Ice cream makers are great additions to your home, especially if you love soft, cold treats. There are so many models to choose from and by looking at the different features you should be able to select the most suitable one for your needs. After you invest in reliable equipment for your ice cream making efforts, you’ll need to use it properly and also give it the care and maintenance it deserves to keep getting the best out of it.
With proper use, you’ll enjoy smoother finishing textures rather than soggy ice cream. Regular washing and proper care, on the other hand, ensure food safety, your fridge needs proper cleaning and disinfection, and it helps to know how.
tip 1 – Read the instructions for use that come with your machine. Even if you have used one before, it is very important that you read the manual because the models may be a little different. Using the manufacturer’s guidelines keeps your machine in top shape and ensures you enjoy perfect desserts every time.
tip 2 – Chill your ingredients before mixing them. Pouring hot ice cream base into the machine just means you have to wait longer for the cooling and churning to take effect and this can affect the quality of the finished product depending on the type of machine you have. For the smoothest textures, it helps to first refrigerate the liquid before freezing it.
tip 3 – Freeze your container ahead of time. Some machines require you to freeze the bowl or container before processing. So be sure to leave it a full day in the freezer so that when you make your next batch it’s ready.
Tip 4 – Let your plugins be last. If you love your ice cream with nuts or chocolate chips or other types of mix-ins, don’t add it too soon. It’s best to add them when your ice cream is almost ready. Remember that the machines are not designed for the hardest ingredients, so only add a few seconds before stopping the process.
tip 5 – Never overfill the machine. Air is needed during the whipping process to give it that light and smooth texture instead of ending up with a solid block. So make sure you fill the container halfway.
Tip 6 – To clean the machine, start by emptying and cleaning hardened ice cream from the scraper blades. Then you need to rinse the water until you can clean the water that comes out.
tip 7 – Disassemble the machine following the manual to know which parts are removable for washing. Then you can use warm soapy water to clean the freezing chamber. If you don’t have a wash cycle setting, you can use a kitchen scrub brush to clean internal moving parts. You can add bleach to kill bacteria, but then all parts should be soaked for at least 30 minutes, then rinsed with clean water and dried with clean towels.