In reading the reviews for this product, I've noticed that some people may have been expecting something more than what Cuisinart is selling. Having used this unit several times now, here are my impressions and thoughts.
- The unit uses a freezer bowl to freeze the product. That means that the bowl MUST be frozen solid and the product MUST be very well chilled, otherwise you will not get good results. We have just kept our freezer bowls in the deep freeze when not in use so that we can make ice cream fairly quickly. It's probably best to mix up your soft serve mix at least an hour in advance and put it in the coldest part of your fridge or (as another reviewer suggested) in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to get it as cold as possible without prematurely freezing it.
- The freezer bowl doesn't have a huge capacity. It can make "10-12" servings - if your servings are small. 6-8 is probably more like it. If you want more, make certain you purchase an additional bowl and keep it frozen.
- The instructions on time expectations generally say 10-15 minutes, and this can be true if you chill the ice cream mixture very thoroughly. Otherwise it will take longer, probably more like 15-20 minutes.
- The first serving or so may be fairly soupy - I have found that I can dispense some into a cup and then re-add that into the top of the bowl.
- The "mix-ins" really don't mix in to the soft serve at all, they are really topping dispensers. If you're expecting something like a DQ Blizzard, it's not the same. Also, don't over-fill (or pack in) the mix in bins. I've had good luck with chopped peanuts, sprinkles and the mini M&Ms.
The differences between this unit and a more conventional ice cream freezer are mainly that this unit has a freezable bowl vs. a bowl that is placed in a mix of ice and rock salt. That means it is a little more convenient, but lacks the capacity of the conventional freezer. Our ice cream freezer makes about twice as much ice cream as the soft serve, but it is much louder, generally requires more clean up and doesn't dispense the product. On the other side, I think a conventional freezer has more versatility if you are making things like frozen custards that set up harder than soft serve. Finally, the freezer just isn't really as much "fun" as this one is which has real appeal if you've got kids in the family.
Overall, I've really enjoyed this gadget - but I did some research first and made certain I understood what I was buying. This is NOT like the soft serve dispensers in restaurants - but it's very nice for a treat on a summer afternoon.
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Cuisinart Ice-45 Mix-It-In Soft-Serve 1-1/2-Quart Ice-Cream MakerProduct Description: Make professional-quality soft ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet right at home with this fully automatic, soft-serve ice-cream maker. Simply pour in the ingredients and turn the dial--no chemicals, salt, or ice required. The unit's double-insulated freezer bowl holds cold temperatures and makes it possible to produce up to 1-1/2 quarts of ice cream in just 20 minutes. Three built-in condiment dispensers allow for adding sprinkles, mini M&Ms, chocolate chips, and other favorites, mixing them right in to frozen desserts as cones and bowls get filled. A unique pull handle sends ice cream swirling out like with an authentic soft-serve machine. Other highlights include a cone holder that holds a stack of pointed or flat-bottom cones, a drip tray, nonskid feet, and removable parts for easy cleaning. An instruction book with recipes comes included. The ice-cream maker measures 10-1/2 by 12-1/2 by 19-4/5 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.
From the Manufacturer Extra! Extra! Extra! Sprinkles, mini-chips and more--the choice is yours. Just pull the tabs on one, two, or three condiment dispensers to add your favorite mix-ins as you dispense into your cone or bowl. Makes any frozen dessert extra delicious.
Features
- The perfect mix: Ice cream maker mixes sprinkles, chips, and more into frozen desserts as they're dispensed.
- Always easy: Effortless ice cream making--just pick a favorite recipe, turn the dial, andadd ingredients.
- Fast results:Enjoy 1-1/2 quarts of gourmet quality soft-serve frozen desserts.
- Dispense or scoop: When ice cream stops flowing through, lift the lid and scoopout the rest.
- Cone holder holds a stack of pointed or flat bottom cones
- Double-insulated freezer bowls holds temperature for fast results
- No chemicals, salt, or ice required
- Removable parts for easy cleaning
- Includes instruction book and recipe book
- 1-1/2-quart capacity
- Limited 3-year warranty
Bringing the Good Life Home Cuisinart products are designed to make life delicious all day long. Specialty items, like our Mix-It-In soft serve ice cream maker, offer today's consumers a variety of menu options, and fun and easy new ways to entertain family and friends.
Cuisinart first came into home kitchens over 30 years ago when it introduced the now legendary food processor. People discovered that routines could be broken and creative cooking quickly became part of the new lifestyle. Preparing fresh ingredients with products that offered easy and interesting new techniques meant healthier meals and more free time.
Today Cuisinart develops products to make every meal memorable. From breakfast toast and coffee to elegant five-course dinners, the preparation and cooking have become a pleasurable part of the total experience. Today's relaxed lifestyles and the convenience of Cuisinart products make it easier than ever to Savor the Good Life, right at home with family and friends.
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We received this as a family Christmas gift.My son has severe nut allergies and we cannot buy much in the way of ice cream products from the store.Plus I love soft serve ice cream.So this has saved the day. We use it almost every night.We mix up the liquid when we make dinner.We put it in the refrigerator until dinner is ready.Then a few minutes into dinner I hop up insert the bowl and pour in the mixture.The only catch is the recipes in the booklet are way too much volume to get a proper consistency of ice cream. So we half all recipes and it it works great.We make the vanilla most often and use 1/2 cup 2% milk and 1 cup nonfat.The full fat version in the recipe book is yummy, but not appropriate (way too much fat) for our family given we have it for desert most nights. Approx. 20 minutes ice cream is done.We have done as much as a 3/4 recipe (3/4 cup 2% - 1 1/2 cup non fat)and it works.But that is the maximum you can use if you want it to freeze to a proper soft serve ice cream consistency. The lid also tends to pop up once the consistency gets thicker so we use one of my 5 lb weights to rest on top and keep the lid in place. The only draw back is if you have a bigger family (it is just the 3 of us) it doesn't make a bunch of ice cream relative quantity. This is a great machine. We all highly recommend it.
