Troubleshooting an Ice Cream Maker

Owning an ice cream maker and making homemade ice cream can be a healthy alternative to store bought ice cream. It's also fun to make, and you can have soft serve ice cream, which is often unavailable at your local grocery store. You may run into some problems along the way though. The problems often have to do with the ice cream not turning out the way you had hoped. Here are some ideas for troubleshooting an ice cream maker.

Ice Cream Maker Leaves Hard Layer of Ice Cream on Sides

If when you make ice cream a hard layer of ice cream forms on the sides of the bowl, then there may be problem with the blade. You may not have installed it properly. Check the instructions manual to see how close to the edges of the bowl you need to place the blade. If you don't get this right, the ice cream won't roll the way that it should in the bowl, and you'll end up with the inconsistency in your ice cream. Many ice cream makers require the blades to be very close to the edges of the bowl. You also have to make sure that it's pushed all the way down, and that there isn't a layer of liquid underneath the blade.

Maker Produces Liquid Ice Cream

The problem of ice cream that is liquid or not firm enough may not have anything to do with the ice cream maker itself. The issue is with the bowl or with the ingredients. The bowl has to be frozen long enough and at the right temperature to get the consistency of ice cream that you want. Try keeping the bowl in the freezer overnight, and make sure that the freezer is set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The ingredients may be too warm as well. Everything should be kept in the refrigerator until you're ready to make the ice cream. You should also leave the bowl in the freezer until the moment you're ready to use it. Try not to leave the bowl out longer than five minutes, which includes how long it takes you to mix all of the ingredients

Ice Cream Freezes and Sticks to Bowl

Each ice cream maker includes recipes and instructions for how long to churn. Some ice cream makers freeze fast, and perhaps even faster than what the recipes recommend. If the motor churns too long, then you'll get the problem of ice cream freezing and sticking to the bowl. Shave five minutes off the time you've been setting and see if your ice cream turns out better. If it doesn't, then try reducing the time further in two minute increments, until the problem stops. You can also listen carefully for when you hear the motor slow down or strain to get an idea of when it's time to stop the churning.

If you've misplaced the manual for your ice cream maker, check online for a copy.  You may be able to find even more troubleshooting ideas for your specific make and model.