Should I Buy an Ice Cream Maker?

[Deleted]

I am a real sucker for kitchen gadgets. I have everything from waffle makers to pressure cookers to food processors and on and on. However, i am feeling empty inside that i don't have an Ice Cream maker too. So should i get one? Do you have one and do you use it? And, i don't want to buy any premade mixes, i want to use my own ingredients cuz i am cutting back on processed and chemical additives. Is there a particular maker you recommend?

[yogiii]

Buy the KA attachment

[formerroomate99]

I was thinking of buying a yogurt maker, since I make my own greek yogurt and would love to not have to clean up when it overboils. Does anybody have any experience with those?

[swamp]

Jun 15, 2012 9:19:31 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I am a real sucker for kitchen gadgets. I have everything from waffle makers to pressure cookers to food processors and on and on. However, i am feeling empty inside that i don't have an Ice Cream maker too. So should i get one? Do you have one and do you use it? And, i don't want to buy any premade mixes, i want to use my own ingredients cuz i am cutting back on processed and chemical additives. Is there a particular maker you recommend?

I'd just buy Ben & Jerry's.

I don't really get the point of spending all this time and money making stuff when there are perfectly good foodstuffs I can buy at the store.

Pasta, bread, ice cream, juice. What's the point?

[kittensaver]

Jun 15, 2012 11:43:17 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jun 15, 2012 9:19:31 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I am a real sucker for kitchen gadgets. I have everything from waffle makers to pressure cookers to food processors and on and on. However, i am feeling empty inside that i don't have an Ice Cream maker too. So should i get one? Do you have one and do you use it? And, i don't want to buy any premade mixes, i want to use my own ingredients cuz i am cutting back on processed and chemical additives. Is there a particular maker you recommend?

I'd just buy Ben & Jerry's.

I don't really get the point of spending all this time and money making stuff when there are perfectly good foodstuffs I can buy at the store.

Pasta, bread, ice cream, juice. What's the point?

For me, the point is: no chemicals, no preservatives, no additives, no artificial coloring, no MSG, no HFCS, no BPA in the container, etc. Just real food with real, unadulterated ingredients. When I make it, I know and control the ingredients. I clearly know this is not for everyone and I'm not knocking anyone else's choices, but THIS is the point to homemade vs. store bought.

[swamp]

Jun 15, 2012 11:48:35 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:43:17 GMT -5 swamp said:

I'd just buy Ben & Jerry's.

I don't really get the point of spending all this time and money making stuff when there are perfectly good foodstuffs I can buy at the store.

Pasta, bread, ice cream, juice. What's the point?

For me, the point is: no chemicals, no preservatives, no additives, no artificial coloring, no MSG, no HFCS, no BPA in the container, etc. Just real food with real, unadulterated ingredients. When I make it, I know and control the ingredients. I clearly know this is not for everyone and I'm not knocking anyone else's choices, but THIS is the point to homemade vs. store bought.

I can buy organic and real food at the grocery store.

[Deleted]

And, homemade stuff does taste different than store food as well.

[Deleted]

It is easier to dip your balls in homemade food.

[swamp]

Jun 15, 2012 11:50:02 GMT -5 @shooby said:

And, homemade stuff does taste different than store food as well.

depends on what it is.

Pasta tastes like pasta to me.

[kittensaver]

Jun 15, 2012 11:15:22 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Buy the KA attachment

Yogiii: what is your experience with the KA attachment? I have a KA with many other attachments that I like and use, but do not have the ice cream maker. I'm curious about your experience with it.

[Deleted]

OK, i found an online recipe for ice cream without a machine. Think i will give that a try and see how the kids like that first.

[kittensaver]

Jun 15, 2012 11:23:27 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

I was thinking of buying a yogurt maker, since I make my own greek yogurt and would love to not have to clean up when it overboils. Does anybody have any experience with those?

If the point is that you WANT the gadget, of course go for it. But did you know you can make yogurt without a machine? Check out Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions. She walks you through how to make and preserve lots of foods in traditional, low-tech, no-tech ways (without machinery).

