What is the most "worth it" home made ice-cream machine on the market?

hand crank ice cream image

emily Rose

I don't care if it is a hand crank or machine, but i want the most frugal (<$100) purchase of a reliable ice cream machine. I want a couple quarts (3-5) each time.

Answer
It is not available right now, but will be on July 5. It can make up to six quarts of ice cream each time. Here are some of the customer reviews, might help you decide:

Frosty, September 10, 2008
By Curtis G. Mclamb "Dixie Boy" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This ice cream maker is well made for the price and it is much quieter than my older unit with the plastic ice bucket. The ice cream is more firm when it is done than with some of the other makers I have used. It makes enough ice cream for the neighborhood at one time. I also like having the option to use either the electric motor or the hand crank.

Ice Cream Freezer, January 6, 2009
By Sharron S. Metzger - See all my reviews

Ordered this ice cream freezer from Amazon.com a week before Christmas. It was delivered to my house in time for the big day. Ice Cream Freezer was the biggest hit. We made several batches of ice cream during the holidays and everyone had a great time eating and making the wonderful dessert. The kids got a big kick out of cranking and helping to make this treat. Then the motor kicked in and finished the job. What a great idea to help keep everyone happy and excited to eat ice cream.

Works Slicker than Snot on a door knob!!, June 28, 2009
By GRUMPYOLDMAN46 "Grumpyoldman46" (NE Ohio) - See all my reviews
I bought this item on 5/28/2009, Read all the instructions, few days later I tried it out, only thing was I did not have enough ice to fill it all the way up, but it worked pretty good for a first time.
The next weekend I bought a big bag of ice and more half& half & whipping cream and made up a big batch of butter pecan ice cream. Everybody raved at how rich& creamy it was and so delicious!!! I make ice cream about every 2 weeks now takes about 20-25 min. once its all in the maker.

Good reviews, out of the six current opinions for the product. You can read more about this product (as well as the rest of the reviews) at the link I provided below:

How do you make Peppermint ice cream?

hand crank ice cream image

madimoomon

I just got a new kitchenaid stand mixer with the ice cream maker attachment. I want to know the easiest way to make peppermint ice cream. I have a bottle of peppermint extract, milk, 2 pints of heavy whipping cream, eggs, sugar, etc. All answers are appreciated! Thanks!

Answer
I use peppermint candy to make peppermint ice cream. Here is my recipe

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
6 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 pint heavy cream
1 1/2 cups finely crushed peppermint candy

Method
Beat milk, sugar and egg yolks in the top of a double boiler until frothy. Set over simmering water and heat 15 minutes, stirring now and then at first, constantly toward the end. Cool, add peppermint extract and cream. Fold in the candy. Freeze in a crank – type freezer [hand or electric] or automatic ice cream machine, following the manufacturer’s directions.

How come melted ice cream is not as fulfilling as frozen ice cream?

hand crank ice cream image

MooG

I mean that when you melt ice cream, then refreeze it, it's much smaller than it originally was. But isn't it still the same amount of ice cream, just denser? So shouldn't it be just as fulfilling as the ice cream filled with air?

Answer
Ice cream is a combination of milk solids(fat), sugar and liquids. when it is all whipped together foam bubbles and ice crystals are created. The milk solids cling to those bubbles.When ice cream melts it separates with the foam at the top and the liquid at the bottom. the texture of the frozen sugar and fat that has been emulsified is the satisfying part of eating ice cream. Otherwise we would waste our time hand cranking the mix in the summertime. Instead we would just drink the mix.