News about Ice Cream Makers
[24/05/2010] Electric ice cream makers
The electric ice cream makers have an electric motor, which rotates the mixing paddle or the bowl in order to stir the ice cream mixture. According to the cooling mechanism they are divided into three different types.
The simplest electric ice cream makers use canisters with cooling solution, which is contained between the walls of that canister. The double-walled bowl is placed in a freezer or the freezer compartment of a fridge and kept for a few hours or overnight; once the cooling solution is completely frozen, the bowl is taken out and put into the machine. Then the electric maker is turned on and the paddle starts mixing the ice cream, which is usually ready within twenty minutes or less. The advantage of this type of ice cream makers is that they are inexpensive and easy to use, while their main disadvantage is the fact that typically only one batch of ice cream can be made at a time.
Another type of electric ice cream makers is the one that is kept in the freezer or the freezer compartment of a fridge, while the ice cream is being made. The paddle mixes the ice cream constantly, at a slow motion, turning every few seconds in order to prevent the ice crystals from forming; when the mixture is ready, the paddles will automatically stop rotating. This ice cream maker doesn’t have two canisters, but only one, which canister contains the mixing paddle and since the mixture is cooled by the freezer, the ice cream takes much longer to make. The two disadvantages of these ice cream makers is the fact that the freezer has to be closed over the power cord and the fact that due to the slow mixing often the ice cream isn’t aerated properly and does not have the desired texture. Battery-powered models are also sold, but the only batteries that operate well in low-temperature environment are not rechargeable and are quite pricey. Most of these ice cream makers don’t have the traditional, bucket look, but are flatter and disk-like, so they can fit easily in the freezer compartments of most fridge models.
Machines that have electric-powered cooling system are the most advanced domestic ice cream makers and since they make ice cream continuously, they are also suitable for small coffee shops or restaurants, where larger quantities are made every day. These types don’t require pre-freezing – the cooling system is turned on and only a few minutes later the motor that rotates the paddle can be switched on as well. These models are capable of making large quantity of high-quality ice cream, but they are often unsuitable for small kitchens and they are the most expensive of all electric models as well.
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[24/05/2010] General info about Ice cream maker
[24/05/2010] Manual ice cream makers
[18/06/2010] Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
