Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

We give this Cuisinart Ice-45 1-1/2-Quart Electric Ice-Cream Maker
a rating.

The Cuisinart Soft Serve ice cream maker easily makes 1-1/2 quarts of ice cream in about 20 minutes. You can fill the three built in dispensers with your choice of ingredients like chocolate chips or sprinkles that can be added while you are dispensing the ice cream.

All you need to do is add the ingredients and turn the dial, the machine does the rest. When the level of ice cream gets too low to dispense, simply open up the machine and scoop out the rest.

A convenient cone holder can keep cones readily available. You don't need to mess with chemicals, salt or ice cubes. The parts come out for easy cleaning.

You can start making ice cream right away with the handy recipe book that comes with the machine.

Positive Features

The Cuisinart Soft Serve ice cream maker works great if you really freeze the freeze bowl.

Turn your freezer colder if you have to. Store the empty bowl in the freezer between uses. It will make the difference between yummy soft serve and slush.

The bowl stays cold enough to make a second batch if you want it. Clean out is simple.

You can serve about 8 people out of one batch. If you hold your cone up close, you can get that swirl effect you get at Dairy Queen. The ice cream is light, fluffy and well mixed.

Considerations

The Cuisinart Soft Serve ice cream maker is a bit bulky.

The biggest complaint on this machine is that it doesn't freeze the ice cream properly. Those who have been successful state that the bowl must be kept in the deep freeze for at least 24 hours and the freezer should be set at 5 degrees or lower.

It could be that this is the problem most critics of this machine are having... their freezer isn't cold enough.

Other complaints included ice cream that got too hard. There is a small window where the soft serve is perfect for dispensing. Before that it is too runny and after that you need to scoop it out.

A lot of customers had these issues. Whether it is a learning curve problem or due to a defect in the machine is unclear.

Some customers were unhappy that they had to mix all the ingredients in a blender first, but with any ice cream maker you need to make your ice cream batter before you put it in the machine.

This unit is a bit pricey, so not being able to get a handle on how to use it can be very frustrating.

Features

• Soft serve ice cream maker is fully automatic
• Double insulated freezer bowl
• Makes up to 1-1/2 quarts in only 20 minutes
• 3 built in condiment dispensers
• Cone holder included
• Parts are removable for easy cleaning
• Recipes included
• 3 year limited warranty

Summary

The Cuisinart Soft Serve ice cream maker has its fans and its foes. They are divided fairly evenly.

Those who love it think it is the best thing since sliced bread, while those who don't like it think it is a huge waste of money. It is hard to tell where you will fall on this spectrum until you try it.

If you have the money to spend and like soft serve ice cream, take a chance. Follow the suggestions made in the book and by reviews you read online.

You may find yourself the happy owner of a wonderful ice cream machine. Likewise, you may find it is difficult to use and you don't want to mess with it. Take the chance if you want to... this decision is up to you.

At the time of writing this review Amazon had this ice crean maker at 54% off retail and ships free with super saver.

Click here to purchase this ice cream maker from Amazon.