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Great Product!!!
Just need three words for it...I love it!!! I ordered this item on the Friday before Thanksgiving, received it on Tuesday,(really quick shipping) opened the box and froze the bowl. On Thanksgiving day made ice cream with it using the vanilla recipe in the book and it make perfect ice cream. Not sure why some people have trouble with it, I did not have any. I will be ordering another bowl for it. Very easy to put together and to take apart to clean. Love the fact that no ice is needed or salt. The grandkids loved the ice cream cones and being able to make them by themselves. FIVE stars all the way!!!
[Saturday, November 29, 2008]
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What you see is what you get
For those of you who are thinking of purchasing this machine and are wondering whether or not to believe the 5-star reviews or the 1-star reviews, let me assure you that if you follow the instructions provided, this machine absolutely works. You do not need a special freezer or any prior experience using ice cream makers.
I got mine about a week ago and have used it twice. The first time, I froze the bowl in my refrigerator's freezer compartment for about 20 hours. I mixed up the the simple vanilla recipe provided in the recipe booklet and let it sit in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Then I poured the mixture into the machine and turned it on. Unfortunately, I let it mix too long, and it became too thick to dispense from the machine. I had to scoop it out and eat it like normal ice cream, but it was still delicious.
The second time, I made the simple vanilla again, but I didn't chill the mixture prior to pouring it into the machine. I tested it more frequently as it mixed this time and found that it was the perfect consistency after about 15 minutes. It dispensed from the machine beautifully and stayed frozen long enough for me to finish it. I could not have asked for better soft-serve.
The key to getting great results from this machine is checking the consistency of the ice cream frequently. As others have said, there is a small window of time between too thin to eat and too thick to dispense, but that is the nature of soft-serve ice cream. If you're willing to test the consistency often enough, you will not be disappointed in the results.
A technique that I learned ... watch the ice cream as it mixes in the machine. Once it starts to look like it's developing some texture (it looks "icy"), put a bowl or cup under the spout and try to dispense some. If it's too thin for your liking, simply pour it back into the machine and continue mixing. After 1 or 2 minutes, test it again. Keep following this procedure. Eventually, you will get a smooth stream of soft-serve ice cream. The important thing is not to wait too long between tests, or the ice cream will get too thick. Don't think you can just let it sit in the canister for a few minutes and it will soften; it won't. The canister gets cold enough that it will only harden the ice cream the longer it sits inside the bowl.
Another tip ... don't put the mix ins into the ice cream as it is mixing. They will only sink to the bottom of the canister and clog up the machine, so you won't be able to dispense regardless of the consistency of the ice cream.
[Wednesday, November 26, 2008]
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Be Creative
I read the reviews, and yes, you get what you pay for. This is a great price, but you must make your own recipes. The simple chocolate recipe is horrible, waaay to much cream (causes tummy ache). So if you have the time to 'experiment' in the kitchen, it is a cool product. My advice: freeze the bowl like everyone says but also, you MUST refrigerate your mix as well before you pour it in. Also, there is only a short window from when your ice cream dispenses properly 30-40mins, then it's hard, then it starts to melt! Overall, I'd rather pay Mr. Softee $2.
[Monday, September 29, 2008]
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