An electric ice cream maker can be a god-send on a hot summer afternoon. If you want to buy one of these machines, there will be a few thing you’ll need to consider. Some of these include type, space, and timers. This article will give you a few tips for buying an electric ice cream maker.
Type
One of the first things you need to consider before buying an electric ice cream maker is the type you want. You can get a gel canister or built-in compressor type. The gel variety has a canister that you have to pre-cool in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours. The built-in freezer only has to be pre-cool for a few minutes. If you want a cheaper electric ice cream maker, then you should go with the gel canister design. Although, the compressor design is more expensive, it will also be more convenient and require less effort on your part to make the ice cream.
Space
You will also need to consider space when you buy an electric ice cream maker. The built-in compressor design is too heavy, so you may have a difficult time moving it around. Therefore, you’ll likely need to make a permanent place for it on your counter. If you don’t have room for this type of electric ice cream maker, you should choose the gel canister style because they are more compact and lighter. However, you will need to make space in your freezer to accommodate the canister for one or two days.
Tubs
One of the next things you need to consider before buying an electric ice cream maker is the number of tubs the machine has. Some designs only have one tub, while the more expensive designs can have two tubs. An electric ice cream maker with two tubs will let you make more ice cream at a time. You can also use the two tubs to make two different flavors of ice cream.
Timers
If you want added convenience, you should look for an electric ice cream maker that has a timer. The electric timer will alert you when the ice cream has been mixing long enough. Therefore, you won’t have to keep track of the time. The timer can also be combined with a sensor that will shut the machine off automatically.
Lids
You should also look at the type of lid the electric ice cream maker. A good feature to look for is a lid that has openings in it. This will allow you to add ingredients while the ice cream is still mixing.
These are a few tips for buying an electric ice cream maker. The gel canister design is less expensive, but has to pre-cool for 24 or 48 hours. If you’re lacking space on your counter, then you may not want to buy an electric ice cream maker that has a built-in compressor. They will usually be too heavy to move around easily.
