Do You Make Homemade Ice Cream?

[wischmeyersn]

I've never made homemade ice cream, but I love to eat it!!

[yvalentin]

i remember making ice cream in my sophomore chemistry class it was so much fun and after that i started making ice cream at home all the time!

[inluvwitmm]

My sister got an ice cream maker last Christmas and she's made a few batches. She made us strawberry...it was pretty good. It was nice how many strawberries were in it.

[Elizabethar]

I would love to learn how to make home-made Ice-cream. I know my kids would have fun making it, I do buy alot of store brought Ice-Cream.I would save money to.

[Annella]

I would love to learn how to make home-made Ice-cream. I know my kids would have fun making it, I do buy alot of store brought Ice-Cream.I would save money to.

There are a lot of makers on the market.  First you have to decide: 

1.  Do I want an electric or hand cranked machine?
2.  Even with some electric machines, you have to pack them with ice and rock salt in the sides (the larger ones)
3.  What brand is a good one?
4.  How much will it make in one application (1 quart, 1.5 quarts, gallon, several gallons, etc.)?
5.  How much will a good machine cost?

I have a "Rival' brand electric machine that requires no salt or ice.  It also came with some simple recipes.  The bottom canister goes in the freezer and freezes the "gel" in the sides of the canister rock solid (you can't see the gel, it's covered in the metal canister).

I take the canister out of the freezer, where it's been stored between uses, and fill with the ice cream custard I've cooked and cooled before hand (so easy to make).  The top motor/paddle mechanism snaps on top and you plug it in, and flip the "on" button.  Walk away.....when the ice cream is ready, the machine stops automatically.  Sometimes it won't if the canister wasn't frozen enough, or it's a really hot day, and the canister melts faster than normal.  No biggie, remove the ice cream, and immediately transport it into a clean plastic freezer tub with a top.  If your ice cream comes out more soft than your desired consistency, it will finish freezing in the freezer.  Your custard should almost double in volume in the machine.

I'm looking for another "Rival" brand maker myself.  I have the quart size, and it makes enough for just me, but I'd like to store a bit more from each batch.  Ebay is a good source for finding ice cream makers.  I don't like the mess of ice and salt, so I prefer the electric canister ones.  Not a lot of work, or ingredients.

[kenrachel1993]

no but i might try , got any good chocolate reciepes ?

[kapeh12]

Wow - blast to the past.  I remember making ice cream as a kid.  Considered getting a kit for my nieces & nephews...(oh, who am I kidding - for myself  ).  I bet today's kits work better than the ones I had as a kid.

[sandiegosurfer]

I've made it a couple of times but I don't like it as much as store bought.

[sammywantsya]

i love making home made icecream lol

i have a icecream maker and we are having lots of fun with it. much better buying because its less expensive

[Annella]

no but i might try , got any good chocolate reciepes ?

I got a couple:  These are from my "Rival" machine (Freeze Canister, makes 1 quart finished product).

Easy Chocolate Ice Cream
1 1/3 Cups Chocolate Milk
1/4 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 Cup Whipped Dessert Topping

Combine all ingredients, pour into canister and freeze.

Chocolate Ice Cream
1 1/2 Cups Whole Milk
2/3 Cup Sugar
Dash of Salt
2 Oz's Semisweet Chocolate Squares (I use Nestle's Chocolate Chip Morsels)
1 Egg Beaten (separate small bowl)
1/2 Cup Half and Half
1/3 Cup Whipping Cream
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Combine milk, sugar, salt, and chocolate pieces in a saucepan.  Over medium heat, stir the mixture constantly till chocolate is melted and it almost boils.  Stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg.  Combine well, then add to the other mixture on the stove.  Cook and stir over low heat until slightly thickened (2 minutes).  Stir in half and half, whipping cream, and vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.  Pour into frozen canister and freeze.

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice CreamThis is a basic custard, and other things can be added to it.
1/2 Cup Sugar
Dash of Salt
1 Cup Whole Milk
1 Egg Beaten (separate small bowl)
1 Cup Whipping Cream
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Combine surgar, salt, and milk in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until mixture almost boils.  Reduce heat to low.  Stir 1/2 cup of hot milk mixture into beaten egg.  Combine back into hot mixture on the stove.  Lower heat, and stirring constantly until slightly thickened (2-3 minutes).  Remove from heat and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.  Combine whipping cream, vanilla, and chilled mixture with a wire whisk until combined.  Pour into freezer canister and freeze.

This basic vanilla ice cream custard is so versatile for adding other things.  Like Reese's pieces, nuts, crushed oreos, chocolate covered peanuts, etc.  You can also make strawberry ice cream very easily.  Just cut down on the sugar to 1/3 cup, and use strawberry syrup (1/4 cup) during the freezing process.  You can also add fruit like peaches, strawberries, raspberries, etc.  On my maker, there's a hole in the top of the fitted top to add ingredients during the freezing process.

I'm experimenting with some other flavors.  Trying to get the sugar and other ingredients to balance, so it's not to sweet, or not sweet enough.  I almost have the Lemon just right, but need more work on the orange creme.  I just got a green tea recipe that I'm going to try, and will post some more recipe's after I've proven them.

Once you start making this on a regular basis, it goes pretty fast (the cooking part).  Then it's just the freezing part.  Get some plastic freezer tubs to store you finished ice cream.  Your custard should double+ in volume.
 

[Annella]

Oh, something I should add.  After you have 'thickened' the custard on the stove and it's ready to pour into the bowl. get yourself a small strainer, and pour through it over the bowl.  This will ensure any egg that didn't "blend", but "cooked" will be caught in the strainer and can be discarded.  Until you learn to make a smooth product, use the strainer.  It will save your custard and no "bits" of cooked egg will be in it.  Ewwwww.............

I ruined a couple batches, before the strainer.

[bigfoot951]

I need to learn how.  It's so much better than store bought stuff.

[candyterrius]

The only simplest homemade ice cream I ever know how to make without the use of an ice cream maker is to blend bananas and nuts such as cashews or almonds into the blender. I pour it into a glass and put in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before serving. 

[Annella]

The only simplest homemade ice cream I ever know how to make without the use of an ice cream maker is to blend bananas and nuts such as cashews or almonds into the blender. I pour it into a glass and put in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before serving.  

Is that all?  Just bananas and nuts?  Don't you put any liquid in the blender with it?  Seems like you should add some milk or something.  It sounds like great protein though.

[kunesunny]

till now i have not prepared ice cream as i dint have the recepie......
last week i got the recepie from one of my freinds.......
i gotta try it very soon.