America’s Test Kitchen is a popular half hour cooking show that airs in the US and Canada. Its is affiliated to the well-known Cooks Illustrated magazine. It is also hosted mainly by Chad Kimball, the editor-in-chief of Cooks Illustrated.
Like many other TV shows, during the course of the show, you are walked through the process of making a delicious meal in the comfort of your kitchen, with a couple of tips from professional cooks.
Unlike other shows though, America’s Test Kitchen has a couple of other segments such as:-
- The Tasting Lab segment;
- The Equipment Corner segment;
- An occasional “Science Desk” segment, and
- The Quick Tips” segment.
These multiple and varied segments have something that appeals to every viewer. It’s large viewership allowed it win the ”crown” of the most-watched cooking show on public television, according to tv.com.
Most people love the different and educative segments; the unique ideas and insights in to cooking and the fact that their recipes are relatively uncomplicated but wonderfully delicious. Some people like it so much that their only gripe is that its only 30 minutes long. LOL.
Anyway, there was an episode in season 4 where they tested out a number of our favorite gadgets (HINT – makes frozen dessert *wink*).
As you know, these gadgets can range from $40 to $400. They differ in the shape, color, size and in the way they produce your dessert. Some of them have some serious technology packed inside, which give them super features. So, how do you pick the best?
Leave it to the gadget gurus at the cooking show to pick the 4 most important features you should make comparisons with.
The selected features are:-
- The style of the ice cream machine :- Ice cream makers are either self refrigerating models or others where one has to pre-freeze the ice cream bowl for up to 24 hours. Self refrigerating models are generally more expensive and heavier than freezers bowl models. Freezer bowl models require a number of extra steps before you can get your ice cream.
- User friendliness :- They also weighted the ease of use. With self refrigeration dessert makers, simply pour your ice cream base in the machine and turn it on. With freezer bowls, you have to freeze the bowl for up to 24 hours before hand. Whatever happened to spontaneous ice cream eating? *sad face*. They also commented on how easy it was to clean these appliances after preparing your dessert.
- The level of overrun :- This refers to the amount of air that is whipped into the mixture, measured on a scale of 0 to 100. Store-bought ice creams have about 22 % – 26 % overrun in them, giving them just the right creamy texture you love. The level of overrun is determined by the amount/intensity of churning and mixing that the paddles and motor can do.
- Noise levels :- They also considered how noisy these 5 gadgets were. Practically all ice cream makers are noisy, as the motors that drive the paddles and in the case of self refrigerating models, the compressors too, are pretty loud. The question now becomes, how much noise can you endure.
America’s Test Kitchen tested and compared the following models:-
- Whynter SNO Professional Ice Cream Maker – A model with its in-built compressor, that produces 2 quarts of really creamy ice cream. Is that enough to crown it the best ice cream maker?
- Cuisinart ICE-21 Automatic Frozen Yogurt – Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker – A freezer model from a popular kitchen gadget brand, can they make a machine considered top by American Test Kitchen testers?
- Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt – Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker – A 2 quart freezer bowl model that that is well liked by many ice cream lovers, but will it stand up to American Test Kitchen testing?
- Cuisinart Supreme Commercial Quality Ice Cream Maker – A real power horse amongst ice cream makers, the Supreme makes up to 1.5 quarts, but will its smooth stainless steel good looks, be enough to win this?
- Back to Basics Freezer Fun Ice Cream Maker – This machine makes up to 1.5 quarts of any dessert in about 30 minutes. While it’s speedy to produce dessert and easy to clean up, will it win this challenge?
To make it easier to see the results of this test, I put their findings in the table below:-
| Model | Texture | Level of noise | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whynter SNO Professional Ice Cream Maker | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Cuisinart ICE-21 Automatic Frozen Yogurt – Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt – Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Cuisinart ICE-50BC Supreme Ice Cream Maker | ★★ | ★ | ★★★ |
| Back to Basics Freezer Fun Ice Cream Maker | ★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
From the table, the clear winner is the Sno Whynter, which won on the basis of being a well-rounded ice cream machine, producing extremely creamy ice cream with a minimum level of noise. For those who want creamy ice cream, but can’t afford the Whynter, America’s Test Kitchen recommends the Cuisinart, a freezer bowl model with good features.
Based on my experience with the Whynter, I believe it’s an excellent choice by America’s Test Kitchen.
Photo Credit: cranberry sorbet
