My Machine

I use the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker. It’s one of two ice cream machines I’ve ever had. The other was a tiny hand crank machine I had when I was a kid. I used it to make frozen yogurt a few times, but otherwise it just took up space in the freezer. Not so the Cuisinart.

I did my research first. I’m not a Cuisinart employee, or have any deal with them. But I’m a huge fan of this machine. I went looking on websites for highly rated and well-reviewed machines, and this one came up at the top of pretty much every list. I dug a little deeper, and looked into the comments, and still found that people were saying the right things about the machine.

I was looking for the following: ease of use, minimal mechanism, easy cleanup, durability, possible replaceability of parts, modest size, good capacity, no cranking or shaking, good warranty and a reliable brand. Nothing fancy, you know?

Turns out it’s easy to use. You turn it on, and it goes. The mechanism is just a rotating motor, and it doesn’t go fast, or get taxed much. Cleanup is pretty simple, especially with only 3 parts needing washing. Durability is best in hindsight. I’ve had it for almost 3 years without any change in performance.

As far as replacing parts is concerned, I’ve looked into it, and it’s possible. I don’t want to have to do it, but I looked into getting a second freezer bowl, and all I had to do was pay and wait.

Modest size is important because kitchens and countertops only have so much space. The machine is a decent size, but being a cuboid helps it fit into nooks, corners and such. One thing to note is the size of the freezer bowl. It will take up a good percentage of a fridge freezer, and is best for use with an independent freezer unit. The tradeoff for decent size is really good capacity. Being able to make a full litre-sized batch of ice cream at one time is fantastic. If you’re clever about it, you can make it serve 12 people or more!

No cranking or shaking is my preference. I do hand whip all the whipped cream I use, but cranking or shaking an ice cream machine on a regular basis is a no-go. Like I said, I had a little crank machine when I was a kid. If you honestly believe you or your kids are going to crank or shake ice cream into being more than a couple of times, I feel for you. Get one with a motor.

Finally, good warranty and a reliable brand go hand in hand. I used to work for a kitchen supply store, and we sold various Cuisinart items there. There were similar options as well, and each brand had a few things they did better than the others. Something Cuisinart did the best was follow up and warranty. No questions were asked beyond what caused the failure, and the product rep was great. She was genuinely happy in her work, and cared about the details. It’s because of her that I will always consider Cuisinart when considering a small appliance.

Something I didn’t bring up here is gimmicks. I suppose shaking and cranking could be considered gimmicks, but I’m talking about sprinkle compartments, licensed characters, weird shapes, soft-serve nozzles, fruit grinders, and stuff like that. The best gimmick is easy-to-produce ice cream that you want to eat. You want more gimmicks than that? Get into toppings.

My research was rewarded. I have a lot of great things to say about this machine. Like every machine I’ve ever used, it required a bit of a learning curve. But patience and perseverance have resulted in several hundred batches from my modest little Cuisinart. I have done 5 batches in 48 hours with careful planning, and have gone entire weeks where I did a batch every day. I’ve even produced enough ice cream for a 75 seat charity event, including a dozen or so staff.

Kudos to you, Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Machine! Most highly recommended for all home ice cream makers.