Customer Reviews

Lello #4050 Il Gelataio Magnum

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a high end quality product that really does its job. I have had this unit for 1 month now. Through the manufacturer (when you register the product), I was able to buy a $60 2nd bowl and insulated storage container combination, which consists of a 2nd stainless steel bowl, plastic stirring blade, and insulated storage container (the steel bowl sets in the storage container with its insulated cover). This accessory allows you to make a batch, remove the steel bowl and blade together, and store them directly in a thick insulated container. This allows you to make a second batch. The manufacturer claims the insulated container allows storage at room temperature for 2 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 hours, or in the freezer for 6 hours, without impacting the consistency of the ice cream. This same manufacturer makes commercial units. Bottom line, the Italians are very serious about quality "Gelatto".

I hadn't previously had much luck with Simac products--I was extremely disappointed with their very expensive Pasta Machine--but after reading good things about this machine... I decided to give it a try. Much to my delight I found making ice cream in this machine extremely easy.

I haven't used any recipes from the (skimpy) cookbook that came with the Simac machine yet, but we've already tried three recipes from wonderful Ben and Jerry's Cookbook, as well as whipping up a batch of frozen Margaritas (just like you get at a restaurant!) and some frozen yogurt and couldn't be happier with the Gelatio Magnum!

Sure, it is expensive but well worth it for lovers of ice cream and high end kitchen products. In this case, you get what you pay for. You can easily make ice cream or frozen drinks of any consistency--from soft serve to very firm. It is very quick--25-45 minutes in my experience--and the machine, while not whisper quiet by any means, works at a very bearable noise level. Plus, the quart capacity will easily serve 4-8 people with at least a couple of scoops a piece. You can even let the ice cream sit (with the lid on) in the machine for about an hour after it's done without losing any "hardness." Clean up is also easy--just pop the bowl, blade and lid in the dishwasher and you're good to go!

On the downside, it is big though, and VERY heavy, so plan to allocate a good portion of counter space to the Magnum, but if your family loves ice cream, you'll be using it all the time anyway!

Though the ice cream tastes best fresh out of the machine--when you make homemade it doesn't store as well (no additives)--you can freeze leftovers in an airtight container (otherwise it will absorb flavors or taste "freezer burned"). I do recommend briefly microwaving (15-30 seconds on medium high) any ice cream you save in your freezer since it gets VERY hard after a day or two.

My first gelataio did not have the removable bowl...The new machine is, basically identical except for that removable bowl. That alone was worth buying the new one. Just rinse the bowl, no more scraping the dried ice cream out, no more trying to get your fresh whip into a bowl to put into the freezer, just remove and store the bowl. This is the way to make ice cream but there is a learning curve. You need to buy a ice cream book from Amazon, I recommend the Ben and Jerry book, and practice! No commercial ice cream, my 5 kids swear, is as good as Dad's Magnum made...

I started my foray into homemade ice cream with a Krups La Glaciere. Though I was careful with the freezer bowl, I still managed to puncture it after the 2nd use. I bit the bullet and shelled out for the Simac after that.

The ... price difference buys spontaneity, less fuss and ease of cleanup. I don't have to freeze the bowl for 12 hours before making ice cream, there's nothing fragile and all the parts that touch the ice cream come off and can go in the dishwasher. I've also never had the blades that stir the ice cream during freezing get stuck, which happened with the Krups.

The only downside with the Simac is that it's fairly large and heavy. Being able to leave it where you plan to use it would be a plus, but not a show stopper if you don't mind moving a 35lb machine to put it away.

I'd been dreaming of these sweet Italian machines for several years, but the $500 - $600 price tags deterred me. When I saw this one ..., I could resist no longer. I often throw some fruit and syrup into the blender, chill it while preparing dinner, and pour it into the ice cream maker to churn while we eat, for a sweet and refreshing dessert after the meal. Fresh from the machine, even non-fat mixtures are smooth and creamy, though leftovers can turn to rock in the freezer without the butterfat. It makes great frozen margaritas, too. The removable bowl is a plus for clean-up.

