We purchased this ice cream maker, along with two ice cream cookbooks (see links, below), as a gift to our lactose intolerent, and otherwise allergic, grandchildren. Their Mom reports that the ice cream produced is wonderful, easily made, and satisfying to all. The Best Ice Cream Maker Cookbook Ever; Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book They have called us twice already to rave about the ice cream and thank us for this blessing.

I'm making a batch of ice cream right now and I can't help but think what a miserable product this is. My wife purchased the Cuisinart Supreme Commercial Quality Ice Cream Maker for me as a gift for Christmas 2007 and I use it two to three times a month. Either Cuisinart's definition of commercial quality is different than mine or their standards have slipped considerably.

I started making ice cream in January and after 4 batches the motor arm burned out. I called Cuisinart's Customer Service and at first they suggested I disassemble the motor arm. I asked if this would void my warranty and was put on hold. When the agent came back she told me they would ship a replacement which arrived about 10 days later.

In June, the timer dial stopped working. It still turns the machine on but it doesn't keep time and turning it manually to Off doesn't stop the churn. I have to unplug the ice cream maker and remove the motor arm.

I assume that when I call Cuisinart again they'll either repair or replace the machine but it means paying $10 for shipping and handling and I'll be without my ice cream maker until they return it.

The Cuisinart Supreme Commercial Quality Ice Cream Maker gets 1 star from me because it does make good ice cream but the quality of this product is terrible. I expected more from Cuisinart.

THis was a pretty good ice cream maker, it was nice in that the compressor was part of the machine, it was rather heavy and loud and the mixer does not scrape the sides very well. The other problem I encountered was the quality of the container. When the mixture is frozen the container is difficult to release from the well and the handle is so flimzy that it comes unattached making it very difficult to remove the container of ice cream until it has warmed slightly and released.

We ordered the Cuisinart ICE-50BC ice-cream maker after buying all other types. We started with the hand crank years and years ago, graduated to the electric bucket type, then the small ones that required pre-cooling with limited amounts of ice. Later we bought the fancy Cuisinart dual ice cream maker that required a pre-frozen container and cold ingredients. They were all a hassle. Now we have this wonderfully easy machine. You are not suppose to use warm ingredients but having some prechilled milk or sugar water is good enough. We've tossed just about everything in, from chocolate almond milk with mashed bananas to serinam cherries with egg fruit. We are all frozen dessert lovers and having a different flavor every night is great fun. My only (minor) complaints are that it is noisy (don't use it next to the table if you want to talk during dinner) and that we could easily use two containers because one container of great ice-cream dissapears too quickly.
One more note was that the service and delivery time was excellent! Very fast and without any problems. Cuisinart ICE-50BC Supreme Ice Cream Maker

I have been using ice cream makers at home for over thirty years. Here is why I like this machine. It's fast. I can think of a probiotic, frozen yogurt or fruit recipe and try it out. No waiting just go. Serve it it up and see what is the response.

Believe everything you've read in the other bad reviews! I, too, am a professional pastry chef, and find this machine completely horrifying.
This is the cheapest, most overpriced piece of junk you may ever come across.
The motor mechanism for churning the ice cream is not a built-in part of the machine-- it is that external arm you see on the top of the machine. This "motor" clips onto a very cheap plastic dasher (the same cheap dasher you will find in the $50 freeze-the-bowl models) through a hole in the lid. This means: a)the cheap motor will become overloaded the minute a mixture stiffens, but long before the ice cream is done, b)at some point with any decent amount of use the motor will burn out altogether, c)the hole in the lid lets refrigeration escape.
Another thing to point out is that the removable bowl is made of very thin, cheap metal. The machine chills the bowl, and in the process, cooling power is lost.
It is loud as a jet engine, takes about 45-50 minutes to make a batch, looks and feels very flimsy, and creates grainy, icy products that are seriously no better than you would make with an inexpensive $50 machine.
If you don't want to spend $700 on a serious Italian gelato maker, just get a freeze-the-bowl machine with an extra bowl and you will make similar, if not better quality ice creams and sorbet.

