Cuisinart SM-55 5-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer

I have a stand mixer (which I will leave unnamed) that I received as a gift several years ago. I’ve used it for all different things from cookie dough to pudding to bread. It works ok, but I’ve never really been pleased with it.

With the constant raising and lowering of the bowl to add ingredients, detaching the mixing paddle in order to remove the bowl, and kneading dough by hand–I was sick of it!

I know, I’m complaining. But I knew there had to be something out there to fit my needs. So I went on a search and found the Cuisinart SM-55 5-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer.
It does everything I want it to do, so now I’m going to share my Cusinart Stand Mixer Review with you..

Why the Cuisinart Stand Mixer?

Tilt-Back Head
The Cuisinart mixer’s hinged top will save you time and hassle! It allows you to tilt back the whole top of the mixer. This gives easy access to the bowl, so you can add ingredients without removing the mixing paddle and bowl (that used to be a hassle). It also makes it easy to attach accessories. When you tilt it back, it locks the stand mixer into the raised position.

Splash Guard and Pour Spout
The Cuisinart Mixer has a splash guard with a pour spout to allow you to easily add ingredients to the mixing bowl once it is already on the stand. Of course you can always tilt-back the top, but this is even easier and faster. No more odd maneuvering to add more flour. Good-bye splashes and spills!

Gentle Fold Function
You know when the recipe says “fold in egg whites” or “stir in chocolate chips?” That’s what this function is for–delicate ingredients (such as egg whites) and last minute additions (nuts, fruit,chocolate chips). It mixes at the lowest speed and has two mixing options: continuous blending or pulse to simply combine ingredients.

Slow-Start Function
Cuisinart’s brilliant idea! It starts the mixer slowly, then gradually increases speed to prevent flour poofs, and cake-batter splatters, keeping your kitchen cleaner.

12 Mixing Speeds
This mixer has 12 speeds. Now I don’t know what I would ever make to use all 12 mixing speeds, but better to have over-kill than under-kill. With so many options, you’re bound to find the perfect speed to mix everything just right.

Why do I need a Timer and Auto Shut-off?

The Cuisinart mixer has a 15-Minute Countdown Timer with Auto Shutoff. Now here’s a function I had to research a little bit to find out why I even need it.

It’s great–you can set the Cuisinart mixer to time the blending or kneading of your mixture, then it automatically turns off when you’ve reached your desired mixing time. This would be very helpful when kneading bread or rolls because while you’re busy doing something else, you let the mixer do the work for you, for just the right amount of time.

How Powerful is the Cuisinart Stand Mixer?

The Cuisinart SM 55 Stand Mixer has an 800-watt motor, compared to Kitchenaid’s 325-watt motor. It’s powerful enough to handle the heaviest mixing jobs and thickest doughs, but it’s not too noisy.

What other Attachments Work with the Cuisinart Stand Mixer?

Check out the Cuisinart SM-55 Stand Mixer product pictures on Amazon.com. The options are impressive! You can attach 5 different appliances (sold separately). I like the idea of combining power bases and saving storage space in the kitchen. The attachments that fit the Cuisinart SM-55 model include:

• Blender
• Citrus Juicer
• Food Processor
• Meat Grinder
• Pasta Maker

The top cover hinges open revealing three power outlets where you plug in the different attachments:

• The high-speed outlet is on the rear, top of the mixer and is for connecting the Blender or Food Processor attachment (sold separately).
• The Mid-speed outlet is located on the front, top of the mixer and is for the Citrus Juicer attachment (sold separately).
• Finally, the slow-speed power outlet is on the front of the mixer head and is used for the Pasta-Maker and Meat Grinder attachments (sold separately).

How About the Size of the Mixing Bowl?

The Cuisinart mixer’s 5.5-Quart bowl is plenty big enough for doughs and double-batches. If you often make multiple loaves of bread, then you might consider a larger model, like the Cuisinart 7-Quart mixer.

The bowl also has handles so it’s easier to remove and hold.

Is Clean-up Messy?

The bowls and tools are top-rack dishwasher-safe, something I can’t say about my current mixer. Clean-up time just got easier!

What are Others Saying?

Cooks Illustrated did a review of mixers, and the winner, “Highly Recommended,” was the Cuisinart 5.5 Quart Stand Mixer. They go into detail about how it pushes through heavy tasks, has modern updates, an efficient dough hook, how its splash guard has a feed tube…
(source: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg0815062018796.html)

But what means more to me are the consumer reviews. These are people who own and use it regularly. It has a ranking of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 100 reviewers.

“Definitely glad I chose Cuisinart over Kitchenaid.” — A lot of reviewers mention how they were hesitant to switch from a KitchenAid but how glad they are that they took the chance.

They also talk about the splash guard preventing flour or powdered sugar poofs all over their counters and floors.

