Donvier 837409W 1-Quart Ice Cream Maker
by Donvier
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List Price: Our Price: $44.99 You Save: $15.01 (25%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $36.99 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Donvier 837409W 1-Quart Ice Cream Maker
Customer Review: GREAT AND INEXPENSIVE ICE CREAM MAKER!
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW, All of positive reviews on here are right!
I thought previously that an ice cream maker that isn't electric involves a bunch of churning and turning and aching arms but this one is definitely not that!
It's really as advertised and only takes about 3 turns every 2-3 minutes.
I would definitely not pay [...] bucks for this ice cream maker though! I got mine for [...] dollars on ebay! including shipping! (I'd search there if I were you before spending this much on an ice cream maker, just make sure that what you're buying is the 1 quart version as they do have a 1 pint version and others available, unless you want something that small ) although it was used. But this item is certainly not something i mind buying used (because trust me, appliances are certainly not items that I want to buy used) but this item is NONELECTRIC. I can't imagine ANY WAY that someone would make this item not work anymore or nonfunctional unless you somehow put it through an industrial grade crusher (like those kinds in the junk yards for cars or the recycling centers)
This thing will last you a lifetime! Unlike electric ice cream makers and oh...electric anything that will eventually just run out and turn off and/or malfunction on you some day or another.
And I also agree with it probably making a perfect inexpensive gift for anyone in any occasion.
When you first use the ice cream maker for the first 2-3 churn cycles you might want to churn 3 times every 1-2 minutes instead of 2-3 minutes because the cylinder is so cold that it'll kinda of over freeze a little if you let it sit for too long at first, but as the ice cream begins to solidify, move upwards to 2-4 minutes and you'll have ice cream in as little as 20 minutes and in as little as 15-20 total churns! (no clue what the reviewer that said he had to churn a ton of times and made him tired is talking about as he was obviously doing something very wrong or has a freezer not worth a penny because it couldn't freeze the cylinder close to enough) It comes with very specific instructions and a useful recipe book.
PS:If you're buying one on ebay, not all of them look the same or are marked the same on the front etc. This ice cream maker has been around for a looong time and along the years the company has changed its look (on the outside) but they all still function the same) (they even have a vintage pink or blue snoopy version available!) I doubt there's such thing as a fake donvier ice cream maker so you're safe if it just looks different that the on here on amazon.
Customer Review: Just buy it....
Summary: 5 Stars
I just made a batch of (fresh) raspberry-banana-walnut ice cream. Raspberries were on sale at the supermarket and I got inspired. It took a few minutes after I got home to blend the mixture, put it in the refrigerator to get cold and do some other things. Then, dinner. After dinner, I poured the mixture into the prefrozen tub, stirred immediately (the first few minutes, you have to stir pretty often, or things will jam up), then every minute or two, while I read the newspaper.
The ice cream got rave reviews. I've also made:
Pumpkin ice cream
Watermelon granita
Peach ice
Blueberry ice
Pear ice
(fruit ices are dead easy, just buy cans of fruit in _heavy_ sugar syrup, blend, dump and stir -- you can make several different kinds of fruit ice ahead of time for a color and taste explosion)
Fresh strawberry ice cream
Strawberry/banana ice cream
Fresh banana ice cream
Coffee ice cream
Mint ice cream with real mint leaves
You get the idea. Cleanup is a breeze. Keep the metal tub in your freezer, make sure the freezer is at 0 degrees or below.
I've tried the other kinds of machines, they all got flea marketed. My Donvier was bought at a garage sale by someone who obviously got it as a gift and didn't have a clue what they were selling for $2.50.
No wires.
No batteries.
No salt. No salt water to pour down the drain. No messy ice cubes to dump.
No fidgety little parts that are a major pain to clean, easy to lose or to break.
No electricity, no grinding noises, no complicated instructions to remember. Just the best home made ice cream you'll ever eat.
Recently chain ice cream places have popped up that make their ice cream fresh every day. It's pretty good, but no better than you can get with the Donvier...and with a little practice you can easily make better.
Plus it's the one thing in this family that no one argues about -- everyone hangs around until the ice cream is done, then gobbles it down. There are never any leftovers. The silence (except for slurping) is wonderful.
Customer Review: Great and versatile! Read below for a few tips...
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this ice cream maker because my aunt had told me it was a great tool to have. She was right :-) So far I have made chocolate and espresso gelato and vanilla ice cream. I haven't tried sorbet, frozen yogurt or sherbert, but intend to soon. My aunt just mixes up some frozen fruit and juice in a blender and adds it to the ice cream maker until it's sorbet consistency.
