The Top 3 Home Ice Cream Makers

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In this Hub, I'm going to tell you a little bit about the best 3 home ice cream makers on the market today (Q3 2009).

Two of these home ice cream makers are manufactured by Cuisinart, who seems to be dominating this particular market at the moment.

Why I am reviewing home ice cream makers?

When I was a boy, my grandparents used to make homemade ice cream about once per month in the summer. It was always such a treat.

Part of the experience was watching my grandparents put into a tub a number of things which were obviously NOT ice cream... and then later, mysteriously scoop out what was certainly creamy and delicious ice cream. It was like magic!

I would love to pass on some of this wonderment to my kids, before they are too old to such things.

Another part of this is far more practical.

With all of the dangers now associated with over-consumption of sugar, it has become clear to me that healthy alternatives should be considered every chance we get. And with a home ice cream maker, I get to choose what goes into my ice cream and what does not.

Over the years, I have come up with a few really amazing "no sugar added" ice cream recipes, that I will eventually write hubs on (once I get the exact measurements and process down on paper).

Until then, enjoy this review of the top 3 home ice cream makers.

The first of the home ice cream makers is the Cuisinart 1-1/2-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Makers.

I have to say, Cuisinart makes some amazing products (I have one of the coffee makers and blenders), and this home ice cream maker is no slouch either.

Unit seems to be constructed well, even though it is made of plastic.  The color choices are white and burn-your-eye-balls-out RED (just take a look and you will see what I mean).

All in all, this seems to do a fantastic job at what it was designed to do.  As long as you follow some basic steps prior to making the ice cream, it comes out perfect every time (Hint: Chill the bowl down to near 0 degrees beforehand).

When it comes to deciding which of the home ice cream makers is the right choice for you, quanitiy can sometimes play into the decision.  The Cuisinart 1-1/2-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Makers makes 1.5 quarts, so it's perfect for a family of 2... maybe 3.

My honest opinion?  This unit is perfect for a small family that is not into making ice cream all the time, or not sure about making ice cream at home (but are willing to give it a shot).  It's the most affordable out of all of the home ice cream makers reviewed, so it's the perfect entry-level model.

The second of the 3 home ice cream makers is the Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker.

This home ice cream maker churns out 2 Quarts of delicious homemade ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt, depending on your mood.

The machine itself is solid and sexy. It's made of stainless steel (not plastic) and goes well in almost any kitchen decor, and fits perfectly in a stainless steel appliance kitchen. It is certainly the best looking unit out of any of these home ice cream makers.

The only cons that I have with this machine is it's loud. This unit has to run for a full half-hour to make a batch of ice cream (or sorbet and frozen yogurt), and can be very annoying if you are wanting to watch television (or even carry on a conversation) anywhere in the vicinity of the rotating drum.

For those wanting make a little bit more ice cream per batch, I highly recommend this unit. This home ice cream maker looks good enough to leave on the kitchen counter when not in use, so if you make a lot of ice cream, this unit is for you.

The third and final entry in the top 3 home ice cream makers is the White Mountain F69206-X 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Freezer.

If you are looking for a unit that produces enough quantity to feed an outdoor BBQ (or you enjoy your family expects a bowl of ice cream to be a LARGE bowl), you may want to have a look at the White Mountain F69206-X 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Freezer

Instead of 1.5 or 2 quarts, this baby doesn't play around.  It churns out 6 whole quarts of delicious homemade ice cream.

One thing that really stands out on this unit is the down-home look and feel of the machine.  The bucket is made from real solid wood, and the motor is large and powerful (unfortunately, the motor is also somewhat loud... but, hey, it's a big motor).

All of these home ice cream makers have their place in any ice cream maker's arsenal, and the White Mountain F69206-X 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Freezer is made for gatherings.  It's not something you'll want to leave on the counter top for frequent use.

This unit also, because of it's size and quality construction, is the most expensive of the 3 home ice cream makers.  But, it's not overly expensive as long as you have the need to make 6 quarts of ice cream.

The White Mountain F69206-X 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Freezer is still easy to use, as long as you keep the bowl and your ingredients (very) cold before usage.

If you've read my hub closely, you have already realized that I love all three of these home ice cream makers, but for different reasons.

Each of these home ice cream makers have different benefits, and different price points.

The first unit is excellent for those small households, who do not wish to make homemade ice cream very often, or are just looking to dip their toes into the world of home ice cream makers.  It is the least expensive of the bunch.

The second unit is amazing, and is designed from the inside out to be a permanent fixture in the kitchen of any homemade ice cream lover.  It can be a little loud, but the results are worth a little noise.  This machine is a little more expensive.

The third unit is the big daddy of them all, and phenomenal in own right.  It's more suited to outdoor occasions, or family holiday gatherings.  It may also adequately suit the needs of the family who can really put away a lot of ice cream.  This unit is the most expensive, but is more than worth it due to the exceptional construction and the volume of ice cream it can produce.

I hope this hub has helped you (at least a little) decide which of these home ice cream makers is right for you.