Ice cream maker - worth it?

We're trying to come up with a relatively inexpensive anniversary gift for ourselves and thought an ice cream maker might be fun.  Not a big fancy one - one of the smaller (1.1-1.5L) ones with the bowl you stick in the freezer overnight. 

Is it actually worth it, though?  We like ice cream.  The dairy products here are so good, but most of the ice cream in the shops is just not tasty or OTT expensive.  We do cook quite a bit, so I imagine we would use it once a week or every other week over the summer.  But I've heard that you just don't use them, even if you purchased one with the best of intentions.

Does anyone have one?  Do you use it?  Would you recommend it?

Good question! I think it's worth it, especially if you knwo you'll make the effort a few times a year. Also, you could do special seasonal ice creams, like strawberry now or mint chocolate towards Christmas! I think the ice cream isn't as sweet here as I like and have considered buying one, make sure you have room for the freezer part of it, I know I would have to clear out part ofmy freezer for it. I'm excited for you!

I've often considered getting one for the kids.  We have an ice shaver that only gets used on the very hot days as opposed to using it almost everyday in San Diego... 

Can you make slurpees in the ice cream maker? 

OK I'm really going to show my age now but the last time we had an ice cream maker was 1977 and it was the kind you had to use rock salt and manually crank. We would all stand around while our grandmother cranked away just to produce enough for a tiny scoop of very soupy ice cream for all of us. But I remember how good it tasted.
I know things have change since. 
 I think Chary makes her own so wait for her to chime in!

Yes, yes, yes!!!  We bought one in the US because a lot of the additives they put in commercial ice cream and sorbet disagree with me, and I loved it. We didn't make much ice   cream but did lots and lots of fruit sorbets--even a chocolate sorbet that was fab. You can make all sorts of flavors that you could never buy: cranberry, rhubarb, watermelon, sour cherry and almond...

Alas, said ice cream maker is now in storage in the US and I'm starting to miss it, although not enough to buy another one yet.

I do have a bunch of recipes, so if you need some let me know.

I got one for my wedding (the kind you freeze the container overnight) and it broke very quickly. I was SO bummed. It wasn't a total cheapy, but it wasn't top of the line either. I may have just had a faulty one but my advice would be get the best one you can afford (Which? has a review if you're interested - I have a trial subscription for them) and keep the receipt and warranty on file.

I have the Magimix one & it's fab! Be sure that you have enough room in your freezer to store the base before use b/c it has to be frozen.  I use mine loads for dh, myself & the kids - I liked the idea of knowing exactly what we're eating & we all love ice cream!  However - you could still make ice cream without buying an ice cream maker - mix all the ingredients well & store in a plastic container in the freezer - eat when frozen.  This only became apparent AFTER we shelled out for the Magimix .

We have a Magimix, too, and use it LOTS. 

Sorbets are one of the few ways we can get our elder daughter to eat fruit.

Plus, here is a very yummy adult dessert:  Get hold of some lemon vodka and put it in the freezer.  Splash it over lemon sorbet.

YUMMY.

My brother makes sorbet all the time and this is how he does it:

He makes a fruit puree in the food processor and puts it in a shallow pan in the freezer.  once it's frozen, then he scoops it out and purees it again in the food processor, puts it in a container and keeps in the freezer.  It works like a darn and so yummy.

You can also make ice cream with ziplock bags - a small containing the cream etc.. and then it is put inside a large with the ice and salt.  shake and mix until it's frozen. 

Coffee cans work as well (small inside large with ice same as for ziplock bags) and you can roll it back and forth across a table (got that from Zoom!)

OK I'm really going to show my age now but the last time we had an ice cream maker was 1977 and it was the kind you had to use rock salt and manually crank. We would all stand around while our grandmother cranked away just to produce enough for a tiny scoop of very soupy ice cream for all of us. But I remember how good it tasted.
I know things have change since. 
 I think Chary makes her own so wait for her to chime in!

We did this every summer at my grandparents house.  It took hours, or seemed to then.  My grandmother didn't crank though.  All the grandchildren had to take turns.  Your gandmother was nicer than mine!   

I think Chary makes her own so wait for her to chime in!

I do!!

It's definitely worth having one! Absolutely! Buy one today!!!

Mine's a smallish Philips one:


It makes enough for about 4 people, or 2 really greedy people. Ahem. I don't use it all that often because the ice cream is way too good and I'd gain a ton of weight. But if I'm having guests over or if it's a special occasion, there's nothing better than homemade ice cream. Especially in the summer when there are delicious peaches and strawberries to use!

the last time we had an ice cream maker was 1977 and it was the kind you had to use rock salt and manually crank.

We had one of those too! We all took turns doing 100 cranks ... but I used to cheat and skip numbers while counting during my turn. 

I had the one Chary just posted. Obviously she's had no problems but mine was not happy.

I had the one Chary just posted. Obviously she's had no problems but mine was not happy.

Oh, no! What was wrong with it? I've had no problems at all and have had mine for over 2 years now!

Chary - How big is the bowl-bit that needs to go in the freezer on yours? 

Chary - How big is the bowl-bit that needs to go in the freezer on yours? 

Not very big -- I have a fairly small freezer. Hold on and I'll go and measure it.

OK. About 8" in diameter, and about 4" deep.

(The actual ice cream capacity is less than that because the bowl bit has a thick lining of freezy stuff.)