A FEW TIPS:
1) The directions say wait 2-3 minutes between stirs. I wait 2-3 minutes before the first stir, then 4 minutes before the second, then 5 minutes before the third, etc. etc. etc. It is best if you wait longer than 15-20 minutes total, though, but I normally just play it by ear--just keep looking at the ice cream and checking the consistency visually. you can tell when it's done becuase it won't be liquidy any more. Between stirs, you don't need to set a timer or anything, just estimate and if you try stiring and it's easy to stir, wait longer. It should be relativley tough to stir--that means you're scraping the frozen ice cream off the sides of the container so the rest can freeze.
2) The recipes in the booklet all make 1 qt. of ice cream/sorbet, etc. I found that you can fit a 1-1/2 batch in the ice cream maker just fine. 1 batch makes enough for 2-3 people, but when you're feeding a family of 5 dessert, it's not enough :-)
3) I was dissapointed when I saw that some of the ice cream recipes say 'refrigerat overnight.' I thought I could just decide on a whim 'I want ice cream' and make it right away. It does take time, but you can find recipes that you don't have to refrigerate overnight. Just look online or in a cookbook. Most say 'cool thorougly.' You just have to make sure it's cold enough that it won't warm up the ice cream maker. A few hours should be enough in most cases. Just test the temperature with your finger.
Overall, it's a great machine. I adapted the directions a little bit, and found it works better my way :-) but it's definatley worth the 50 bucks. Although milk and cream are pretty pricy, you can make sorbet and sherbert for much less.
Customer Review: I LOVE IT!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this machine for a few years but just got into REALLY making wonderful icecream with it. My kids, husband and I love the ice cream we make with this machine. My husband asked me (after tasting his favorite flavor), "You made this icecream, NO, really, is it really homemade?" We have had friends over for dinner and I made some homemade ice cream. They just raved about it....they all want a Donvier too. I purchased this one because it is easy to use and produces FANTASTIC results. My kids love to be able to be part of the process so they, too, can say they can make delicious ice cream. (I think part of what MAKES the machine is a REALLY good recipe). You can buy several different ice cream books but my favorite recipes is from Ben & Jerry's. 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 c milk (I use Half & Half), 2 cups heavy cream. (this is just the base for many different flavors you can make). Beat the eggs for 2 mins, until light and fluffy, add sugar a little at a time, beat approx 1 more min. Then add Half & Half, and cream. Now add your favorite flavoring...like 1/4 tsp peppermint oil (and a few drops of green food coloring)for mint chocolate chip ice cream. Always use chilled ingredients. If you just wanted vanilla then you would just add approx 1-1 1/2 tsp of vanilla. (I put this in the fridge to set for about 1/2 - 1 hr but you don't have to if you are using chilled ingredients.) When I am ready I add the mixture to the machine and start making icecream. Near the end of the freezing process I add shaved Ghiradelli chocolate and mix it in. Voila! Wonderful, creamy, tasty mint chip icecream! The icecream is ready in about 20 mins but at this point it will be pretty soft, I usually let it set for anywhere from about another 20 or 30 mins because I like mine a little harder. It is THAT easy, just make your icecream base...add your favorite flavorings and freeze!Customer Review: Nothin' but Ice Cream!
Summary: 5 Stars
Caution: Rave ReviewWhy can't I get decent chocolate chip ice cream? That's what I want to know. Chocolate chip, plain, unvarnished and perfect, is a rapidly vanishing breed in the highly segmented world of commercial premium ice cream.
The Donvier lets you create the fresh flavors you want, when you want them. So, I get my chocolate chip with rich veins of beautiful Ghiradelli's milk chocolate chips and just a few semi-sweet for the heck of it. My wife's favorite is fresh peach and that's what she gets. You know what - in season, it tastes very much like a beautifully ripe peach! Only better.
Freeze the container overnight. Dump in the ingredients. Pop the lid on. Stir. Wait a bit. Stir some more. Repeat for ... minutes or so. Yesterday, I made a quart of ice cream while I was in the midst of preparing dinner for six - it was just no problem. The ice cream got such rave reviews from our guests that I was troubled at how easy it was to make.
Chocolate chip TIP: Wait until it's partly frozen up before you dump in the chips - they don't all settle down to the bottom that way.
We've had our Donvier for almost ten years and have never had a problem. Hey, what could go wrong? it's a metal bowl with a plastic handle that you turn inside it. I suppose you could break the handle with an excess of joie de vivre, but they're pretty cheap to replace. Ah, you ask, but is it easy to use? Well, turning a crank in a bowl is a fundamental human activity - *anybody* can do it!
No more need you buy Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip peanut turbot ice cream at 3 bucks a pint or so. The Donvier makes it just too easy to make incredibly good, fresh ice cream yourself.
Buy one. Now. You won't regret it.