Nostalgia ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker with Easy Carry Handle

I've wanted an ice cream maker for YEARS but they were always out of our price range and didn't make enough ice cream for it to be worth the while. When I came across this one, I decided to give it a try since it fit into my budget and had good reviews. DEFINITELY made a great choice!! It works great and makes a gallon of delicious ice cream each time. The best ice cream I've ever tasted. It takes about 35-40 minutes to go from ingredients to a soft-serve type ice cream, a little longer if you want hard ice cream (just take the soft-serve and pop it in the freezer for about 20-30 mins) We use an old plastic 1 gallon ice cream container to put our homemade ice cream in after we make it so we have it available whenever we want it. At first, I was expected (but skeptical) hard ice cream like you get on a cone at an ice cream shop, not soft serve like from Dairy Queen. But once I realized that it really only took around 30 mins to make the soft serve and maybe an hour total if you want more firm texture, I was sold. Tips: we DO keep the clean, aluminum inside container in the freezer after we use it. It seems to help set the ice cream faster we DO use heavy whipping cream instead of the half-and-half the recipe calls for. It makes for a thicker, creamier ice cream that doesn't form ice crystals or come out grainy or gross after re-freezing it. As for the reviews that said it was too soupy, too hard at one end & too liquid on the other, too grainy, etc. All I can say is: You didn't follow the directions, you did it wrong. Because we've been making ice cream with this very machine all summer about every other day (we have a large family) and have NEVER had ANY of those issues at all, UNLESS we just dumped the salt, ice, etc. and didn't layer. If yours is coming out too "soft" then put it in the freezer and let it get harder. And do NOT freeze it in the aluminum container for heaven's sake, put the ice cream in a clean, new plastic container with a tight fitting lid (you know, like you buy it at the grocery store?!?) and it won't freeze to the sides or be impossible to get out. Common sense apparently isn't that common in the ice-cream making world, I guess.. It's not rocket science, it's ice cream!! we DO layer the rock salt (we just bought a giant bag of water softener salt at a home improvement store for about $5 and the bag is HUGE, like the size of a bag of mulch) and layer it with about 1/2 inch salt, then ice, then salt, then ice, repeating until the entire aluminum canister is surrounded by this layer. Anything else seemed to make the entire process take longer. The entire device seems to be of good, sturdy quality, it's not THAT loud (noticeable but not earth-shattering) and really does make real, fresh homemade ice cream with minimal fuss and it makes an entire GALLON. We store it in an old (clean) plastic lidded gallon ice cream bucket that we had and then add in any toppings we want with each individual servings. Definitely recommend!

This ice cream maker is amazing. I had bought another more expensive ice cream maker from Sunbeam (Sunbeam FRSBWDBK 4-Quart Ice Cream Wooden Bucket) in a retail store and it was absolutely TERRIBLE, my ice cream would never freeze and after 3 attempts, I took it back and got a refund. The machine was over $50, I paid more because I thought a wooden barrel would be better, boy was I wrong. I decided to go on Amazon and do some research on a good ice cream maker and this one had overwhelming reviews so I decided to give it a try and I am so thrilled that I did. I followed the instructions and the ice cream came out perfectly, just as they stated "a thick milkshake consistency" is what homemade ice cream should be like. I posted the recipe below that I used and modified for this ice cream maker, it was absolutely wonderful. I grew up on homemade ice cream so I know a winner when I taste it ;) This ice cream maker is cheaper, easier to use, works better and is simply delightful. I don't regret this purchase at all, I just regret it wasn't my first purchase. Ice Cream Recipe: 1 c. sugar 4 eggs 1 1/4 cans Carnation milk 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk 1 1/2 tbsp. Vanilla 1/4 tbsp. Lemon Extract Beat eggs. Add sugar. Then add Carnation milk, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla & lemon extract. Fill freezer with mixture and equal amounts of 2% milk and heavy whipping cream until freezer is 2/3 full (under the first 2 rectangles on the dasher is the 2/3 mark FYI).

I write this with the caveat that I purchased this item about a week ago at a price that was $15 lower than the currently listed price. That given, I think it's still a worthwhile purchase if you want an easy, but, somewhat old school method of making great ice cream. 1. The documentation sucks. Fortunately, most people will be able to get around the shortcomings and figure things out for themselves. 2. You really do need to add water to the ice in the bucket. I'd go into a rant about thermodynamics and salted ice freezing to the side of the container without water, but, that's beyond the scope of this review. Just add the water as the directions indicate. 3. A solid indicator that you've got the whole ice/water/salt ratio in the proper range is that you'll have a bucket full of ice water, but, the condensation on the outside of the bucket will be frozen solid. That whole pesky thermodynamics thing again. 4. This unit tends to work better with old school ice cream recipes and slightly less well with the no cook type. It still does a great job on both, but, the results from a primarily heavy cream based recipe are heavenly. 5. I've tried both the no cook and traditional recipes and in both cases I was able to get a full container of finished product from half to slightly over half a container full of initial ingredients as opposed to 2/3 as suggested by the documentation. 6. Do NOT expect to have ice cream within half an hour as the documentation suggests. I have had consistently good results (soft serve quality) at about an hour and a half with chilled ingredients and container. 7. You will need to add ice and salt throughout the process, approximately every 15 minutes. In summary, this is a great little device which really can deliver great quality ice cream if you're willing to put in the time. As with anything, the ingredients determine the quality of the results. I can personally attest to the following taking about two hours total time and creating possibly the best strawberry ice cream I have ever had: 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 1 cup turbinado raw cane sugar 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 lbs fresh pureed strawberries Enjoy!

