Ice cream

I have had an ice cream maker for the past 24 years and haven't bought ice cream for the same length of time.

All my son's friend's loved coming round and choosing from my freezer. they said it was like an ice cream parlour.

If you are going to get an ice cream maker, you need to think about the cost and whether you are going to use it regularly.

The first one I got was a freeze the container over night, that lasted one day and I took it back to John Lewis for a refund and up grade to one with the freezing compressor in the machine. Some people like them but I found it a Mickey Mouse affair and didn't make very good ice cream.

I have a machine that has an inbuilt freezer and it sits on my counter top so It is ready to use all the time.

If you are going to go for one of these there are two types, one where the paddles/mixer is in the lid of the machine and you put your mix in the machine then have to fit the top and paddle on/in to this.

These are fiddly to assemble.

I don't like these, I have always had a machine with a spindle sticking out from the body of the machine and you just pop the paddles on the spindle. That way you can start the freezer motor and get the paddles moving before you put the mixture in. It makes for smoother, better ice cream.

I have a Gaggia Gelatiera and have had this one for about 6/7 years. I am very pleased with it and the results.

It comes with a metal pail which fits in the body of the machine so you can make the ice cream and take the pail out of the machine and pop it in the freezer. I don't bother with those, I make it in the body of the machine, remove the ice cream with the plastic scoop and pop it into plastic boxes and it goes in the freezer.

Best way to clean the machine is wash out with warm soapy water, then again with clean water and cloth. Then spray with a solution of 1 teaspoon of Milton in 300ml water. leave to dry.
A great anti-bacterial cleaner and sooo much cheaper than the ready made sprays. I also give a spray before I make the next batch of ice cream too.

If I am going to make several batches in one day I don't bother cleaning between batches. I wipe clean with a clean damp cloth, just to make sure that there are no cross over of flavours.

I then clean at the end of the session.

It is a different machine to the one I started with, 20 odd years ago; they don't make those any more, which is shame as that lasted for 20 years with heavy use. But the Gaggia is just as good and is smaller so takes up less space.

Personally I wouldn't have the magimix, or the dualit ones as they have the mixers in the lids. And the Heston one seems overly complicated, expensive and I think trades on his name.

If you go to the Nisbits catering web site they have several ice cream machines and if you can find one of their shops you could go and have a look.
Or if you google Gaggia you can find where they sell their machines and go and have a look at them, which is what I did.

If you go ahead and get one and want any more tips or recipes let me know.

I hope this is helpful to you.

PS. Mine is extremely easy to use. Piece of ice cream cake.

I have a cheapo freeze the container one. It's very easy to use and wouldn't be worth me spending more. It's an Andrew James one.

Thanks I will be looking at all of them later now I have a starting point. What's your most popular flavour in your private ice cream parlour Mrs Bee ?

Oh no, Mrs Bee... Whatever shall I do? I hope they're very power hungry. If so, I can't have one as we run off solar power.

Edited to add: I've just checked. Need to buy another solar panel... Another thing to add to the list!

I have the Gaggia too. My family had a dairy when I was a kid, so grew up making ice cream. I tend to make up a standard custard as the base for virtually all my ice creams and then add whatever fruits we have.
If making more than one batch of different flavours in one go, start with the more subtle flavours and build up, that way no need to clean the machine between batches

Yep I do that too.

I really don't have a favourite ice cream, Small Pumpkin. It is whatever I am experimenting with at the time. Mr Bee's favourite is vanilla, and I always have to make a large batch for his birthday.

I think one of my favourites is apple crumble ice cream, a very strong coffee one and an amaretto one with crushed amaretti biscuits in served with an apricot and amaretto sauce.

My son's favourite is white chocolate and chilli which I also like.

I have a cheapo freezer one too which works well for me, I don't like gadgets on the tops and the tub stays in the freezer so it's ready. I don't particulary want to fill my freezer with icecream and I don't want the boys eating it everyday so I just make it when I know we'll use it up. I mostly use mine for using up fruit. So raspberry and blackcurrants are the most popular ones in my house. For extra special treats it may be with meringues or white chocolate but generally it's to use up the fruit.

Out of curiosity I've just Googled the Gaggia Gelatiera. I'd have to be making a heck of a lot of icecream to justify spending £250!!

MrsB....
Would you consider coming and living near me?

We used to have an icecream maker but lost the paddle!
Most of the time I made sorbets as we ate so much ice cream and sorbets that I had to hold back on the calories!
Christmas cake , and also mince pie icecream were my favourites....and any fruit sorbets!

....hmmm...I can feel a shopping trip coming on!...

I'm with on that Alison. It looks very good but I would never make enough ice cream. I like the look of the Andrew James one.

Keep the list of ice cream varieties/ flavours come. I'd never considered putting half the ingredients in that have been mentioned. Some are sounding very nice.

No, sorry, I like where I live. But I could come and visit for a couple of weeks. LOL

I know the Gaggia is quite expensive but from my perspective........ well I am and have been quite careful with money. I spend very little on myself, you should see my ancient wardrobe, so I feel justified on spending on my passions.

And I am at the age when you start thinking you can't take it with you when you go.

I also think that sometimes cheaper doesn't always equate with good value in kitchen equipment.
The first machine that I bought really didn't owe me anything when it gave up the ghost. And I was able to make far healthier ice treats for the family, by reducing sugar and fats.

There are certain things that I feel are necessary, a free standing ice cream machine, top of the range gas BBQ, a gas hot smoker, 2 bread machines and 400+ cookery books.

Well I don't hurt anyone and my friends are all pleased that I have these things and am not afraid to use them. LOL

really!!!?


I agree with you I don't spend on me, I also have a very suspect wardrobe! But I have other obsessions to spend my money on. Chilli's, poultry & rocks!