Cuisipro 837409W Donvier 837409W 1-Quart Ice Cream Maker

I ordered my Donvier a couple of weeks ago, in spite of some negative reviews, because I've used this type of ice cream maker before and I like the hand cranking, no-salt method. It's also small and easy to store. Since I received my Donvier I have experienced every problem listed by a negative reviewer for this product, and I have found the single solution to all of them.

When I got the Donvier I made some ice cream right away and it came out perfect--yay! Then I thought, hmm, better with a little less sugar. So I tried it again. Disaster! The mixture got all slushy, with too-large ice crystals, and it never really froze. This sounded suspiciously like one of the negative reviews I'd read, but since the first batch was great, I tried again. WORSE! Not even any ice crystals this time. The Donvier I now possessed could not freeze an ice cube. I started thinking "defective product," and was considering sending it back. But then I remembered reading recently that self-defrosting freezers often change temperatures in order to keep frost from building up, and I wondered if it wasn't a temperature issue.

As an experiment, I lowered my freezer temperature setting by 2 notches, and then refroze the Donvier. When I went to make ice cream with the same mix that would not freeze at all before, suddenly it was freezing way too fast! The handle became stuck, and the lid kept popping off! Too cold, Goldylocks!

So I set the freezer to the middle setting. Now my Donvier performs just like all those ones with the five star reviews. Ahhhh.

Lesson for the consumer: If you are going to use a Donvier, be prepared to manage your freezer temperature. You can get an inexpensive freezer thermometer, or experiment like I did.

Lesson for Donvier (and the reason I knocked a star off of your wonderful product): This needs to be in the documentation. It's not enough to tell people that they should have their freezer at below zero, because everyone assumes theirs is already. You need to put a paragraph in your little book that talks about the ideal temperature--not too cold, not too warm--and how to find it. Good docs make a five star product.

Caution: Rave Review
Why can't I get decent chocolate chip ice cream? That's what I want to know. Chocolate chip, plain, unvarnished and perfect, is a rapidly vanishing breed in the highly segmented world of commercial premium ice cream.

The Donvier lets you create the fresh flavors you want, when you want them. So, I get my chocolate chip with rich veins of beautiful Ghiradelli's milk chocolate chips and just a few semi-sweet for the heck of it. My wife's favorite is fresh peach and that's what she gets. You know what - in season, it tastes very much like a beautifully ripe peach! Only better.

Freeze the container overnight. Dump in the ingredients. Pop the lid on. Stir. Wait a bit. Stir some more. Repeat for ... minutes or so. Yesterday, I made a quart of ice cream while I was in the midst of preparing dinner for six - it was just no problem. The ice cream got such rave reviews from our guests that I was troubled at how easy it was to make.

Chocolate chip TIP: Wait until it's partly frozen up before you dump in the chips - they don't all settle down to the bottom that way.

We've had our Donvier for almost ten years and have never had a problem. Hey, what could go wrong? it's a metal bowl with a plastic handle that you turn inside it. I suppose you could break the handle with an excess of joie de vivre, but they're pretty cheap to replace. Ah, you ask, but is it easy to use? Well, turning a crank in a bowl is a fundamental human activity - *anybody* can do it!

No more need you buy Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip peanut turbot ice cream at 3 bucks a pint or so. The Donvier makes it just too easy to make incredibly good, fresh ice cream yourself.

Buy one. Now. You won't regret it.

I have had this machine for a few years but just got into REALLY making wonderful icecream with it. My kids, husband and I love the ice cream we make with this machine. My husband asked me (after tasting his favorite flavor), "You made this icecream, NO, really, is it really homemade?" We have had friends over for dinner and I made some homemade ice cream. They just raved about it....they all want a Donvier too. I purchased this one because it is easy to use and produces FANTASTIC results. My kids love to be able to be part of the process so they, too, can say they can make delicious ice cream. (I think part of what MAKES the machine is a REALLY good recipe). You can buy several different ice cream books but my favorite recipes is from Ben & Jerry's. 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 c milk (I use Half & Half), 2 cups heavy cream. (this is just the base for many different flavors you can make). Beat the eggs for 2 mins, until light and fluffy, add sugar a little at a time, beat approx 1 more min. Then add Half & Half, and cream. Now add your favorite flavoring...like 1/4 tsp peppermint oil (and a few drops of green food coloring)for mint chocolate chip ice cream. Always use chilled ingredients. If you just wanted vanilla then you would just add approx 1-1 1/2 tsp of vanilla. (I put this in the fridge to set for about 1/2 - 1 hr but you don't have to if you are using chilled ingredients.) When I am ready I add the mixture to the machine and start making icecream. Near the end of the freezing process I add shaved Ghiradelli chocolate and mix it in. Voila! Wonderful, creamy, tasty mint chip icecream! The icecream is ready in about 20 mins but at this point it will be pretty soft, I usually let it set for anywhere from about another 20 or 30 mins because I like mine a little harder. It is THAT easy, just make your icecream base...add your favorite flavorings and freeze!