Summer is here and I’m already scrolling through ice cream recipes for new inspiration. I reviewed Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Professional Two years ago and despite not really having room for it (read more on that below), there was no way I was letting it go. Because I still think he is the one The best ice cream makers you can buy
While I use it year-round, it definitely comes into its own in the summer. From tasty healthy frozen yogurt to indulgent ice cream that impresses my guests, this is one tool I don’t need. But as an ice cream fan, there are so many fun flavors to try, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
In the last two years, I have not been able to discover anything new about the machine. It has continued to perform as it has from the get-go. But here are four main reasons why he’s still in my life and won’t be going anywhere.
Food Art
Freeze is Pro Ice Cream Maker
Helen’s original model, Cuisinart The Ice Cream and Gelato Professional has been replaced by a new and updated version in the range: the Freeze is Pro Ice Cream Maker. It retains the fantastic features of the first version, but has been improved to have ‘greater power, precision and versatility’.
1. I can make ice cream on a whim
So many other ice cream appliances require forethought and planning. Often you need to freeze a bowl 24 hours before you plan to make the ice cream. So there’s little room for ice cream spontaneity—unless you leave the bowl in your freezer forever, and who has room in the freezer for that?
(Image credit: Future)
This Cuisinart version freezes as soon as it churns, so no pre-freezing is necessary. So if I wake up in the morning and it looks like ice cream day, I can make homemade ice cream that is ready to eat by lunchtime. For this reason, I tend to use more than if I had to freeze the bowl beforehand.
2. It helps me avoid nasty ultra-processed ice cream
In an ideal world, I try to avoid ultra-processed foods that contain lots of chemical additives. And when you read the list of obscure additives on the labels of many (not all) store-bought ice creams, they definitely fall into the category of foods I prefer to avoid.
Having my own ice cream maker means I am in control of the quality of the ingredients I use. I can create amazing flavors with wholesome ingredients that have some nutritive properties and nutritional value.
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Additionally, the taste of ice cream made with real ingredients like real strawberries cannot be beaten by synthetic flavors or additives. And I enjoy trying new or unique flavors that you can’t buy in stores. I stir pureed raspberries through peach frozen yogurt and it not only tastes amazing, but is a wonderful healthy treat.
3. I can make multiple batches one after the other
This was something I noted in the original review, and it still holds true. If I have an ice cream maker and it’s on my worktop, I usually enjoy making a few different flavors, or sometimes ice cream and sorbet. Being able to make more than one batch in a day is one of the reasons I continue to love this machine.
(Image credit: Future)
After the first batch, all I have to do is wash the bowl and paddle, then I can immediately reset it for another taste. While the pre-frozen bowls that ice cream makers use can usually only be used for one batch, the bowls will need to spend a few hours in the freezer before you can make more.
4. It’s great for impressing friends and family
When I proudly offer homemade ice cream to friends, I secretly hope they don’t realize how little effort I put into it. This ice cream maker is incredibly easy to use, so it almost feels like cheating when I take credit for being a domestic goddess. Having said that, there is something about homemade ice cream that never fails to impress.
(Image credit: Future)
My guests always think I put a lot of effort into making this amazing treat, when in reality, I usually only spend a few minutes preparing the mixture before letting the ice cream maker do all the work.
(Image credit: Future)
I recently tried a new recipe for salted caramel ice cream, it was a little more effort than usual so my friends were more than impressed when I told them I made the salted caramel myself, and needless to say, it was a treat! But my best result so far is the coffee ice cream I made recently, I can’t get enough of it.
The downsides?
The biggest drawback for me is that I don’t have room for it. Honestly. I kid you not, I store it in our garden office. My kitchen only has room for everyday essentials, and this is not one of them. It’s heavy and only used occasionally, so I have to store it elsewhere and bring it into the house when I need it.
(Image credit: Future)
However, my lack of space has not deterred me from keeping it. I could have stuck with the smaller one with a freezable bowl, but I really wanted this one, because I knew I’d be using it more than one time in which the bowls needed to be pre-frozen – and I was right.
Oh, and before you guess I have random, little-used devices stored in the garden office, I don’t. This is the same. I’ve even cleared a special place for it so it’s easily accessible!