Also, the ability to handle heavy loads without unbearable noise.

What’s in the Box?

• Flat mixing paddle for mixing, beating, or stirring
• Spiral Dough Hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs for breads, pizza, and rolls
• Chef’s Whisk for whipping and adding air to mixtures
• Splashguard to prevent spills

Does it Have a Warranty?

The Cuisinart SM 55 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer has a 3-year product warranty and a 5-year motor warranty.

Where Can You Get the Best Price?

I’ve seen the 5.5-Qt Stand Mixer for $299 almost everywhere (including the Cuisinart website), but you can find it much cheaper on Amazon.com

Watch for rebates. Often they run specials where you can get the food processor attachment for free. Even if you purchase it without the rebate, keep checking back at Amazon because they sometimes honor rebates even for recently purchased mixers.

Read more about it and the customer reviews on Amazon here.

Well, there is one big mistake when buying a juice extractor that can ruin your day. Make sure you avoid and don’t get caught up in this mistake!

But, why get a juicer in the first place?

Many people like to skip the effort and just buy juice from the store (or worse, skip the juice and go straight to soda).

There is a growing trend, however, that households across the nation are taking part in, and it is juicing from home. It’s becoming a lifestyle change instead of just a fad and the reasons are many:

• People are tired of pills and want natural solutions
• Juice made at home is fresh
• It feels good
• You have control over what goes into the juice (no nasty preservatives)
• There’s no plastic garbage from a bottle (which should be recycled anyway)
• It’s fun to share with neighbors and friends. They’re most often impressed by the juicer and your decision to be a juicer.

There are many more reasons to buy a juicer, but you get the idea.

So how do you know if you’re getting a great juicer? How do you avoid the number one mistake when purchasing a juicer? Well, the number one mistake is straightforward: settling for poor quality.

It’s unfortunate to anticipate getting a juicer, save up, buy the juicer and then be utterly disappointed to the point that you don’t even use it. Very sad. The best way to keep using your juicer throughout your life is to get a quality juicer, even a high-quality juicer, and you wont be disappointed.

So what’s the key to finding a high quality juicer?

The answer to that is fairly easy: Brand and Price. We all know that “you get what you pay for.” Think about the juicer as something you could potentially use every day and that you want to have last a lifetime. If it is something that you’ll use everyday, wouldn’t you want something that is of high quality? High quality juicers are more expensive, but they’ll last longer, do the job better, and be more fun to use which makes it better for you because you’ll receive the benefits of juicing more often. As far as brand goes, Breville makes great juicers, but you can check out other brands too in our list of Top 10 Juicers.

One of the best juicers out there is the Breville 800jexl Juice Fountain. It’s our pick and the one we recommend.

Breville 800jexl Juice Fountain Elite

It’s a favorite of juicers all over because it’s sturdy, looks great, is powerful and fast, and has a high juicing capacity.

For more information, you can find our review of the Breville 800jexl here.

Why make homemade juice?

Who likes that stuff anyway? Right? Well, you might be surprised how much you like the benefits such as feeling better, longer life expectancy, and better overall health.

But why does juice (green or vegetable juice) have to taste so bad?

It’s those vegetables that people have tried to feed you ever since you were a baby that are so gosh-darned good for you. So, why does it have to taste bad? If you’re like me, you’ve often thought, “If it tastes this bad, it must be good for me.”

Is there a way to make homemade veggie juice taste good?

In-deedy there is! It’s a secret that’s been passed around the juicing industry for a long time. As more and more people get juicers for their own homes, the secret is getting out.

Calling it a secret may be a little dramatic, but if most people don’t know it, then it is a secret until it’s…REVEALED…dah-dah-duuuh!

So what is the secret to making homemade vegetable juice taste good.

See if you can figure it out with this clue:

When you go the store and buy juice that might have a strong taste or bite to it, what does the juice product advertise? Usually, it’s written 100% real juice. So if it’s 100% juice, why doesn’t the store-bought juices taste like homemade juice?

It’s because they added sweet tasting fruit juice into the juicing mix! That’s the secret, and now that you know it too, guard it well against never-do-wells.

Can that really be the secret to better tasting juice?

Yep. All you need to do when using your juicer at home is to add in some of the following fruits, and your vegetable mixes will start tasting much better.

Fruits to add:

• Apples
• Oranges
• Lemons or Limes for some zing!
• Grapes
• Kiwi
• Apricots
• Nectarines
• Mangos

You may want to add other fruits such as cherries or pomegranates. You could also add some sweet tasting melons to the mix (I’d suggest cutting them up before trying to add them to your mix).

Where to make homemade juice?

Well, start first off in the home. Second, you’ll want a good juicer.

If you use a sub-par juicer, you’ll spend loads of time chopping your fruits and veggies to get them to fit into the juicer machine. You’ll also likely be frustrated with the speed, capacity, and efficiency.

