DASH My Pint Ice Cream Maker Machine (Aqua): Multi-Purpose Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine for Homemade Gelato, Sorbet, Frozen Yogurt, Includes Mixing Spoon, Easy to Clean and Store

I highly recommend this little Dash ice cream maker. I have been making ice cream for years. First, I had the old-fashioned kind of ice cream maker, where you had to add salt to the ice. Then I had the kind where you froze the metal inner part, and cranked it by hand. Then I got a Cuisinart electric ice cream maker, and it makes a quart or so, effortlessly. Now, it's just my husband and me, we are retired, and we are cutting back on our sweets. We can't eat a quart of ice cream by ourselves anymore! This Dash ice cream maker is perfect! It is like the kind where you freeze the metal inner part, but it is electric, so you don't have to do any cranking. So, wash and dry everything. Put the inner part of the Dash into the freezer (the plastic cup with the handle comes off, and doesn't need to be in the freezer); freeze it 12 to 24 hours right at zero degrees. Then make your ice cream mixture. I like real ice cream, with egg yolks and heavy cream, but you can make whatever flavor you particularly crave. Here is my coffee ice cream recipe:Coffee Ice Cream:1 egg yolk, whisk it in a bowlAdd: ¼ cup sugar, whisk it againAdd: ½ cup heavy cream from refrigerator, whisk it again.Add: ¾ tsp. instant coffee (espresso), and whisk it (I use the espresso coffee that comes in 1 tsp. packets, it's a yellow and red small box)In 1 quart pan: put ½ cup heavy cream, heat until boiling, whisking continually. As soon as it bubbles, take it off the heat, and whisk it gradually into the egg mixture in your bowl.Put the whole thing back into the pan, and heat until boiling, whisking continually. As soon as it bubbles, take it off the heat, whisking. I use setting 8.5 on my electric stove, and it only takes a couple of minutes to come to bubbles. As soon as you see bubbles around the edges, take it off the heat.Pour into a container, you should have about one cup.Add: ¼ tsp. organic vanilla extractStir it occasionally for about 40 minutes while it cools. Then pour it into a quart Ziploc bag, seal, and put it into the freezer for 1 hour. You can churn it then, or you can put in the refrigerator overnight.Put into the cold Dash Ice Cream Maker, lower the beater while it is running, and churn for about 18 minutes. Can serve right away as “soft serve,” but it’s best when a little firmer. For firmer ice cream, put into a container and freeze for 3 hours. There is no need to churn more than 20 minutes, freeze it for harder consistancy. Don't put it back in the freezer in the Dash ice cream maker, put it in another container.If it becomes frozen really hard, put in microwave for about 10 seconds before serving.If you're eating it with cookies, cake, or pie, this is two servings. If you are pigging out, eat it all yourself.Awesome.

worth it very good

The media could not be loaded. The key to enjoying this item is to have realistic expectations. It’s not going to preform in the same way as a much more expensive machine. That being said, I’ve had a really great experience so far. There is a pretty steep learning curve and my first few attempts were not so successful. Here are some things that I’ve learned that have attributed to my success:1. It is small. Like two scoops small. Don’t overfill it or you’re going to have a bad time. If you have two kids you might think about buying two of these. (It also needs a full 24 hours of freezer time between uses.)2. Make sure to have everything ready to go. It will immediately start freezing around the edges once liquid is added.3. Don’t make the mixture too thick. Liquid consistency is better.5. Have enough fat in your recipe. Less fat means more ice crystals and less creamy texture.6. The lid doesn’t exactly lock in place. It does have some grooves that it will click into. After you set the lid on turn the lid and you can feel it click into place.7. You’re not going to get rock hard ice cream like at the store. It’s more along the lines of soft serve. If you wanted a more ice cream like consistency you’d need to freeze it after churning. If that’s what you want just buy the big ice cream machine.I have only used this for frozen yogurt but it works really well. I out about a cup of plain Greek yogurt 5% fat) in a bowl and add some almond milk and a splash of half and half. Then I add whatever flavoring or fruit that I want and stir it all up. I get the best results when it is liquid or near liquid in consistency. I’ve found it’s a good way to get extra protein while still satisfying the ice cream cravings.It’s easy to clean. The paddle detaches from the motor. It comes with a plastic spoon. I haven’t used any other spoons but I don’t think metal is a good idea. I hand wash everything and it doesn’t take much time.

Piece of junk. Tried to use and everything an abject failure. Wish it was still returnable. I'd demand my money back. I guess it'll just have to go to a thrift store where someone can get it for $1 and make some frozen cups.I always liked Dash's products but then I bought, at the same approximate time as this, a smaller air fryer at Sam's. Good price. Inside not as advertised on out as it only cooks at one temperature, great if all you want are fried things like chicken nuggets and fries. Wrote to product support and was basically told not our problem, take it back to store. That is difficult for me at this time. Buyer beware of their products.