KMart Ice Cream Maker Review

So I was talking to my sister one day, and she mentioned that she was considering purchasing a KitchenAid as it was going on half price up in Zurich (so jealous). For those of you who aren't aware, the KitchenAid can costs close to $1000, and is one of the most AMAZING mixers ever.

 

All right, so truth be told, I've never had the chance to actually use one of these babies. But being the consumer-advertising sucker that I am, just seeing it on Martha Stewart when I was in Singapore, and just hearing about how it makes the perfect meringues just makes me go all weak at my knees.. (sighhhh)

So back to the main point, she began talking about how the different 'attachements' for the KitchenAid were likewise, going on a 50% sale. And she briefly mentioned an ice cream maker one, which was amounting to hundred-ish++ ( I can't remember the figure anymore) dollars. Whatever the amount was, I stopped her mid sentence and said,

 "wait, can't you buy ice cream makers for $20??"

I said this because I was quite certain I had seen KMart selling their ice cream makers for $20 one day. KMart has HEAPS of amazing fun kitchen devices that look amazingly appealing to children, and would make fantastic inexpensive gifts for (poor) friends.

For instance, last year, I bought a dutch pancake maker and donut maker as christmas gifts for friends back home in Singapore who either were the baking/cooking sort, or had kids (and hence, I knew would make most use out of them hopefully!) 




Unfortunately I haven't gotten a chance to ask them how it went, (seeing that the electric plug heads here and back home are different, they might not have actually used them yet.. Fei?)

But I have tasted a sample of the donut maker's goods before when a friend made them. Although they weren't exactly donuts, they were nice, soft, fluffy and pancake-like. (And seeing that there's hardly any oil, probably a healthy fun snack-activity for any kid).

Seeing that I am SO sold on KMart's series of cooking appliances, I went on to purchase the Ice Cream Maker to trial before passing it on or getting one for my sister!

Now believe me, knowing that some ice cream makers cost hundreds of dollars, I had my doubts on this guy. Plus, I could not, for the life of me, find a decent review of this product! (Hence decided to write one for all you out there contemplating the purchase of one)

 

For an in expensive $20, I  proudly brought home my new toy to trial!

Now in all honesty, because the ice cream maker does not have an actual electrical freezer component, do not expect to make and eat your ice cream on the same sitting. And and and... always make sure you have enough freezer space and planning before making ice cream! Unfortunately, this little baby isn't one you can just conveniently whip out and use, as you need to freeze the freezer bowl at least 24 hours prior. ( Hence the need for planning).

Key tip and reminder of using this device: KEEP EVERYTHING AS COLD AS POSSIBLE! This meant keeping the mixture cool before putting it in, freezing the bowls, not doing it in the hot blistering sun etc. 

The ice cream maker is a simple device, it basically churns your cream while it slowly freezes in a cold cold bowl.

A snapshot of my peanut butter and dark chocolate ice cream in the process! Yummmm (it turned out to be way too rich though)

One mega let down is the limited capacity of the device. Overloading it resulted in this big mess, and I had to stop the churning mid way as the ice cream began pushing up on the lid and I was afraid of spoiling the mixer in one day.

As you can see, we were alll prepared to eat it the ice cream once it had finished churning.. Unfortunately, this didn't really happen and we had more of a chocolate-sorbet-soft-serve type ice cream. (Which was still pretty awesome).

Although the cost of ingredients and effort kinda took up as much as one tub of 4L Coles ice cream on sale, the experience was still fun. AND, you get to pick your own flavours! (Like the peanut butter and nutella you see sitting at the edge of the counter!)

I would recommend this anyday if you had a big enough freezer, ate ice cream quite frequently, or my favourite, had kids with perhaps dietary needs and required lactose-free sugar-free everything-free ice cream. It's a fun event, and it feels better eating your own home made ice cream!