Our pick is the 800 jexl by Breville. Send in the fruits and veggies and it can take care of it all.

We wrote a detailed review of the 800 jexl here that you can read here for more on the juicer.

Included below for your viewing pleasure is a video showing the Breville 800jexl in action but also how it comes apart:

She’s not calling everything by the right name, but you get the idea of how fast the Breville 800jexl works.

What are the parts that come with the Breville 800 jexl:

• The juicer body itself
• Pulp container to catch the residue.
• Juicing pitcher that catches the good stuff.
• Defrother to go on the pitcher.
• Recipe Book with the user manual
• Scrub brush, a good, stiff one to scrub out the mesh filter and cutting blades.
• Food Pusher – that you use to push the food down

What’s awesome about Juicing with an awesome Juice Extractor

1. It’s fast…almost too fast
2. It’s good for you:  Juice + Drinking Juice = Feel Better
3. It takes whole fruits and veggies (you don’t have to peel, just toss it in)
4. More juice. The left overs are dry. It takes almost all the juice out
5. Looks good in the kitchen
6. Impresses friends – really try it out in front of some friends, they’ll like it

If you’re crazy for more video and reviews of the Breville 800jexl you’ll want to check out the recent post we did (it’s thousands of words, but don’t worry, there are videos if you want to skip the wordy details).

You can view our review of the Breville 800jexl here.

Although the video is a little old, it’s demo of the Click to see our =====>  Breville 800 jexl Review

Juicers have come a long way in the last 5 years. We were using an Oster, and it was leaking and making a mess. The capacity wasn’t all that great either.

The Breville 800 jexl Outshines other Juicers

The Breville 800 jexl really shines (no, really, it does) compared to other juices. I probably couldn’t have made a better video review of it than the one above.

The great thing about reviewing a juicer is that you can see it in action much easier than other items, and the outcome is sooo tasty.

A Great Juice Extractor Makes Great Juice, but add some Fruit to the Veggies

We made some juice today with a number of vegies, but adding a few fruits really helps to liven up the flavor.

Apples make a great addition to any juice you’re making, you can also add grapes and other fruits. Apples are just so easy to add and they have a lot of juice in them.

The great thing about the 800 jexl is that you can put the whole fruit in. Got an apple? Just toss the whole apple in. No need to peel the fruit or cut it up to fit better because the whole thing fits in the Breville.

It’s a lot of fun to try different juice mixes with the family and see what they think, and you’d be surprised in the varied tastes within a family.

Best Reviews of the Breville 800 jexl

Recently, we posted a detailed review of the Breville 800 jexl. In the review, we posted more videos of the juice extractor in action.

Those video demos aren’t as exciting as the one above, but Martha Stewart shows us how to use and invites her associate to come taste her latest creation.

You can view that review here.

Breville 800jexl Juice Fountain Elite

We’ve had some family members face some pretty serious health issues as of late and had some of our own.

Of course when these things creep up on us and surprise us, we look for everything we can do to overcome it.

We heard of all the benefits of juices and had been fans of antioxidant natural juices, but just recently, we became excited about what Green Juice can do for us and our family.

To make Green Juice and other healthy juices requires a good juicer to do it right. So after a lot of research, I finally decided on the Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite Juice Extractor.

Hopefully, what I’ve put here will be helpful to you in your decision. I was really impressed with the Breville 800JEXL.

I watched Breville’s youtube demo video of this juice fountain, and I fell in love!

It has a 1000-watt or 1 1/3 horsepower motor that can move at 13,000 RPM, so we’re talking major power and speed. In the video, they were stuffing in whole apples, 3 carrots at a time, and pineapple with the rind. And juice came out instantly!

You can have an 8 oz glass of fresh, healthy juice in 5 seconds flat. That’s super fast! To see how fast the juice flows out of the machine, how fast the pitcher fills up, is absolutely amazing.

Here’s a video I found on YouTube to show you what it can do:

How fast and powerful is it?

The Breville 800 JEXL has 2 speed controls:

High Setting (13,000 RPM) for hard fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and apples. It’s even powerful enough to juice pineapple with the rind.

You don’t have to wear out your finders with excessive peeling and cutting, and it saves loads of time.

Low Setting (6,500 RPM) for soft fruits, such as cantaloupe, oranges, and leafy vegetables.

The Breville Juice Extractor is also equipped with an electronic “smart chip” that regulates power to the blades depending on what you are pureeing.

It gives extra power when you put in your carrot, then slows back down for the pear. It varies depending on the juice load.

This is so important because it produces just the right mix making a superior drink compared to other juicers.

How Durable is it?

The Breville Juice Fountain Elite is made of tough stuff. It has a die-cast steel housing, and the parts are stainless-steel.