[Deleted]

I didn't know i could make ice cream without a machine but i will give it a try. Sometimes the gadgets make it seem like it will be easier. As for a KA attachment, i dont' know what that costs but a lot of the KA attachments are expensive and i don't know that i would really use it all that much. Just something to use once in awhile.

[kittensaver]

Shooby! Do your kids like popsicles? I have a lot of healthy and semi-healthy recipes for homemade popsicles. Pm me if you would like them.

[Deleted]

Yeah, they do! That is a good idea too!

[yogiii]

Jun 15, 2012 11:58:29 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:15:22 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Buy the KA attachment

Yogiii: what is your experience with the KA attachment? I have a KA with many other attachments that I like and use, but do not have the ice cream maker. I'm curious about your experience with it.

The ice cream is great, particularly the one I make with nutella . It is kind of expensive to make though and the bowl takes up a lot of freezer space. Now with a toddler I don't have the time to make it anymore but used to enjoy it pre-kids.

[saveinla]

Jun 15, 2012 12:06:35 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Shooby! Do your kids like popsicles? I have a lot of healthy and semi-healthy recipes for homemade popsicles. Pm me if you would like them.

kittensaver,

Can you post the popsicle recipe in the recipe thread - pretty please. Thanks

[kittensaver]

Jun 15, 2012 12:31:02 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jun 15, 2012 12:06:35 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Shooby! Do your kids like popsicles? I have a lot of healthy and semi-healthy recipes for homemade popsicles. Pm me if you would like them.

kittensaver,

Can you post the popsicle recipe in the recipe thread - pretty please. Thanks

Turns out I don't have the file with me (it's not on the flashdrive I carry). Will dig it up and post this weekend

[mizbear]

Archie- K4U!

shooby- I don't know what to tell you- I buy my ice cream from my Schwan's guy. The last ice cream machine I saw took rock salt to operate and my grandfather used to laugh watching us kids try to turn the crank. Someone brought one to the newlyweds retreat for church when I was married the first time and I asked if they were trying to see who would be divorced first.

[Deleted]

I found some online recipes for ice cream without a machine. Think i will give those a try first.

[phil5185]

no chemicals, no preservatives, no additives, no artificial coloring, no MSG, no HFCS, no BPA

When did 'chemical' become a dirty word? lol (Aren't all foods comprised of chemicals?)

I have everything from waffle makers to pressure cookers to food processors and on and on. However, i am feeling empty inside that i don't have an Ice Cream maker too.

Where do you keep all of this stuff? After 44 years of marriage, we almost can't buy a 'gadget' w/o throwing away an older gadget.

OK, i found an online recipe for ice cream without a machine.

That was common during the War, the ingredients were placed in ice cube trays in the fridge. I can't tell the difference, they taste the same to me. We had our own cows/cream - the amount of cream & the vanilla are the main taste drivers. (sugar was rationed at the time).

[formerroomate99]

Jun 15, 2012 12:01:10 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:23:27 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

I was thinking of buying a yogurt maker, since I make my own greek yogurt and would love to not have to clean up when it overboils. Does anybody have any experience with those?

If the point is that you WANT the gadget, of course go for it. But did you know you can make yogurt without a machine? Check out Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions. She walks you through how to make and preserve lots of foods in traditional, low-tech, no-tech ways (without machinery).

The question isn't whether or not it is possible to make your own yogurt without a gadget, since I already do that. The question is whether or not the gadget simplifies the process enough to justify buying and storing it.

[kittensaver]

Jun 18, 2012 11:40:37 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Jun 15, 2012 12:01:10 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

If the point is that you WANT the gadget, of course go for it. But did you know you can make yogurt without a machine? Check out Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions. She walks you through how to make and preserve lots of foods in traditional, low-tech, no-tech ways (without machinery).

The question isn't whether or not it is possible to make your own yogurt without a gadget, since I already do that. The question is whether or not the gadget simplifies the process enough to justify buying and storing it.

