Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by Raymond D. Berlin : Cuisinart ICE-21

Works perfectly! Easy to use. Detailed instructions. Easy to clean. Makes the absolute best fat-free sugar-free blue berry frozen yogurt on the planet! I use packaged frozen blue berries, strawberries, peaches or whatever suits me. I just grind them down to smaller size in a food processor before they thaw.

1 1/2 cups whole-frozen fruit of your choice (bags available at your local mega mart)
2 1/2 cups plain fat free yogurt
1/2 cup fat free half & half
1/2 cup Splenda

Just mix it up in a bowl and dump it into the machine. Don't walk away! Mine only takes 5 minutes.
Great value!

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by HLH in Houston : WOW! WOW! WOW!

As much as my husband hates buying me kitchen appliances as gifts, he finally caved and bought me the Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream Maker for my birthday. It arrived in the mail yesterday and we immediately popped the mixing bowl into the freezer and hurried off to the store to buy whole milk and heavy whipping cream.

Just moments ago we finished our first batch of Peanut Butter ice cream.... and all I can say is... my waistline could be in deep trouble!!

First, the machine itself is so easy to use! There are four pieces and they all just go right together. No thinking about what part has to fit into where. We used a recipe in the provided instruction manual. Except for the candy we added in, the whole milk and the heavy whipping cream, everything else I already had on hand in the pantry! Easy Peasy!

I am glad I spent time reading the reviews and offer a couple of tips:

1) Freeze the mixing bowl completely. Do not attempt to use after only a couple hours of freezing. You will be disappointed.
2) Once you pull the frozen mixing bowl out of the freezer, use it immediately! Don't let it sit out on the counter while you turn your attention to other things.
3) Add anything with alcohol in the last couple of minutes, including any flavorings. The alcohol content can reduce the freezing point of the mixture and you will end up with a sloppy mess. Make sure to read the ingredients of everything you use, just in case!
4) Chill the ice cream mixture for several hours before pouring it into the mixer.

By doing all of the things above, we ended up with a creamy, rich, thick peanut butter ice cream. We are going to have to switch to frozen yogurt or fruit sorbets, 'cause my waistline will expand quickly if we eat too much of this stuff!! It is decadent!

Quick and easy clean up. In fact I already have the mixing bowl back in the freezer and a batch of ice cream mix chilling to make a dessert for a dinner party tomorrow night!

Enjoy!

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by S. Hall : Great little ice cream maker

This ice cream maker has a good design. It freezes very fast and is easy to clean. I like to dump a quart of flavored nonfat yogurt into it, and presto, a low calorie desert. I can also make less-sweet frozen deserts than are available commercially. Other reviewers noted that the resulting frozen desert is very soft -- but this is true of all ice cream makers (I have owned a Donvier, and also used the old fashioned salt-and-ice bucket type when I was a kid). The ice cream has to be put in the freezer for it to fully firm up. One thing I like about this model is that, once the frozen desert is firmed up so that it all clings to the beater inside, the design of the beater helps you lift it out and into a container. Very little is left inside the machine to scoop out.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by Michael : Ice Cream Maker Makes Good Ice Cream

This ice cream maker is my first. It does a nice job. I have made four batches in the month or so that I've had it. It is not very loud. The components fit together well, are easy to use and are easy to clean (There aren't a bunch of seams, nooks and crannies on the base, so it wipes down quickly and easily). The instructions are easy to understand and logically written. I do like the electrical cord stowage under the unit, so you don't have to fight with it when you put it away.

The hardest part is getting the agitator out of the container after churning is completed. I make sure I have my container ready, and I transfer the ice cream from the bowl to my container by the sink. You will get it on your hands, and it will drip a little bit.

My only caution is to make sure you turn it on before you start pouring your mixture into the bowl. The mixture freezes instantly on contact with the bowl's surface, and it jams the rotation of the bowl. Place the bowl on the base, place the agitator in the bowl, put the clear lid in place, turn on AND THEN add your mixture. You will have soft serve in less than 20 minutes, if you chilled your mixture thoroughly.

I wash out the bowl, dry it and put it right back in the freezer. That way, it's always ready. The amount is good. You don't end up with a ton of a certain flavor, and it stays fresher that way.