This makes the juicer:

1. Look awesome (it looks so good in the kitchen).
2. Stronger and much more durable than juicers made of plastic.

The plastic juicers I looked at just wouldn’t cut it.

Plastic juicers are easily stained from vegetable juice and the plastic parts eventually crack from too much strain. Neither of these are issues with the Breville 800 JEXL.

The stainless steel on the Breville will not stain, and because it’s so sturdy and solid it easily handles the pressure. Compared to other juicers, you won’t get tired arms because the 1 1/3 horsepower motor does the work for you. You just put in the items you want to juice.

The cutter is a titanium-plated, stainless-steel disc, encasing 115 dual-action, diagonal knife blades–Does that sound cool, or what?. The micromesh filter is also made of stainless steel. I don’t anticipate that wearing out any too soon.

The Breville 800jexl  is all about speed, strength, durability, and longevity. Plus the look is sleek and sophisticated.

I’m looking forward to a juicer that will last for decades and one that will be the envy of the whole family.

Martha Stewart featured the Breville 800jexl on her show:

Easy to Use

The juicer is powerful and easily processes rinds so you don’t have to peel. That makes it soooo easy to make juice in seconds.

What about chopping? The feed tube is circular and three inches across to accommodate whole fruits and vegetables, and easily fits a whole apple or orange!

I just couldn’t believe it when I saw you could put whole fruits and vegetables in the juicer.

This is an important feature for me because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it’s sometimes difficult for me to peel and chop all that produce. But thankfully, I won’t need to spend the time or effort with this powerful juicer.

How the Juicer Makes Magic

It’s really simple the way the juice extractor works.

The feed tube is located on the top of the juicer. Put the fruit or vegetable in the tube, guide it down with the pusher, and from there it passes through the cutter.

The Breville Juice Fountain has the feed tube centered right over the cutter so it can process large amounts of fruits and vegetables instantly.

After going through the cutter, the pulp is then forced against the stainless-steel micro-mesh filter, pressing out as much juice as it possibly can.

The residue, which is less than you would think, is then extracted into the pulp container.

So much of the juice is extracted from the fruits and veggies that the left-over pulp is surprisingly dry.

You can tell by the pulp that the Breville 800JEXL is nothing shore of awesome. When I was investigating at first, I saw lots of reviewers raving about the smooth and virtually pulp-free juice.

What’s Included with the Breville 800JEXL

The Breville 800JEXL juicer comes with:

• Pulp container to catch the residue. It’s large and holds up to 100 fluid ounces so you can make lots of juice without having to constantly empty the residue.
• Juicing pitcher that catches the good stuff. It holds 34 fluid ounces (or 1 liter) and has measurement markings on the side. It is made of clear plastic and has a handle and a spout. It also has an opening to insert the spout on the juicer where the juice comes out so there is no overspray. Watch for the “MAX” fill marking–look out, it fills up faster than you realize!
• Defrother to go on the pitcher. The 800 JEXL is so fast and powerful, it can produce a lot of froth. The de-frother is a nice addition because you can get rid of any froth you don’t want.
• Recipe Book with the user manual, to help you know what’s going to taste good together. Being a newbie juicer, I welcome all the tips I can get.
• Scrub brush, a good, stiff one to scrub out the mesh filter and cutting blades.

What About Clean-up? Does it Make a Mess?

Now this surprised me, but these parts are dishwasher-safe! That makes clean up easier than ever. If you choose to hand-wash the parts, use the scrubber brush that comes with the Breville Juice Fountain to make it easier to get all the pulp off the mesh filter and other parts.

The smooth, stainless-steel parts make for easy clean-up, and the assembly/disassembly is a cinch.

The parts easily clamp down, so you don’t have to worry about screwing things apart like with other juicers.

A hint that will save you some effort: Wash the juicer immediately after use, before the pulp has a chance to dry and harden.

One more hint: You can line the pulp catching container with a plastic bag, so when you’re done, you simply throw away the residue. One less dish to wash! What will I do with all the extra time?

Where to Store the Juice Fountain?

Before deciding on a juicer, I pictured where in my home this would go–probably on a counter corner because we would use it almost every morning. Would I mind having it there? No, it’s sleek, sophisticated, and it would be the best-looking appliance I have. In fact, I think it will the perfect addition to the kitchen.

It’s dimensions are 8 x 9 x 19 inches

What about the Warranty?

If you do happen to have any trouble the Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite includes a 1 year warranty, so you can rest at ease knowing you’ll be taken care of.

What Others Are Saying:

A lot of people are talking about the Breville Juice Extractor. Last time I checked, there were over 360 reviews on Amazon alone!

Buyers of the Juice Extractor have rated it with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on both Amazon.com and the Breville website too.