Great machine, no planning needed, no bowl to freeze and and worry about loosing it's cold before your ice cream is frozen. Plan on locking it in a seperate room though, it is REALLY noisy.

machine works great however the holding container pictured on box was not included in purchase price. had to order this caused a delay in using the product

I had heard nothing but good things about this machine. Got it for my wife for Christmas. She made a recipe from the literature received with the machine. Five minutes into mixing the motor started having trouble and quit. In the morning we tried it with no load (no mix). The machine made a little noise but the paddle did not move. At this point, we don't know if we will try another. In all fairness, we checked other reviews and did not see any with this problem.

This was a great purchase. The unit works well although it is a bit loud while it is making good ice cream. The unit is easy to use and makes good ice cream. I have had this unit over a year and it works well every time. Well worth the money!!

I am not sure if I ever have been more satisfied with a product. I got this unit as a Christmas present for the family this year. We made our first batch last night. It took about 40 minutes to make a nice firm ice cream. The unit worked very well. I didn't even chill my mixture. I used everything right from the refrigerator. The amount of ice cream that it made was perfect for my family of five. I think we will make more tonight! I highly recommend!!!!

Initially I was unhappy with this machine, was going to send it back. But then I dug out my old ice cream recipes and used them rather than the ones from the book that came with it. The recipes in the book are okay, but there are a lot better ones out there.

I did not give this five stars because there is some pleasure in hand cranking ice cream ~ you put a bit of yourself and your energy into it. And it may be just a tad creamier when hand cranked. The second reason for only four stars is the noise. However, the noise issue has been solved by setting it on a table in my pantry.

As for hand cranking, I will save that for family reunions in the summertime. On Thanksgiving Day, with absolutely no attention, this machine was cranking out some lovely lemon-flavored buttermilk ice cream while we were eating our dinner. Now what could be better than that?

I've made about a dozen ice cream batches with the machine, and have very few complaints. It is very quick and easy to use. To make a simple batch takes less than 5 minutes to mix cream, milk, and sugar together. You put that mixture in the ice cream maker, set the timer for 45 minutes, and leave it to the machine. 45 minutes later you will have soft-serve ice cream ready. There are no bowls to freeze ahead of time, which is the benefit of this machine.

There are some drawbacks. The thing is very noisy. Don't expect to have it running ten feet away from you while you're watching TV. The mixer is underpowered (like all amateur-quality ice cream makers) and will start having trouble turning the mix at about 45 minutes. That's usually time to take out the mix and put it in your freezer anyway. The recipe book is sparse, so plan on picking up something better, like the Ben & Jerry's ice cream recipe book.

Finally, one of the reasons we bought this is to make sugar free ice cream, and that has been a bit disappointing. This is no fault of this machine, but something to be aware of in general. Sugar is necessary to prevent ice cream from freezing like a rock. No sugar = ice cream with the consistency of ice cubes. Splenda or other artificial sweeteners will not help. The best advice is to add some alcohol as it will alter the freezing point of the mix -- we've had some success using that method.

This machine is awesome! It makes fantastically creamy ice cream, and not having to pre-freeze a canister for 24 hours beforehand is wonderful.

To the prior commentators that obtained only cold water, if the machine has been in anything other than an upright position, you need to leave it in an upright position for 24 hours before making a batch (I think the coolant needs to be redistributed).

I recieved my new cuisinart on a monday set it on the counter in upright position and let set about 30 hours then put in the ice cream mix whitch had set in refrigerator over night to chill, set timer for 60 minutes after the 60 minutes was up ice cream mix was still just the mix and not any colder then it was when it started and maybe not as cold. Very disapointing.
Howard

I have been enjoying my ice cream maker and the recipes from Tom and Jerry's recipe book. I have made at least 12 batches, all different flavors and all have been delightful.

