Customer Reviews

4QT Oval IceCream Maker

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Basic model electric home made ice cream maker. Has auto shut off if it gets caught on a pice of ice or when it is done. It is a bit loud but you can hear the motor going through different phases so you know when it is almost done; The hole at the top to discharge the salt water could use a spout and the two foot cord is a bit short but the motor is 20% stronger than the more expensive one we looked at. As with all ice cream maker of this style, you can eat it straight away but it should be put in the freezer to allowed to harden. Good plain instructions with recipes.

If one has a good working knowledge of the physics involved in making ice cream, then every batch should come out great with this simple and basic machine.

The main thing to know is that SALT ADDED TO ICE ALWAYS RESULTS IN SUPER-COOLED WATER, approximately -15 degrees F., and super-cooled water will not freeze. However, the liquid inside the thin aluminum canister which is surrounded by the super-cooled water will begin to crystallize and freeze; It has no option but to do so under the laws of physics. The aluminum is a great conductor of heat, and all the heat from the liquid within it is pulled out into the salty super-cooled slush outside causing the salty slush to melt down even more. That's a good sign, and that's why you need to periodically add additional layers of ice and salt during the process!

Here's the biggest trick to successful ice cream using this or any other machine. The liquid you want to turn into that sweet creamy treat needs to be around 40 degrees when you begin. In other words: refrigerator-cold. Doing so will shorten the processing time and assure good results with the least amount of ice and salt.

One other trick, which is high calorie/fat but it's ice cream so hey, is to use as little milk as possible, instead using half and half and some heavy whipping cream. Milk produces ice milk not ice cream, and it has a sort of an ice-crystal texture...yuck. (Search for Alton Brown's Chocolate Ice Cream recipe...it rocks)

I love my Rival $20 something dollar machine, and spending more on a fancy machine would be an unnecessary waste of money. It has 5 parts: a plastic bucket for the ice and salt, aluminum container for the cream, mixing paddle, lid and a motor unit. If it breaks, you end up with a bathroom size trash can and aluminum which can be recycled for cash!! It's a green machine! Call Al Gore!

This is the first time we have ever used an electric ice cream maker, so I have nothing to compare to. The motor keeps popping off when ice gets jammed around the can. I'm beginning to think the oval bucket is a bad design - there is no room for ice on the front or back, and that's where the ice gets jammed. Are we doing something wrong?

Otherwise, the ice cream came out fine. We had to stand there and hold the motor on.

I've been making homemade ice cream for nearly 40 years, and have had several ice cream makers, starting with hand-cranks. I've had 2 of these Rival ice cream makers for 2 years and find them efficient in design (the oval is more efficient than a circular bucket) and very easy to set up, and to clean up. I definitely recommend this product.

I have had this machine for about two weeks now. I have made three batches of ice cream. It works wonderfully, although mine does not seem to turn off. Maybe I need ot run it longer. The ice cream comes out very creamy and I realy doubt I will buy store bought again.

We purchased this ice cream maker for a friend who has a similar one. She had commented that hers was on its last legs and she would like to get a new one for when the old one gave out. Luckily, I found one for her through Amazon. She was so surprised as she searched all over for one and couldn't find it. Now she makes two batches at once and she and her husband have ice cream every night!
Amazon followed through advising me of the status as I wanted it delivered before Christmas. Again, Amazon came through and she received it on Dec. 22.
Thank you for your top notch products and service.
Bev in BowlerRival Ice Cream Maker Bucket

This is the second of these that I have bought on the last several years. They have been garbage each time. Same problem each time, the cheap soft cogs at the lid and blades always strip out long before the motor burns out. Usually after only a few uses. This is a simple problem to correct by making the contact surfaces larger and with a harder material. They are eigther too cheap to spend 2 pennies on a little plastic or just want to sell replacements to the few that have to buy on a budget.

My biggest problem with this maker is the aluminum can used to make the ice cream in. After I made my last batch I very gently stirred in some chips. When I took a taste I noticed a metallic reaction with my dental fillings which happens when they come in contact with aluminum. Aluminum might be a great conductor of hot and cold but it is not safe to eat! I guess the folks at rival don't care if we get sick from their products. My other issues with this product are that it stops too soon to make a really creamy ice cream and as others have mentioned, poor bucket design so the motor pops off. I don't know how well the plastic exterior insulates the ice either. It's a machine destined for the landfill. Save your money on this one. Just my two cents.

I ordered and thought I was going to receive a Rival Ice Cream Maker, which was particulary important to me because I owned one previously. Instead, I was shipped a Sunbeam brand one. It is much like the Rival but since I was going to use it for a wedding gift, I wanted one that I knew about. I was not given the opportunity to refuse the substitution and didn't want to have to go through the effort and expense to return the product. Given this circumstance, I would not have ordered the product originally if I had know this would happen.

This is my second rival the first one was a round bucket and lasted for years. This new on has an oval bucket - I hate it!!! I have used it twice and both times I started the machine then added ice (small square cubes) and salt. The bucket gets stuck, I think the oval shape is the problem. Each time I had to dump the ice/salt out twice and restart, so therefore you cannot do anything but tend to the ice cream while making it. I even called rival to see what they suggested the lady told me to crush the ice first, wasn't that a good answer. lol Caution if you buy this product I do not recommend the machine with an oval bucket!!!!