Here’s a sampling of what they’re saying:

• “For the fantastic quality and rugged construction you are get far more for your money than any other juicer on the market.”
• “You may think this machine is a lot of money, but if you want to have a juicer with real speed and a strong motor, this is the way to go. Not only that, but it’s very attractive to look at as well. This is money well spent in my opinion”
• “I’ve owned other juicers, but this one is a monster. At high speed, it’s loud no doubt, but it’s power is without equal. I make a monster glass of juice (close to a quart) with 7 fruits and vegetables. It rips through all of them as if it were a joke. All the vegetables take about a minute, then i’m done.”

It was a lot of fun to see a number of juicer owners say that if their house were on fire, their Breville juicer would be one thing for sure that they’d save.

Any Complaints about the Breville?

Breville explains that one minor issue comes when you quickly feed several fruits or veggies with high water content through the juice extractor. Sometimes a little juice leaks out between the juicer cover and the filter bowl. This is because the juice is extracted so quickly that the force may cause a bit of leaking.

So, if this happens, just make sure the juicer is on low speed and press the food pusher down more slowly. Then you shouldn’t have any more leaking problems. It’s hard to harness all that power!

One person mentioned she had a little juice flowing back into the pulp-catcher, but then she realized she hadn’t been cleaning her screen filter like she should have. Once she scrubbed it clean, she no longer had a problem.

So be sure to use the stiff brush that’s included with your juicer to make sure the screen is clean.

Even though the Breville is a top of the line juicer, I was a little hesitant because of the price. The videos I watched helped and I hope this review has been helpful to you. If you want to see more about the juicer, click the links below to view it on Amazon’s website.

It’s durable, long-lasting, fast, easy cleaning, and one person mentioned how she saves money in the long run on produce because the Breville Juice Fountain extracts so much more juice than her old juicer. Less produce is wasted. Sometimes quality means much more than a few extra dollars.

Health Benefits of using a Juicer

So, like I mentioned earlier, the health benefits are what attracted us to a juicer that can make quality juice, is easy to use and makes juice with almost no wait time.

I look forward to more healthy eating while being able to make tasty treats in no time!

Just think of all the yummy juices you can make with the juicer and how good for you those juices can be.

I’m not an expert on the health benefits of all the juices you can make, but I sure know that they’re better than all the sodas, energy drinks, and slurpees that are out there. Just by getting the juicer, you’ll have great drinks to replace those un-healthy drinks with. Think of all the health benefits of just doing that!

Now think of all the research that is being done and has shown how good the natural vegetable and fruit juices are for you. If those juices can help you prevent major sicknesses or maladies or just plain make you feel healthier, it’s worth it compared to the mounds of health related bills for not taking proper care of ourselves!

Where Can You Buy the Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite?

I looked around online, and when I checked Breville’s site, the Juice Fountain Elite was out of stock.

I checked Martha Stewart’s store, since she recommended it, and it was out of stock there, too. I couldn’t believe it!

Luckily, I found it on Amazon.com. I found Amazon had the best deal, too, because they offer free shipping.

If you see it available, you oughta go ahead and buy it because it seems like a popular item.

Click here to see the Juice Fountain Elite on Amazon.

Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite?

To really get a feel for what people think about Breville Juicer, check out Amazon.com.

When I checked they had over 360 reviews with an almost perfect user rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Click here to read more about it on Amazon.com.

Using Liquid Nitrogen to Make Gelato

You could try the Liquid Nitrogen Method which is really a cool (no pun intended) method for making Gelato.

I’m not so sure this is the safest method for making Gelato at home, but making it with Liquid Nitrogen is possible and fun to watch at least.

Check out the video below to see how it’s done by professionals.

Making Gelato with Liquid Nitrogen is not common, but it is fun to see.

How to Make Gelato with a Gelato Maker

The Gelato Machine Method is a much safer way to make Gelato at home compared to using liquid nitrogen.

The video below shows how easy (and safe compared to liquid nitrogen) it is to make Gelato.

Recently, we posted an in-depth review of our favorite, the Delonghi Gelato Maker. Check it out to see what you should look for in a Gelato Machine and what others are saying about it.

So why is Gelato so good? Gelato is similar to ice cream, but differs in a few key points.

1. Gelato has less fat than ice cream so it’s healthier
2. Gelato is more dense so it has more flavor per bite
3. Gelato is novel and fun to share with friends and family
4. Gelato can be easier to make with the right equipment

I remember the days of making ice cream in our noisy ice cream maker (the one that looked like a half-sawed barrel) and adding lots of ice and rock salt if I remember right.

We’d have to refrigerate the ice cream for hours or overnight to get the right consistency.

Nowadays, it’s so easy to make Gelato and have it ready in 25-30 minutes without sticking it into the freezer and waiting forever.

Enter the self-refrigerating Gelato machines. The self-refrigerating Gelato machines make it so you can have Gelato in half an hour because of the good seal and refrigerating mechanism in the machine. They’ve come down in price now and are a kitchen item that many families use on a weekly basis because it’s so easy and fun to whip together a great tasting yet sophisticated dessert.

