Ice cream makers are great additions to your home, especially if you love cold, smooth treats. There are so many models to choose from and by looking at the different features, you should be able to select the most suitable one for your needs. After investing in reliable equipment for your ice cream making endeavors, you’ll need to use it correctly and also give it the care and maintenance it deserves to keep getting the best out of it.

With proper use, you’ll enjoy smoother finishing textures instead of soupy ice cream. Regular washing and proper care, on the other hand, ensure food safety, your ice cream maker needs proper cleaning and sanitizing and it helps to know how to do it.

tip 1 – Read the instructions for use that come with your machine. Even if you have used one before, it is very important that you read the manual because the models can be a little different. Using the manufacturer’s guidelines keeps your machine in top shape and ensures that you enjoy perfect desserts every time.

tip 2 – Chill your ingredients before blending. Pouring the warm ice cream base into the machine just means you have to wait longer for the cooling and churning to take effect and this can affect the quality of the finished product depending on the type of machine you have. To enjoy the smoothest textures, it helps to first refrigerate the liquid before freezing it.

Tip 3 – Freeze your container ahead of time. Some machines require you to freeze the bowl or container before processing. So make sure you leave it a full day in the freezer so when you make your next batch it’s ready.

Tip 4 – Let your plugins last. If you love your ice cream with nuts or chocolate chips or other types of mix-ins, don’t add it too early. It is best to add them when your ice cream is almost ready. Remember that the machines are not designed for the toughest ingredients, so just add a few seconds before stopping the process.

Tip 5 – Never overfill the machine. Air is needed during the churning process to give it that light, smooth texture instead of ending up with a solid block. Therefore, be sure to fill the container halfway.

Tip 6 – To clean the machine, start by emptying and wiping hardened ice cream off the scraper blades. Then you need to rinse the water until you can clean the water that comes out.

Tip 7 – Disassemble the machine following the manual to find out which parts are removable for washing. You can then use warm soapy water to clean the freezer chamber. If you don’t have a wash cycle setting, you can use a kitchen scrub brush to clean the internal moving parts. You can add bleach to kill bacteria, but then you should soak all pieces for at least 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water and dry with clean towels.