Cheap with common ingredients or natural, but very expensive? There is another option - homemade ice cream. Where should you start? Which ice cream maker is best for home use, and which one will be better for your restaurant?
Ice Cream Makers – types
Homemade ice cream, or maybe a small, ice cream business? Which ice cream maker will meet your expectations? Start off by getting to know the two basic types of ice cream makers.
The first type are simple machines, intended for home use. How do ice cream makers work? These are relatively cheap machines providing efficient cooling and mixing of a liquid mass, before turning it into fluffy ice cream.
They usually consist of a bowl filled with a cooling pad, which should be stored from several to a dozen or so hours in the freezer, before you can start making ice cream. Add the ice cream ingredients to the frozen bowl – it is also best to cool the ingredients beforehand, as this will speed up the whole process. The ice cream maker is equipped with a stirrer, making the mass become fluffy, airy and free of ice crystals.
Which ice cream maker is easier to use? Choose a model with a thermoelectric cooling system, letting you forget about the need to cool the bowl and even the ingredients themselves! Using such equipment is pure pleasure – just put all the ingredients into the chamber, press the button and wait for delicious, perfectly frozen ice cream.
What should you pay attention to when choosing an ice cream maker?
Which ice cream maker will be best? It all depends on your expectations. So before you make your choice, analyse your needs and pay attention to the most important features of such machines:
- The power output – this determines the speed and precision with which the ice cream is made. The wattage range can be from a few to even 200 W – the most powerful ones are those with thermoelectric cooling systems, and equipped with their own compressors.
- The bowl capacity – will you prepare ice cream for yourself or the whole family? The bigger the bowl, the more ice cream you can prepare at one time! However, bear in mind that in the case of ice cream machines with freezer bowls, a too large container may be inconvenient.
- Stirrers – do you like ice cream with large pieces of fruit, nuts and biscuit chunks? Then pay attention to the stirrers that come with the ice cream maker. They should have holes larger than the toppings you want to add.
- The dimensions – this is especially important if you have a small or medium-sized kitchen, where you will need space for any additional equipment. Fortunately, you will easily find both compact and larger ice cream makers on the market.
- Included accessories – an ice cream scoop? A spatula making it easier to put the ice cream into containers? Or maybe a measuring cup for adding the right amount of ingredients? Ice cream makers come with various accessories, so it’s worth checking the contents of the package beforehand.
Ice cream makers for commercial use
If the ice cream maker is to be used in a cafe or other similar venue then you will need to consider a slightly different type of device. What are your options and what features should they have?
- Which ice cream maker should you choose? In the case of professional equipment used in commercial kitchens, you can choose from equipment for making specific types of ice cream. These will include soft serve or Thai rolled ice cream makers, as well as traditional machines for making artisan ice cream to be served in scoops.
- Power output – a machine in a small bistro or cafe will be in constant use, producing large amounts of ice cream, and will therefore have different power requirements than ones for home use. Values reaching 1000 or even 2500 watts are nothing out of the ordinary, and they ensure much more efficient use.
- Durability – ice cream makers used in commercial kitchens should be distinguished by high resistance to mechanical damage. They will be heavily used and exposed to various everyday situations, so it is best to choose equipment made of stainless steel or other solid materials.
- Mobility – during the summer season, you may not want to limit yourself to selling ice cream on your premises. A mobile machine will let you take it with you to festivals, events or busy tourist locations and serve indulgent ice cream where people most want it. In this case choose a machine equipped with wheels and a handle for easy transport!
Which ice cream maker should you choose – summary
Before choosing an ice cream maker you should analyse your own needs and expectations. The key aspect is its designation – for home or commercial use. However, the other aspects mentioned above are equally important.
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