For example for Vanilla Gelato, there are only a few ingredients that you need to get started:

• 2 cups of whole milk
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract

You mix the sugar and milk until the sugar has fully dissolved then add the vanilla extract.

Then you place the ingredients in the bowl of your gelato maker and close the lid and run the machine for 25-30 minutes.

A self-refrigerating Gelato machine will make all the difference because the treat will be ready to eat right after you take it out of the machine.

Ever since we had our first Gelati we’ve been interested in Gelato and we stumbled upon Gelato machines that you can use right in your own home that are made specifically for Gelato. Just don’t tell that to our local Italian restaurant that makes Gelato! So we researched and researched and found the Gelato Maker that we liked the best.

The one you select will depend on how it will look in your kitchen, how well it makes Gelato for the price, and so on, but our pick was the DeLonghi GM6000. We wrote a detailed review so you can decide for yourself if it’s the right one for you:

Click here to see our review of the DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker.

DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker with Self-Refrigerating Compressor

Recently, we enjoyed a fantastic trip to Europe. I wanted to try gelato there, but it seemed like in no time we were back on the plane home and had missed out on the gelato!

After getting home, we tried some local gelato shops, and I soon discovered that I wanted a Gelato Maker. So I started a quest looking at gelato makers and decided to jot down what I’ve found.

What to look for when buying a Gelato Maker:

• Self-refrigerating (this makes it so you don’t have to freeze your mixture in the freezer before eating)
• Large Capacity:  1 quart or larger
• Sturdiness/Weight: If the machine is too light, it may vibrate or jump around too much
• Good Design: Gelato is a more sophisticated desert, so a nicer looking Gelato machine ads to the class of the dessert
• European Manufacturer: An Italian company will make/design a better Gelato Maker since Italy is where they come from
• High Quality: The higher-end Gelato makers make better Gelato. They’re made of more solid parts and will last longer

I researched various gelato makers and decided the DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker one that fits my budget and needs.

I thought it would be difficult to make a really great gelato, but the De Longhi makes it easier and faster than I ever imagined. The gelato is ready in about 30 minutes, and you don’t even have to chill the bowl first like many ice cream makers.

A key feature of the DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato (or ice cream) maker is a self-refrigerating compressor. Many other ice cream makers require you to freeze a gel canister for 24 hours before making the ice cream. Well, this is unrealistic for some of us with limited freezer space, so a self-refrigerating machine is the perfect solution. It brings the temperature of the ingredients down below freezing while mixing the ingredients. No more pre-freezing bowls, messy rock salt, or melty desserts!

The De Longhi gelato machine makes authentic Italian-style gelato–not just passable–delectable.

What makes Gelato so good and better than Ice Cream?

• First of all, gelato is made from milk instead of cream, giving it a lower fat content.
• It cuts out the egg yolks that ice cream uses and generally has less sugar.
• Gelato is much more dense than ice cream (which can be 50% air).
• This density gives gelato a more intense flavor.
• Authentic gelato has a unique taste and texture.

The flavors are intense, and the texture is truffle smooth. Your taste buds are in for a treat, and that’s why I love it!

Versatility in a Gelato Maker

The DeLonghi not only makes great gelato, but it can also make ice cream or sorbet.

When I was researching reviews on Amazon, I found one reviewer who wanted an ice cream / gelato maker for a vacation home. The freezer there was much too small to pre-freeze the bowl of his current ice cream maker. So he chose the De Longhi. He and then said because he liked it so much he wanted one for his home as well!

My budget has room for just one Gelato maker, but if we ever get a vacation home (one can dream right?), I would definitely consider getting two Gelato Makers.

Important Features of the DeLonghi GM6000

This gelato maker has a durable, removable stainless-steel bowl that makes for easy serving and cleaning.

The mixing paddle is made of plastic and effectively blends from top to bottom for a smooth, creamy gelato every time.

The lid is transparent, a great feature because you can peek at any time to see how the gelato is coming along. If you’re curious like me, you’ll want to know exactly what’s going on inside that freezer. I want to be able to see the mixture freeze before my eyes and check to see when it is done without removing the lid.

Besides being transparent, the lid has a hermetic closure system that seals out the air in order to keep the correct, below freezing temperature inside the bowl. It also keeps air from being blended into the gelato, keeping it dense and authentic. One reviewer mentioned she wished the lid did not fit so tightly, yet this is a necessary part of the gelato-making process, and I would much rather have rich, creamy gelato.

The whole gelato machine is sturdy and solid. You’ll need some counter space to set this on, but it’s so sturdy that there’s no risk of it bouncing or walking around while mixing.

