made was a simple recipe from the instructions which contained no eggs. While it turned out OK, it couldn't compare with custard-based ice creams that include egg yolks. The custard bases consistently result in smoother, creamier, and richer ice cream.
2. Try to make the ice cream base the night before you'll be freezing it (especially custard bases). It allows the flavors to blend and ensures the base is cold. A cold base will freeze more rapidly and is less likely to develop ice crystals.
3. When making chocolate ice cream, using quality chocolate rather than cocoa gives a richer flavor.
4. It's much easier to make ice cream when there's no need to have lots of ice and rock salt or remember to pre-freeze bowl wich may or may not fit in the freezer.
5. It also can freeze sorbets and sherberts and make slushies for the kids. I suppose you could make frozen drinks with it, but I'll stick to the blender for those.

I'm very happy with it so far. It seems well made, produces great ice cream, and has a larger capacity than many other compressor units. While I expect to usually make a half-batch at a time, the 1 1/2 quart capacity plus the ability to quickly freeze multiple batches is great for those times when you need lots of ice cream.

Easy setup, quick, no need to pre-freeze work bowl but loud
The only ice cream maker I used prior to this was an italian gelato machine. That device required the work bowl to be frozen for several hours prior to making ice cream AND the use of alcohol to assist in the transfer of cold from the compressor to the work bowl.

This machine from Cuisinart eliminates the need for both. This is accomplished by finely manufacturing the components so that the work bowl fits VERY snugly in to the device. The result - much easier setup with less mess.

A batch usually takes 35-40 minutes, assuming you have allowed the mix to reach room temperature before adding it to the machine. Add 10 minutes if you are adding a warm mix.

You will still need to place the ice cream in your freezer for 20-30 minutes to get the right texture. That's common with most home machines so don't look at this as a fault of this machine.

Because you do not need to pre-freeze the bowl, you can make batch after batch of ice cream. We have made 5 consecutive batches (for a party) in under 5 hours without any problems.

One star is deducted for the amount of noise this machine generates. We have taken to putting it in our bedroom while it does its work. We were not able to speak with other people at a normal volume when this machine it in the same room.

The recipes in the included recipe book are ok - not great. I would recommend picking up a recipe book - perhaps Ben & Jerry's - when you buy this machine.

Great ice cream maker!
This machine makes 1 1/2 quarts of fabulous ice cream in less than 1 hour. I love that it doesn't need salted ice or hand stirring; making ice cream with this machine is fun, and easy enough for my five year old grandson to do. The accompanying recipe book is small but contains excellent easy and more advanced recipes. The machine is a bit noisey, but the ice cream it makes is so good and so that I find the noise a minor problem. It's an ideal solution for those of use who want to eat organic, eliminating preservatives and stabilizers from our family's diets.