The Modern Ice Cream Machine

By Wally Clydesdale

Although summertime is almost over, it's not time to store away your ice cream maker--pumpkin ice cream anyone? Or if you don't own an ice cream machine, if you look around, you may find some good end-of-summer sales and be able to pick one up for really cheap. But how do ice cream machines work?

Virtually all ice cream machines function the same way. You take an ice cream mixture, lower the temp of the mixture until it's almost frozen while at the same time beating air into the mix.

Although home ice cream machines vary in size and operation, there are basically only three kinds. The first kind is probably what you remember Grandma using on Sunday socials. They use rock salt and ice to get the ice cream mixture to a low enough temp.

Next comes the more recent style of machine. This one features a bowl that you freeze for at least' hours, before making ice cream. A plus to this kind of machine is less mess than the traditional style.

Then there is the compressor-style ice cream maker. With one of these, you can forgo, the mess of rock salt and ice, as well as having to plan ahead for freezing your bowl insert, by using a machine that has its own built in freezer compressor. Homemade ice cream any time you feel like it.

Fresh ice cream anytime--what's the catch? Well for starters, a compressor-style machine is really expensive. Then there are some models that don't have a removable mixing bowl and that can make it difficult when it comes time to clean up.

There you have it, the three basic kinds of ice cream makers along with how they work. Like I mentioned before, summer is gone but that doesn't mean your ice cream machine isn't as useful. Pumpkins and sweet potatoes are in season and are great in ice cream. You can also use regular vanilla to top pumpkin pie. - 29884

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