Noise is not an issue with this Gelato maker. When running, it is reasonably quiet. One reviewer describes it as, “When running the machine sounds like a stand mixer on a low speed, which is exactly what I expect it to sound like.”

Now here’s the whammy. The bowl, lid, and paddle are all dishwasher safe. Easy to make, easy to clean up, delicious in between. What’s not to love?

A bonus is that the DeLonghi gelato maker uses an ecological refrigerant, R134a, that is more efficient and doesn’t deplete the ozone layer like others may.

It measures 12-4/5 by 15-4/5 by 9-3/5 inches, and the shipping weight is 35 pounds.

The bowl capacity is 1.25 quarts.

Don’t Forget that Prep Time is Important

Now this  is awesome. Because the DeLonghi Gelato machine has a self-refrigerating compressor, there is no wait time between batches! You can whip up a strawberry gelato, stick it in the freezer, add new gelato ingredients to the bowl, and in 20 minutes more you can offer your guests a choice of strawberry or chocolate hazelnut gelato.

You’ll have enough to serve a crowd without needing another machine. Or better yet, prepare small batches of several varieties of gelato or sorbet ahead of time and boast an elegant spread when entertaining a crowd.

The DeLonghi GM6000 comes with a recipe booklet with 50 different gelato and sorbet recipes, so you can whip up a delectable gelato right away. I would recommend following one of the included recipes for your first try, just to make sure you’re comfortable with your new machine. Then, have a ball exploring different recipes and adding your favorite ingredients (following the manufacturer’s guidelines).

There are several gelato recipe books available, such as Making Artisan Gelato: 45 Recipes and Techniques for Crafting Flavor-Infused Gelato and Sorbet at Home. Be creative! Picture yourself as a gelato artisan!

I began my search for a high-quality gelato maker because I wanted a way to make my own gelato at a fraction of the cost. I wanted to share my love of gelato with my friends, many of whom have never tasted this treat. I also wanted to learn the art of gelato making, what it is made from, trying my own preferred flavors and new inventions, knowing it’s made from quality, fresh ingredients. In short, I wanted to be an artisan. The DeLonghi GM6000 gelato maker is just what I was looking for.

What are Others Saying:

The DeLonghi GM6000 has received great reviews on Amazon.com and currently has 4.5 out of 5 stars from most reviewers.

Here’s just a few comments to date:

• “Everything we’ve made has been great. The machine is very simple to use and it works great.”
• “The advertised differences of less air and more dense conconctions is not hype but reality.”
• “I would recommend this gelato maker to anyone over any other maker.”
• “A few months ago I made gelato on a commercial Carpigiani batch freezer and I am not lying when I say that the texture of the gelato coming out of the DeLonghi is pretty darn close to the stuff that came out of the Capigiani. Smooth, creamy, small ice crystals – amazing!”

Any Complaints?

I found very few complaints while searching the Internet, and that was a good sign. The only thing was if the paddle starts to wear a little bit, and you need a replacement just email the company for a replacement.

See it in Action

Here’s a video we found from DeLonghi showing how to use the machine.

Where can you buy the DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker?

The best place to buy the Delonghi is on Amazon.com. They have free shipping on the Gelato Maker and you can get free, 2-day shipping if you sign up for the Amazon Prime membership. Either way, you can get free shipping on this item if you order it from Amazon.com. Considering their good return policy and free shipping, Amazon has the best deal available.

If you didn’t get enough info here, you can read the reviews of lots of happy DeLonghi owners on Amazon.com. Click here to read more.

DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker with Self-Refrigerating Compressor

Want to know what to look for in a Gelato Maker?

Find out which Gelato Maker is the best for you, but first what is Gelato? and why Gelato should not be made in an ice cream maker.

Gelato is an Italian treat similar to ice cream, but different in very key points.

What makes Gelato Different than Ice Cream?

• Ice Cream is made with…cream. Gelato reverses the mix and is made from milk thus having way less fat.
• Gelato is more densely made while ice cream has air whipped into it, so a Gelato packs a more flavorful taste with each bite.
• Gelato can be made without any cream or eggs.
• Gelato doesn’t have to be stored at such a cold temperature as ice cream so you can prevent freezing.
• A Gelato Machine can make Gelato much more fresh than an ice cream machine.
• Gelato can be easier to make.

Things to Look for in a Great Gelato Maker

A quality Gelato Maker will make…well…quality Gelato. It makes sense, but we sometimes go for the less expensive to save a few bucks, but in the long run, we end up kicking ourselves because we get stuck with something sub-par. So with a Gelato Machine, look at the options out there, but remember that you get what you pay for. If you get a quality Gelato Maker, you’ll enjoy high-class Gelati (plural for Gelato) and use your Gelato machine over and over to make a quick and easy dessert.