...from someone who has made "tons" of ice cream with White Mountain machines. 1. The motor unit is properly made and stays in place on the bucket. The motor unit has two hook-like protrusions that fit into slots in the rim of the bucket. When the hooks are properly seated into those slots, the torque of the motor acts on the motor unit in the opposite direction from the can and does in fact keep the hooks in place in the slots. The reviewer below who said the hooks are backward and the person who used tape to hold the motor on were describing issues that I did not experience. 2. My standard ice cream recipe froze in about forty minutes. That's typical for me since my recipes all start with a cooked egg custard base which means that the mix often is warm when I start the machine going. Sometimes I make the mix the day before and chill it overnight to shorten the time in the machine. True, this machine's dasher does not actually touch the sides of the can like the fancy wooden dashers of a White Mountain machine. But that did not matter for my freezing time. In fact, since the can of this machine is aluminum instead stainless steel like White Mountain's, it probably is best for this machine's dasher not to scrape the sides of the can. So IMO, the reviewer who complained about the dasher not touching the can is wrong about that causing long freezing times. The reviewers who complained about long freezing times (6 hours in one case) are either not using enough salt with the ice or are using an unconventional ice cream recipe or are doing something else wrong or unusual. 3. All of the parts were included. The reviewers complaining about missing parts had a different experience from mine. However, there were no instructions included. Many people might not like that. But I don't need no stinkin' instructions to make homemade ice cream. 4. The motor is not louder than it should be. All ice cream machines of this type are noisy. The sound is a combination of that made by the electric motor, the gears, and the ice. IMO, this little machine is not as loud as a White Mountain machine. 5. The motor stops when the ice cream is done. This is normal for this kind of ice cream maker. The ice cream at this point will be thick, creamy, non-pourable, and paste-like. But it needs to be further cured if the traditional consistency of ice cream is desired. Do that by removing the motor unit and the dasher from the can and leaving the ice cream in the can in the ice for about twenty minutes more, or remove the dasher from the can and put the can in your freezer. I always transfer the ice cream to some other container for final freezing because digging hard ice cream from these cans is not easy and could even damage this machine's light-weight aluminum can. So IMO, the reviewer who said the motor never stopped (and whose mix never froze) did something wrong. 6. Homemade ice cream is expensive. There probably are many reasons to make homemade ice cream, but thrift will not make the list. I prefer making my own ice cream because I have special recipes that I have developed over a long time. I like them better than ice cream from stores. The reviewer who complained about the cost of making homemade ice cream unfairly attributed that complaint to this particular product. Conclusion... I have to recommend this machine to anyone who knows how to make ice cream and needs a simple machine that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars. I can't give any testimony about the durability of this machine. But considering how much White Mountain machines cost nowadays, even one summer would be enough to be competitive with White Mountain IMO.

I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Nostalgia 4 Quart Ice Cream Maker with Easy Carry Handle, and I must say, it's been a delightful addition to our summer festivities. Here's a rundown of my experience with this charming appliance. First and foremost, the ice cream maker runs like a dream. The motor is surprisingly quiet, allowing for a peaceful ice cream-making process without disrupting the conversation or the atmosphere. The easy carry handle is a thoughtful touch, making it convenient to transport the machine from the kitchen to the patio for a fun outdoor ice cream session. One thing to note is that this ice cream maker requires the use of rock salt, which might be a bit of a departure for those accustomed to the electric-free models. However, the trade-off is well worth it. The rock salt not only aids in achieving that perfect creamy consistency but also adds an extra layer of nostalgia to the whole experience. Now, let's talk flavors. We decided to break in the Nostalgia ice cream maker with a batch of homemade coffee-flavored ice cream, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. The machine churned the mixture evenly, producing a rich and velvety texture that had everyone in awe. The coffee flavor was robust and perfectly infused into the ice cream, creating a treat that even the most discerning taste buds couldn't resist. Cleanup was a breeze, thanks to the detachable parts that are easy to disassemble and wash. The compact design also makes storage a non-issue, fitting neatly into our kitchen cabinet until the next ice cream craving strikes. In conclusion, the Nostalgia 4 Quart Ice Cream Maker with Easy Carry Handle is a winner in our household. It runs smoothly, embraces the old-school charm of using rock salt, and delivers on the promise of delicious homemade ice cream. Whether you're a seasoned ice cream enthusiast or a novice looking to try your hand at crafting frozen delights, this ice cream maker is a sweet investment that will surely leave you and your guests raving.

