2008 VIP
Meri
Upstate, NY

Save your money and look elsewhere.

2 star rating

an ice cream lover!
Pros

    small, weighs 10 lbs., clear, see through lid, pouring guide for ingredients on lid, doesn't need rock salt or ice, electric

Cons
    underpowered motor, takes up too much space in freezer, ice cream is soupy, flemsy mixing paddle, takes a long time

JUL
31
2008
Coming from only hand crank, rock salt and ice experiences I thought the Rival electric ice cream maker would be the ice cream lover's answer to sliced bread. Boy, was I ever wrong!

The box says "Makes Ice Cream in Less than 25 Minutes!" Don't believe it. The entire process takes much longer. First, you have to put the canister in the freezer for some length of time until the gel encased between the outer and inner walls of the canister is frozen solid. The ice cream mixture must be thoroughly chilled as well; although this could be done at the same time you are freezing the canister.

The box shows pictures of delicious looking sorbets, frozen yogurt and ice cream that appear to be rich, creamy and firm. Don't get sucked in. After having tried the machine several times I find it hard to believe these pictures were taken of sorbet and ice cream made in this machine. Even with using heavy creams and the finest ingredients the ice cream is soupy and most often icy. The motor is just not powerful enough to push the ice cream to the smooth, creamy stage. It bogs down once the ice cream mixture starts getting to a thick milkshake consistency.

To be fair, the machine is small and easily stored but when you have to put it in the freezer to have ready "for anytime use" the machine seems to take up alot of freezer space.

My machine is going back this week. The quest for a better ice cream machine continues. I guess the old addage, "You get what you pay for" is true in this instance.

Last edited on Jul 31, 2008



I_thumb_down Rival Ice Cream Maker- Treat Shoppe Electric 1.5-Quart GC8151-WN is not recommended by Meri

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about Meri’s Review

 


AnnaBanana wrote on Aug 19, 2008 at 7:33AM

No, after looking at the picture, I think I had another brand. But I still had to chill the liner and I gave it up because of that.

AnnaBanana wrote on Aug 19, 2008 at 7:32AM

I think this is what my old ice cream maker was like although I had the smaller size. Mine actually worke pretty well but I had to stop because of that problem of having to chill the liner. I loved the ice cream I use to make though -- I used milk instead of cream and it froze up beautifully and was SO GOOD!

Meri wrote on Aug 9, 2008 at 12:19PM

In response to LaurieM's comment from Aug 1, 2008 at 9:59AM:

Thanks. I think I will buy my ice cream at the store... :(

LaurieM wrote on Aug 1, 2008 at 9:59AM

Too bad it didn't work out for you. Good luck finding a better product!

AngelaWLaFon wrote on Jul 31, 2008 at 10:32PM

Good points here.

SpokaneMan wrote on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:22PM

Thanks for the warning about this!

BayouBengal wrote on Jul 31, 2008 at 9:09AM

I remember everyone taking a turn to crank the old machine when I was a kid. So glad to see some of these nice modern inventions :) Gotta love homemade ice cream :) Thanks for sharing the quirks on this machine with us.


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