So keep these things in mind when selecting a Gelato Machine:

1. Get a Self-Refrigerating Gelato Maker

A self-refrigerating Gelato machine will refrigerate your Gelato as it slowly turns the mix to the right consistency. It’s no fun to make a mix and then have to refrigerate it for hours before being able to use.

When you use a self-refrigerating Gelato machine, your Gelato can be ready to eat in 20-30 minutes, so you can set the machine going, sit down to eat dinner, and the dessert will be ready in no time. The quick creation time means that it’s an easy treat to whip up in a snap if you have some unexpected company that you want to impress but don’t have much time available to you.

Some ice cream makers or recipes call for freezing your ice cream overnight, but with Gelato, you can be ready in 20 minutes. It’s great!

2. Get a Gelato Maker for Gelato

Can you make Gelato with an ice cream maker…yes….but we’re not talking about just making Gelato, we’re talking about making Great Gelato, and to make great Gelato, use the tool that’s made for making Gelato.

By using a Gelato machine, your Gelato will taste fresh, and be at the right temperature, and have the right consistency.

Part of the process of making ice cream is the inclusion of a lot of air into the mix. Ice cream is fluff compared to a good Gelato that is more dense and flavorful. A Gelato machine will create the right consistency and texture for your Gelato.

3. Get a Quiet & Sturdy Gelato Maker

You’ll find as price goes up, so does the sweet sound of silence. The more expensive Gelato Makers are generally much more quiet and sturdy.

Quiet-ness (sorry, can’t think of a better word right now) and sturdiness may or may not be an important point for you, but if you have company over and you want the machine working while the company is there during dinner, you’ll appreciate a Gelato Maker that is much more quiet than the other types out there.

4. Capacity & Machine Size

Again, as you go up in price, generally so does the capacity. You’ll find that a quart capacity for a Gelato maker is somewhat standard. Although, there are some gems that have more than a quart capacity for a good price.

Regarding Machine size, think about how you’d like to use the machine. Some of the higher quality machines are actually more compact than their less expensive counterparts. The smaller size means that you can more easily take the machine with you when visiting friends or family. Why would you do this? Taste the Gelati it can make, and then you’ll know why.

The smaller machines tend to get used more often because they’re easier to store, easier to get out and use rather than having to lug around a larger machine that you have trouble storing.

5. Italian Designed/Made

Gelato comes from Italy, and thus the Italians know Gelato the best. A great Gelato machine comes from an Italian based company such as DeLonghi or others.

As an added point, your Gelato maker will probably come with a recipe book, try the different recipes, but branch out and try some other flavor combinations. You will probably find a lot of Italian recipes out there, but don’t be afraid to make your own.

How do you avoid the number one mistake when purchasing a Gelato Machine?

That’s an easy one, and hopefully, you’ve been able to spot it. The number one mistake when purchasing a Gelato Maker is to purchase an ice cream machine and try to make Gelato with it. Think about it, if I want to clean our carpet, I use our vacuum, not our hard floor cleaner. They’re both great tools, but each is made for a specific use and purpose. I can use our hard floor cleaner on the carpet, but it just isn’t going to turn out right. The right tool gets the best job done for what it’s designed to do.

Now there are some higher quality makers that try to do both, and the higher the price, the better the machine will be able to do both. Just consider that the more specialized the maker, the better it will be at what it does.

If there were a second part to the number one mistake, it would be buying a low quality Gelato Maker. A high quality Gelato Maker will make great Gelato, just check out the reviews on Amazon for backup on this one for the Gelato makers below.

Popular Models to Choose From

Below are three popular models, the reviews on Amazon will help with any other questions you have about the specific Gelato Makers. Our favorite is the DeLonghi GM6000 because of its mid price range, it’s sleek design, and its capacity is larger about 1.25 quarts. As of this writing, Amazon.com has a video you can watch on the page of the DeLonghi in action with a link under their main picture.

We like the DeLonghi over what we read about the other Lellos because of its size, quiet operation, and quite frankly, the look is better. Gelato is a different type of dessert, it’s novel, and perhaps a bit sophisticated, and the DeLonghi Gelato Maker’s design really looks great and makes great Gelato. You can read our review of the DeLonghi Gelato Maker or view other reviews on Amazon.com.

Clicking in the images will take you the page on Amazon.com where you can read the reviews about the machine.

DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker with Self-Refrigerating Compressor on Amazon.com (our pick)

Lello 4070 Gelato Junior (Least Expensive)

Lello 4090 Gelato Pro Quart Maker (Higher Capacity, most expensive)

To view the DeLonghi and it’s reviews on Amazon, click here.

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The ticket organizer has pockets to store your passport, tickets, and boarding passes, business cards, and other travel documents.  The organizer is made from genuine cow skin leather and has an Old West style and feel to it.

The organizer measures 9 1/4 by 5  inches and can be found at Rustic River Leather.