I have gone through my share of ice cream makers.I have had the hand crank and electric version of the ice/salt mix and I had the Villaware ice cream maker available here on Amazon, sold it and my old icewater/salt type at a garage sale.None of them compares to the Lello Gelato Junior when it comes to convenience and ease of use.You just dump the ingredients in the little bucket, put the mixer/lid on and go.With other models you have to keep the bucket in the freezer or mess with an icewater/salt combination.Sure it might take some of the fun out of making your ice cream by eliminating the turning of the hand crank, but so does buying store bought ice cream or for that matter store bought butter.
The big plus with this model is that you can even dump in the ice cream mix while it is still warm off the stove (you have to cook a custard ice cream base).Just turn on the compressor a few minutes before you begin and it will start chilling the bucket.
You might be concerned about the noise this machine makes when running, don't be.It is quieter than a microwave running and by far quieter than almost every diswasher on the market.I would say it is louder than my Bosch dishwasher, but my Bosch is the quietest dishwasher you can get.You're not going to notice the noise from the Lello.
A note about their recipie for vanilla ice cream.When it recommends using a vanilla bean, do it.They are very expensive, like $8 a bean, and for good reason.It is the greatest vanilla ice cream you have ever had. The smell of fresh vanilla will forever blow your budget because you won't ever want to use vanilla extract for anything again. Save the rinds of the bean in a small tupperware bowl full of sugar, you can use it for baking or flavored coffee or something.
A few little things to note about this machine:
1. The opening for adding ingredients is small, m&m's are about the largest thing you can reasonably expect to put down the "chute"
2. The timer won't shut off the maker when it expires, just lets you know your ice cream is ready to eat.
3. It weights about 30 pounds or so.If you can't lift that amount easily without straining youself, leave it out on a counter somewhere.\
4. Unless you are the type of person who likes the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard, don't even think of using a metal utensil in the aluminum bowl, you will cringe like never before.Can you say chewing on tin foil with fillings in your teeth?
5. Keep excercising regularly, with this thing you are going to have lots of extra calories to burn.
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Lello 4070 Gelato JuniorProduct Description: With a minimum freezing temperature of ?4 degrees F, the Simac Gelato Junior takes only about 30 minutes to satisfy your craving for a frozen confection. Plus, the built-in compressor freezer operates continuously, so you can turn out multiple flavors of ice cream while your guests finish their dinner. A 60-minute electronic timer frees you up for other activities, and an automatic safety mechanism sounds a warning beep if the integrated spatula blade gets stuck. A removable 1-quart bowl, transparent lid, and slim ingredient window all simplify operation, and the unit is also useful for crafting frozen drinks and chilled soups. Though not lightweight at 31 pounds, the Gelato Junior is fairly sleek for its class, measuring 11 by 14 by 12-1/4 inches. Simac includes a booklet of tasty ice cream, sorbet, and dessert sauce recipes, as well as an ice cream scoop.
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What is there to say, really? It's a spare bucket. Obviously only of value if you have the appropriate Lello ice cream maker.
