At the outset, I’m going to be honest, I have no idea what this appliance is “supposed to be” called. Everything I’ve found online, calls it by a different name. “ICE-21” or “ICE-21C” etc. So YOLO and call it what you want to call it. In case you’re still confused, just look at the picture for reference.
In this review, we’ll be looking at the following aspects of the Cuisinart Ice Cream ICE-21(C)
- Key Features
- Pros of Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
- Cons of Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
- Who Should Buy It
Key Features
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is a budget ice cream maker for beginner ice cream enthusiasts. It is composed of 4 major components: clear plastic lid, ice cream paddle, frozen mixing bowl, and motorized base.
Clear Plastic Lid
Granted, there’s not a lot to say about this component. It’s made of a clear plastic which turned out to be super helpful. It allowed me to see the ice cream as it spun – which is a fun activity for children to do! Our little one, C, loved to just sit there and share her observations about the ice cream.
*Note: While not really a dealbreaker, this plastic cover easily acquires micro abrasions even when using the soft side of the sponge to clean it. If a pristine cover is your thing, you might want to think twice. Just saying…
Ice Cream Paddle
The ice cream paddle is composed of a simple plastic construction. Even when using stain-worthy ingredients in your ice cream (see “Meat and Manna” YouTube channel for an example), the plastic didn’t get stained. It’s easy to clean so don’t even bother putting it into the dishwasher.
Frozen Mixing Bowl
The mixing bowl is made of an easily scratch-able aluminum – just make sure to keep metal utensils clear from it when scooping out your meticulously-made ice cream! The freezer bowl needs to be frozen well in advance to ensure that the ingredients will churn into that dreamy frozen dessert. In my testing, overnight wasn’t always enough. I’d make sure to freeze the bowl at least a day in advance, or just keep the bowl in the freezer at all times.
Motorized Base
Now this is where you can get fancy, and purchase the personalized colour that fits best with your kitchen motif. In general, the easiest to find colour ways are red and white. However, with a little bit of obsessing and a whole lot of luck, you should be able to find the other colours Cuisinart boasts in their lineup.
I also love how simple the construction of this product is. There’s a chord to plug into the electrical outlet and a simple on/off switch. No gimmicks, no time-setting electrical doo-hickey. Just plug it in and you’re off to becoming either Ben and/or Jerry.
Pros of Owning the ICE-21
1. Relatively Compact and Lightweight
At just over 30 cm tall (sorry Americans – I’m not familiar with your not-so-standard unit of measurement), it’s pretty eat to fit into a bottom cupboard. Additionally, this thing is pretty light so you won’t have to worry about throwing out your back in the process.
2. Affordable
At just about $80 CAD (see Amazon link), it’s a very reasonably priced appliance. Sure you’re not going to use it every day, but even after 10 uses, it’s pretty much paid for itself!
If you’re lucky, you could even keep an eye out on Facebook Marketplace and get one for about half the cost!
3. Simplicity
This is a really easy machine to start your ice cream journey on. The functionality is uncomplicated and straightforward. Add your ice cream base of choice to the freezer bowl and turn it on. There is a possibility of “over-churning” but for the most part, you’ll likely avoid this if you stay within your 15-20 churn limit.
Cons of Owning the ICE-21
1. Not-So-Aesthetically Appealing
Though it’s easy to clean, the motorized base is composed of a shiny plastic that screams “budget-buy” and it may not match every kitchen aesthetic. That being said, unless you intend on making ice cream on a daily basis or having this machine be the centrepiece of your kitchen environment – put it in the cupboard and forget about it!
2. Capacity Issues
In my testing, most recipes I prepared usually created a-little-too-much ice cream base for ICE-21 to handle. On a few occasions, I did go for the gusto and pour all the ice cream base I had into the machine – only to end up with an ice cream overflow or an under-churned mess. I mean, who wants to waste ice cream base?!
Make sure to only fill it about 80% of the way to allow the frozen base to expand!
3. Freeze Time for the Freezer Bowl
As the main freezing power is dependent on the temperature of the bowl, it’s paramount that it is frozen properly. In my experience, overnight isn’t usually enough time to freeze the bowl thoroughly enough. If you have enough space, I would just keep the bowl in your freezer at all times, ready for a spontaneous ice-cream-making sesh. And if ice cream making is really a priority – you’ll find the space.
Who Should Buy This?
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker ICE-21(C) is definitely an appliance for the beginner ice cream maker and aspiring Hägen-Dazs employees. The simplicity of its functionality, low maintenance in the ice cream process, and budget-friendly price tag – make this the perfect tool for those wanting to dip their feet into the ice cream process without investing too much. With a lack of an internal freezing system, you’re limited to making one batch at a time. Is that the end of the world? No. Should you even be eating that much ice cream? Probably not.
At the end of the day, I’ve really enjoyed using this machine. We’ve owned ours for about a year and it’s already paid for itself!
Lastly, there are, of course, many different ways to make an ice cream base. But if you want to one of the simplest recipes that still achieve stellar results – check out this recipe below!
thecultureofcookery.com 