I would definitely recommend this machine, and I would buy it as a gift.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by Kathryn Price : Simply Great Ice Cream

As this product had not been reviewed yet, I read several reviews for the Cuisinart ICE-20 Ice Cream Maker before making my decision to purchase this product. Many comments about the ICE-20 mentioned that the ice cream is the consistency of soft serve; some reviewers said it was too soft. I did not find that issue with the ice cream I made with this ice cream maker. I turned my freezer to the coldest setting and froze the bowl for 7 hours. I could not hear any liquid moving in the bowl at that point, so I assumed it was solidly frozen. I made the Simple Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from the booklet that came with the machine. After about 20 minutes, the ice cream was nicely textured and creamy. It wasn't as hard as the packed ice cream you purchase at the store, so I guess you might say the consistency was somewhere between soft serve and store-bought: firmer than soft serve, but not as firm as hard pack. As reviewers of the ICE-20 pointed out, if the ice cream was frozen as solidly as hard pack in the machine, it would be difficult to remove it from the container.

The ice cream is simply wonderful. It has a fresh, pure taste that outshines anything I could purchase from the store. I bought it mainly because I wanted to have control of my ingredients. I want to use organic products as much as possible and I want to experiment with soy ice creams; I have thought I might want to get away from dairy products altogether.

This product was listed as the newest version of the ICE-20 and as an upgrade that improves upon the ICE-20 while still keeping its popular features. I don't know what the upgrade consists of, but I can say that in 20-25 minutes, I had really excellent ice cream that I thought was the perfect consistency. (Since I posted this review, a commenter here has noted that the upgrade consists of a new paddle design, reducing the processing time by 25%, according to the manufacturer.) After freezing it for a couple of hours it was firmer and I liked it at that consistency, too. I was thinking about how great this ice cream would be with warm apple pie, because tasting it really is like tasting fresh vanilla cream. But we're a couple of months away from apple pie season! This product couldn't be simpler to use, and I think it will pay for itself fairly quickly in savings over the cost of premium purchased ice cream. And it just tastes better.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by B. Miller "Small business owner" : Great ice cream maker indeed!

I have relied on my Rival ice cream maker for many years, churning out many, many batches of good ice cream...but after so many years, i got tired of the rock salt and ice ordeal so i went for this model. GLAD I DID! I've made half a dozen batches so far and i'm pleased to say this works better than the salt/ice machine. A few comments:

First, it's easier to do, and doesnt take any guessing on how much ice to salt than the traditional ice/salt machine. THer'es no messy clean up of salt and/or ice off the counter/floor, either.

Second, it's quicker than advertised. While eveything says 20-25 minutes, i have yet to have a batch take longer than 15 minutes.

Third, I did not have to turn my freezer down to the lowest setting either (i was concerned about wasting energy just for this!). I have it on a "5" out of "9" settings, and it's fine. I stuck the canister in the back, on the bottom shelf--which I assume is the coldest place. Just make sure the recipe you use is VERY cold before you throw it into the machine. (i often put it in the freezer for 30 min before i make ice cream). ANother tip: put the exterior clear casing into the freezer for a while before making the ice cream--it just helps insulate the canister all the more when it's turning.)

Fourth, it's the quietest ice cream machine i've heard. No, you cant hear a pin drop in the other room, but i use it in the kitchen and can comfortably watch TV in my adjacent family room without having to adjust the volume at all. I can hear the machine churing, but it doesnt get in the way of hearing the TV.

Fifth, so why 4 stars instead of 5? Her'es the only downside of the frozen canister v. salt/ice machines. Scooping the finished ice cream out of the heavy and awkward-to-handle canister and into a container for freezing, is challenging. The canister, understandably, is VERY cold. It seems off balance as you try to do this, too. And if you wait more than a moment, the ice cream quickly starts to freeze hard to the canister, so a rubber spatula (never use metal or you'll scratch the canister!), cant scrape the hardened ice cream off the sides very easily.

Overall, GREAT ice cream maker. THe quality of the ice cream is good, with a nice, smooth texture.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by Banshee : Much improved from the ICE-20

I bought the new ICE-21 ice cream maker from Cuisinart and just made my first batch of strawberry ice cream. I was a little worried that it would not freeze well based on the reviews of the ICE-20, also sold on amazon, but in literally 10 minutes after pouring the chilled ingredients in, I had perfectly textured ice cream. The unit is very easy to clean, not terribly loud, and as long as if doesn't break on me after a few months (and I will update this if it does), I will say this is a great purchase. Now I can make whatever flavor ice cream I desire! Mwhahaha!

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by ebe : Best Ice Cream I've Ever Had!!