I was pretty darn excited when my first ice cream maker came in the mail and so far it has been churning out AMAZING frozen yogurt and somewhat iffy ice cream. The quality of the maker is so-so. You get what you pay for. The container is an okay quality aluminum bucket that may have a hard time fitting in smaller freezers and probably can't take too much of a beating either. The plastic bucket is sturdy. The only issue I have is the motor is plastic (not heavy enough) and sits on top of the bucket using two holes on the plastic bucket itself. This becomes rather difficult to set up since you obviously need enough ice on the bottom to elevate the aluminum tin so it attaches to the motor, BUT have to consider that if you add too much ice the motor may not have enough room to lock (by lock, I mean sit) on top of the bucket. You'll see what I mean. My second complaint is it is pretty much open air so if you're trying to make this outside or anywhere slightly above room temperature, you're going to be churning for awhile (~30 min) or it just won't work. It would be much better if the container sealed in the temperature better. But again, you get what you pay for. Third, you can't store it in the aluminum bin. You either eat it right away (if it's froyo) or find some separate container (Glad containers work well) to store them in. The stupid plastic knob they give you falls off period. The plastic "lid" they give you doesn't fit on the bucket. Well, my first time making froyo, I didn't know how huge of a batch it was going to make and almost ate myself to death--but not complaining, in terms of froyo, the consistency made from this ice cream maker was PERFECT. Ice cream on the other hand has a weird icy consistency--not creamy. I'm still toying with recipes to figure out a better one. Anyways, overall, I recommend it because the price is excellent for what you get. It works most of the time and it's a fun activity to do with the kids. The frozen yogurt made from this machine is amazing--like better than froyo places good. I pair plain froyo with fresh blueberries, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, and agave nectar drizzle and it's heaven. Ice cream keeps (but the consistency sucks), but just remember frozen yogurt has to be pretty much eaten right away because it freezes into a rock and never reaches the same consistency even with thawing. Tips: You must freeze the container beforehand and make sure you put in your ingredients and ice immediately because this setup loses temperature fast and after 30 minutes of churning, you might as well just call it quits..

It was a Monday afternoon when I decided it was time to invest in an Ice Cream maker, I figured that I love ice cream so I might as well. Thanks to my Amazon Prime account and my two day shipping it only took my 2 days to lose control of my life. On Wednesday my Nostalgia Electrics 4 quart Ice Cream maker arrived at the house where I proceeded to open it immediately. I planned the day before to make a Death by Chocolate Ice Cream as my first experiment, I like chocolate, my housemates like chocolate, everyone loves chocolate. Putting the machine together was relatively easy, you put the metal container in, fill around it with a mixture of rock salt and ice, then place the mixed ingredients inside along with the mixer and the motor on top, easy. It’s not quiet, you can hear it working, you can hear it doing all the work, and mixing your soon to be ice cream. 20 minutes into the making I stopped the mixer, I took the motor off, I tasted the now thick soft serve consistency and my life changed forever. I MADE ICE CREAM, but not just any ice cream Death by Chocolate Ice Cream and this was the most chocolaty, creamy, beautiful ice cream I had ever had. I had to make more, I had to make different flavors. I found myself looking up flavors and mixtures and concoctions. From caramel swirl to Vanilla Lavender no ice cream flavor shall go untested! Buy Tupperware, buy ice cream cartons, THIS MACHINE HAS TURNED ME INTO AN ICE CREAM LUNATIC! I have ice cream in my dreams, I see it when I close my eyes, and I can’t put it down at all. This Ice Cream maker has ruined my life, I cannot think of anything other than ice cream.

With some difficulties digesting lactose, when I want a cool treat, sorbet is usually my go-to option. To be more economical I purchased this in March with the main purpose of making sorbet at home rather than getting it from the store. Didn't crack it open until the fourth for some company visiting. I used the machine to make a tasty peach strawberry sorbet, that was surprisingly smooth (which has more to do with the recipe than the ice cream machine). Like others said, it was a but noisy, but that wasn't a problem. The machine was pretty quick and simple to put together. I did put the the metal canister in the freezer for about 10 minutes before making the sorbet per the directions and it was pretty cold. But I bet putting ice in the canister for 5 minutes would work fine, as someone else mentioned. I only made about a quart of sorbet and it was done with a nice smooth consistency at 25 minutes (may have been done at 20 minutes, but I didn't check). There was a thin layer of sorbet coating the sides where the churning apparatus (the "dasher") did not fully reach. But it was fine to just scrape that down and stir it into the rest of the batch. I like that the canister can be stored in the freezer. That is especially helpful when the sorbet/ice cream will likely be eaten quickly. For the price and ease of use I think it was well worth the purchase!

Delicioso producto , ahorras mucho en helados

Good Product

Tell you the truth, when I first got it I was skeptical about the product, because I forgot the machine needs ice & salt to run. That's too much trouble for me! Immediately I want to return it. Then I changed my mind, why not try it first! The result was I found the ice cream maker is simply easy to operate, and I can handle it all! The process of adding ice& salt is the fun part of it all! Ice cream produced in no time. It does meet my expectation. As for your service, it's fast and excellent! Thank you.

Worked great except that the lid came loose from the can and I had to hold the motor on the top so it wouldn't come loose again

A++ Product and transaction.