I recently bought the Simac Gelataio 4050 Magnum and have made several batches of ice cream, gelato and sorbets. It is an excellent machine that works as advertised (mostly), but there are a few things I think you should know. The most important is that it doesn't turn off automatically when the ice cream is done. I called the technical dept. of the company that distributes it, and was told that it shuts off automatically only to keep from burning up! By that time, the plastic gears are all stripped. You MUST monitor your batch and turn it off if the blades stop turning. If not, your gears are stripped. In the batches I've made, however, the blades kept moving the whole mass of frozen ice cream around and around! I then shut it off with no problem. Another thing is the noise. It is not quiet. You will not want to be next to it for 30 minutes. I put it in another room, and start checking it after 25 minutes. Having said all this, the ice creams, sorbets and gelatos are fabulous! I am very happy with the machine overall.

I've been using this machine to make multiple batches of ice cream every day, and it works wonderfully. The removable bowl is essential for quick clean-up, and allows you to swap in another bowl and dasher to quickly start a second batch. (Assuming, of course, that you've gone out and purchased these optional components) The wonderfulness of the ice cream it makes is entirely determined by the ingredients you put in, but the ice cream maker is fully capable of freezing the ice cream to a smooth and creamy consistency.

The only reason I didn't give this maker 5 stars is that, if the bowl overflows (which it may, as ice cream expands as it freezes) there are lots of holes and nooks that the ice cream can get into that are impossible to clean it out of. If you tend to fill the bowl full, be prepared for your ice cream maker to end up smelling a bit cheesey. It's not a big deal, but a little better design of the plastic housing would have eliminated this problem.

The plastic dasher also takes a bit of effort to clean; milkfat tends to stick to it. It may still be greasy coming out of the washer.

The easiest (and quickest) way to make ice cream!

The machine is great (though the recipes in the manual are kinda... weird! Chicken Noodle Soup Sorbet?!), but not *quite* perfect (I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars if possible).

I would suggest these additions:

- Watertight freezer bowl lid - if you put too much mix in the bowl (to increase mix to air ratio, for example), it will slough out and run into places which are a bit hard to clean.

- Timed churn setting - I have seen variations of this model with a timer on the control panel, but this version doesn't have it. Would be a useful addition.

Other than that, it's great!

I am a caterer. I bought an earlier model which I have used constantly. It is expensive, it uses up a lot of counter space and since it is heavy, you need to be able to dedicate a space just for it. It is easy to use, makes fabulous ice cream, reliable and fast. Once you get used to homemade ice cream it's very hard to go back to commercial stuff. Also makes great sorbets. This would make a great gift to someone who has lots of counter space, loves kitchen toys and ice cream. It also makes a great present to oneself. For any caterer who does small dinners I would say it definitely allows you to expand your offerings and despite its hefty fee can be a real money maker.

My father loved to gourmet cook and was interested in all kinds of kitchen appliances. He passed away 16 years ago and i inherited his gelataio machine. Because of health problems, i know he did not use the machine for several years before he passed away. I didn't expect the machine to work after at least 20 years in storage so i let it sit in my garage for another four years before i ever tried using it. All i had to do was plug it in and it works great. How is that for dependable? Tonight my wife made peach ice cream and i made a batch of Kahlua caramel ice cream.
I didn't know that the machine was still available in this country until i saw Emeril Lagassi using and talking about his machine on his television show on the Food Channel last week. He was right when he said that you will let the machine sit for a while then one weekend you go crazy and make four or five kinds at once. The only real difference in my machine and the current magnum model is that my bowl is not removeable, which is definitely an improvement. If it ever wears out I will buy another. There is nothing like it for sprucing-up a dinner party with something unique! Homemade raspberry sorbet makes a great palete cleanser between courses.