Well for me the answer is no. I heat up the milk, add the starter when it's cool enough, pour it in a bowl, cover and put it in the (unheated) oven overnight. In the morning: yogurt (with no machine to maintain and store, and no parts to wash - and no electricity used). But that's just me. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Jake 48]

shooby, where are u located, I will beat a path to your door for homemade cookies and cream

[Deleted]

;D Come on over Jake! I just made a fresh batch of pepperoni rolls today! Gonna do some homemade pasta tonight and some cookies.

[formerroomate99]

Jun 18, 2012 11:54:47 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Jun 18, 2012 11:40:37 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

The question isn't whether or not it is possible to make your own yogurt without a gadget, since I already do that. The question is whether or not the gadget simplifies the process enough to justify buying and storing it.

Well for me the answer is no. I heat up the milk, add the starter when it's cool enough, pour it in a bowl, cover and put it in the (unheated) oven overnight. In the morning: yogurt (with no machine to maintain and store, and no parts to wash - and no electricity used). But that's just me. Good luck whatever you decide.

For me, it's heat up the milk, spend 10+ minutes cleaning up overboiled milk half the time, and find a way to keep the yogurt warm for the 36+ hours it takes greek yogurt to set. (Regular yogurt is an overnight thing, the greek yogurt takes longer and has a high failure rate if it isn't kept warm.) I've had quite a few batches ruined because DH fired up the oven not knowing the yogurt was in there. And for heaven's sake, don't tell somebody it's possible to do something they just told you they've already been doing or comment on the merits of a gadget you've clearly never used.

[kittensaver]

Jun 18, 2012 13:09:31 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Jun 18, 2012 11:54:47 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Well for me the answer is no. I heat up the milk, add the starter when it's cool enough, pour it in a bowl, cover and put it in the (unheated) oven overnight. In the morning: yogurt (with no machine to maintain and store, and no parts to wash - and no electricity used). But that's just me. Good luck whatever you decide.

For me, it's heat up the milk, spend 10+ minutes cleaning up overboiled milk half the time, and find a way to keep the yogurt warm for the 36+ hours it takes greek yogurt to set. (Regular yogurt is an overnight thing, the greek yogurt takes longer and has a high failure rate if it isn't kept warm.) I've had quite a few batches ruined because DH fired up the oven not knowing the yogurt was in there. And for heaven's sake, don't tell somebody it's possible to do something they just told you they've already been doing or comment on the merits of a gadget you've clearly never used.

No offense to you roommate, but I DID have a machine I gave up because I was tired of keeping track of all the little parts (ceramic-glass inserts, lids, removable plug, etc etc etc). It was a huge pain to store it and some of the tops melted in the dishwasher. And it made yogurt unevenly in each of the separate little insert cups. But do what you want. And please don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. I've never boiled over or ruined a hand-made batch in my life. To each his/her own.

[mandyms]

Jun 18, 2012 13:09:31 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Jun 18, 2012 11:54:47 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Well for me the answer is no. I heat up the milk, add the starter when it's cool enough, pour it in a bowl, cover and put it in the (unheated) oven overnight. In the morning: yogurt (with no machine to maintain and store, and no parts to wash - and no electricity used). But that's just me. Good luck whatever you decide.

For me, it's heat up the milk, spend 10+ minutes cleaning up overboiled milk half the time, and find a way to keep the yogurt warm for the 36+ hours it takes greek yogurt to set. (Regular yogurt is an overnight thing, the greek yogurt takes longer and has a high failure rate if it isn't kept warm.) I've had quite a few batches ruined because DH fired up the oven not knowing the yogurt was in there. And for heaven's sake, don't tell somebody it's possible to do something they just told you they've already been doing or comment on the merits of a gadget you've clearly never used.

Here's a recipe for yogurt using a crockpot:

crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

[raeoflyte]

I think the confusion is between making homemade regular yogurt vs. greek yogurt.

[mandyms]

There's a discussion about that in the comments section. I believe you just strain the original yogurt through a cheese cloth to make the greek style.