Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great high-end product, January 20, 2001
By A Customer
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".
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Expensive, Sure, But You Get What You Pay For, July 30, 2001
By A Customer
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.
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36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Italian since Gina L, August 21, 2000
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...
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