Ice cream is a dessert that saves you from the heat and cheers you up in the summer. Unfortunately, factory-made products are far from always pleasing the consumer with their quality. The way out of the situation is the apparatus for making ice cream, which will make a tasty and healthy treat at home.
Principle of operation
The soft ice cream machine is a fairly compact unit. The design includes an ingredient bowl, a container containing refrigerant, and a whirl for mixing.
Such devices operate on a principle similar to the operation of an electric mixer. In the process of making ice cream, the rotating elements of the whisk mix the components of the future dessert to a uniform consistency. The only difference is the presence of a cooling function, which ensures a decrease in the temperature of the product. At the same time, the freezing of the liquid in the ice cream is prevented by the rapid mixing of the components of the dessert.
Household freezers for soft ice cream are an excellent way to store ice. Apparatuses of this category are suitable for the preparation of yoghurts, fruit and milk shakes.
Number of cylinders
The one-cylinder soft ice cream machine opens up the possibility of making one kind of dessert. Freezers with a pair of cylinders prepare several types of goodies at the same time. In the latter case, you can get an additional taste by mixing individual varieties of ice cream.
The best option for most users is a one-cylinder home-made ice cream maker. In the case of making dessert in the domestic environment, there is no place for haste; accordingly, the operation of a productive multi-cylinder unit is useless here. To diversify the delicacy, it is enough to use various toppings, with which ice cream is poured from above.
Varieties of freezers
Currently, users have access to electrical and mechanical ice makers. Between the walls of the devices of the first type contains refrigerant, which actually decreases the temperature of the dessert ingredients. An electric ice cream maker with a compressor allows you to start cooking goodies at any time convenient for you. In the absence of a compressor, the freezer will have to be pre-cooled in the freezer for 12-16 hours.
As for devices of a mechanical type, here the rotation of the whorl is provided manually. As a refrigerant, ice cubes mixed with salt are used. The obvious disadvantage of such devices is the need to perform work manually, as well as the occurrence of the effect of crystallization of the liquid during the preparation of goodies.
Bowl capacity
As practice shows, in domestic conditions it is most convenient to use freezers for soft ice cream with a bowl with a volume of 0.5 to 2 liters. Even if there is an ice cream maker with a capacity of 1 liter in one sitting, you can prepare such an amount of dessert that will be enough for a large family.
Today, ice cream equipment with portioned cups is in special demand. The latter are bundled with a freezer and are an extremely convenient solution, since during the preparation of delicacies you do not have to transfer to other containers.
Performance
Domestic ice cream equipment consumes little energy. The power of home freezers ranges from 4 to 35 watts. With a compressor, the indicator rises to 150-200 watts. There are also battery-powered models on the market that do not require a network connection.
Dimensions
For the preparation of ice cream at home, preference should be given to compact devices. Then the unit will not occupy excess space in the kitchen. The presence of a compartment is welcomed, where the cord of the device conveniently collapses.
Materials of manufacture
An ice cream maker may contain a metal or plastic container for mixing the ingredients. In terms of hygiene, the most preferred option is a stainless steel bowl. The device with a plastic container will have to be operated with extreme caution, since abrasions, cracks and scratches can form on its walls, and this is simply an ideal place for bacteria to multiply.
Models
Buying a productive household ice cream maker with an integrated compressor is a rather expensive pleasure for the majority of consumers. Therefore, semi-automatic units are in high demand. An excellent option for home use is able to become a machine for soft ice cream brands Tefal, Kenwood, Panasonic, Delonghi.
When using devices from the above manufacturers, the preparation of dessert will take no more than half an hour. However, as noted above, semi-automation requires preliminary cooling of the capacity in the freezer. However, such a need does not cause discomfort if you send the bowl to freeze every time after eating the next portion of the goodies.
Semi-automatic ice cream machine is compact, low electricity consumption. However, it can not be called quiet at work. As practice shows, the Delonghi IC 850 model operates most silently. The loudest of the presented brands is the Kenwood IM280 freezer.
Functionality
The availability of opportunities is not a prerequisite for the preparation of a full dessert. The special functionality of the freezer only gives additional opportunities and to some extent facilitates the process of making ice cream.
So, some models contain a pump, the work of which makes the mixture of ingredients during mixing more airy. Another common function is the possibility of night storage of the product, thanks to which the components of the future ice cream can be left in the bowl for a long time. However, the latter quality is not so important if the delicacy is not prepared too regularly and for several people.
Features of making ice cream
To make a dessert at home, just place the ingredients in an ice cream machine. For example, to prepare a serving of strawberry treats, about 300 g of fresh berries, about 150 g of sugar, 75 g of cream and a similar amount of milk will be needed. Strawberries are pre-chopped in a blender, the rest of the ingredients are added here. The mixture is laid out in the bowl of a working freezer. Making soft ice cream takes from 20 to 30 minutes.
Finally
Household ice cream makers are a great solution for large families, as both children and adults love to enjoy a frozen dessert . The operation of the device is beneficial in terms of cost savings. Buying ice cream at a large amount will result in a tidy amount, and the presence of an ice cream maker can significantly reduce costs. Everything else is added the ability to use healthy, natural ingredients, the quality of which is beyond doubt.