I decided to purchase this ice cream maker based on reviews from America's Test Kitchen which they rated as recommended to buy and best value. For the price this machine does a great job. Fresh made ice cream is so much better than store bought. The ICE-21 is the newer version of the ICE-20. It's so easy to use; the only thing you have to be careful of is portion control. If you pour too much of the ice cream mixture it can overflow easily. I say this because you have to be careful when adding extra ingredients such as fresh fruit and chocolate chips. Some people complain that the consistency is not hard enough, but if you place the finished product in your freezer for at least 2 more hours the ice-cream gradually hardens. I discovered that a day after the ice-cream is made it gets as hard as store bought, so it's all a matter of time. I use the recipes from the booklet that comes with the ice cream maker and find them to be delicious. It is also easy to clean with mild soap, warm water and a soft sponge. The machine is also pretty quiet so it's not an annoyance. The manual says it makes ice cream in 20 minutes or less and it is true to its claim. Overall I am very happy with this product and don't regret purchasing it.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by A. C. Marek : Well, yes, mixing heavy cream with sugar will probably taste good.

This is my first ice cream maker, so I hope you'll take my review with a grain of salt. I'll surely make a fool of myself, but if I can be told how to use it properly by way of a snarky comment underneath this review, I shall consider the passive-aggressive insult well worth the affront to my Internet reputation.

My problem is that the ice cream seems to get too thick and unmanageable, too quickly. First, I pre-froze the mixing bowl for what ended up being several days. That bad boy, it's safe to say, was as frozen as it was ever going to get. This may have been my downfall. When I turned on the motor and poured in my mix (I went with brown butter), the mixing paddle let out a big "click," then refused to budge, humming angrily at me instead. I called customer support. When I had to politely ask the customer service (the term is used quite loosely) agent to repeat herself several times because of her mumbling, I don't think I heard more exaggerated, verbal sighs in my life. Anyhow, this woman was under the impression that my bowl was *too* frozen, and that maybe I would be better off with just a six-hour freeze time.

That's what I did today. This time, the mix actually churned itself, which was great. But after 5-7 minutes, the bowl continued to move but the mix wasn't moving -- yet the ice cream still didn't look or feel done, especially since I've read that this process should take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. So I moved the mix around with a spoon. Turned the motor back on, and got the same click, same hum, same motionless bowl.

Either I've got a defective unit, or the unit has some sort of problem with my sugar-free recipe. Most Amazon reviews are unhelpful and meaningless, and I do feel bad trashing this thing when it's highly possible that I am the problem, but maybe if Cuisinart's support staff didn't treat its customers like recalcitrant special-needs students, this could have been avoided.

The mixer gets three stars for inspiring me to mix toasty brown butter, heavy whipping cream, whole milk, and sweetener. It may be ice-ish cream-ish, but it still tastes pretty darn good. It loses two stars for inadequate instructions (there was no troubleshooting section), and for being a big, stupid, stupidfacehead.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by Linctic "Linctic" : Fabulous

This machine is amazing. Ice cream is ready in 20 minutes. The ice cream texture is perfect. I always make sure my ice cream mixture is cold before putting it into the ice cream maker bowl.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by J. Aleda : Easy, cheap, and delicious!

I got this ice cream maker from Bed Bath & Beyond just because we had coupons and it was on sale...so it was even more affordable! Mid $30s, I believe.
My hubby and I have used this twice so far, once for plain vanilla ice cream and once for raspberry sorbet. It came out pretty great both times - and those are just using the recipe booklet included with the maker!
Both times we made sure to freeze the canister overnight before trying to make anything, and have found that the ice cream doesn't harden too much when you put it in the freezer, so it remains smooth and easy to scoop. You may want to put the ice cream in the freezer right after making it for a half hour to an hour, because it's a smidge melty. But even if you're anxious to just eat it without chilling it, you won't be disappointed.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Review by kaconga : frozen deliciousness

This ice cream maker is wonderful. Its the best ice cream I have had in a long time. No ice or salt needed, just freeze the bowl overnight and the next day you have soft serve in 30 minutes or less. We have tried a couple of the recipes that were in the book that came with the ice cream maker. Both were far superior to store bought ice cream and were easier than I would expect. Especially the custard version. Its a huge difference if you chill your mix overnight before churning. We usually put bowl in the freezer and the mix in the fridge the night before so both are ready to go the next day. Everyone so far has been impressed with the final result and with the holidays I see this being a staple for entertaining guests.