As a southerner raised with early memories of first sitting on top of the White Mountain freezer while an adult cranked then "graduating" to eventually being big enough to crank it myself until my young arms wore out and the adults would take over to get it ready and firm . . . it is part of my heritage and life happiness to have sweet ice cream on a humid southern day.

But rock salt and chipped ice are not always handy and I no longer find hand churning "quaint." I have gone through numerouse electric machines, but these eventually die and again the rock salt & ice issue. After wanting the Cuisinart for a long time, I bit the bullet.

Fresh sorbets from local peaches and blueberries make a light dessert in less than an hour! Ice cream is devine as well - the only problem here is it is too easy! My husband has begged me to lay off the ice cream and make more sorbets that are just as great and less fattening. Everything I have made has had a great texture and is ready to eat like soft-serve, but benefits from freezing in a container to totally firm up - but isn't icy.

I hand wash the parts but it is easy (there are only 4 parts to wash). It es extremely loud and large, but no more than any electric ice cream machine I have owned.

I can no longer imagine being without this great appliance!

I previously used one of the ice cream makers that requires freezing the canister before making the ice cream. This is a fantastic upgrade for me. The machine is easy to use, easy to clean, is pretty quiet, and makes fantastic ice cream. Yes, it is a bit heavy, but how could I have a compressor without weight?! It is pretty enough that I keep it on my counter. I am one happy consumer.

We thought buying this machine would eliminate having to replace the cheaper electric churn machines....we have used this expensive unit only five times and the compressor is shot and turn motor screams so loud you cant be in the same area of the house with it...at 300.00, i expected much more than the life of this unit by cruisart. very very dissatisfied and disappointed.Cuisinart ICE-50BC Supreme Ice Cream Maker

I suspect that different machines have different levels of noise, since my version is at least twice as loud as my old, loud dishwasher. We're talking Harley-Davidson with straight pipes loud. My wife won't let me run it with her in the house.

On the other hand, other than the noise it works wonderfully. I'm still glad I have it, but I sure wish that it was quieter.

Excellent quality, heavy duty, 1st class equipment as Cuisenart products are normally. This unit will last for many years. Higher priced than others, but you are getting what you paid for with this unit.

I just received my machine this afternoon. For dessert after dinner, I already had ice cream! Unfortunately, I discovered the timer knob must be broken on mine, as it won't go past 20 minutes, so I had to reset it three times.

But....other than that....this is wonderful! Some people said it was noisy...it's not any louder than a dishwasher. And the results are worth it! I made thai tea ice cream tonight, and now I'm addicted to trying all kinds of new flavours. I couldn't believe how easy it was. Basically, add the ingredients to the mixing bowl, turn the machine on, come back in an hour and eat the ice cream! Clean up was just as easy! Took less than 2 minutes!

Love this machine. Very excited to experiment with new flavours. I wasn't even a big ice cream fan, but I do appreciate quality ice cream, especially unique tastes. This is now my favourite kitchen appliance! My family is already putting in special orders for their favourite flavours as well! My best friend is coming to visit, and I can't wait to surprise her with her favourite, avocado ice cream! And I can't wait to make my personal favourite....canteloupe! (I also have a juicer, so I should be able to make some really fresh flavours!)

I went back and forth for an hour trying to decide if I should buy this....now, I wonder why it took me longer than 30 seconds. Just buy it! So easy to use and clean up! Kids will love making their own ice cream, and can you imagine having a dinner party, where you serve your own chardonnay sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses? Or, serve your own ice cream as dessert?! Go for it! You won't regret it!

This ice cream maker is small but big enough for 2 to 4 people....I did not find it any louder than an electric ice and salt one....I have to admit....I can make ice cream any time now....not having to worry about do I have enough salt or ice...wonderful machine....it's about time they came up with something like this...great job Cuisinart....Daphne

I'm pleased with my purchase of the ICE-50BC. It think the noise issue must be related to a certain run of machines. Mine is no more noisy than any other countertop appliance in my kitchen. It's certainly less noisy than a blender.

Based on reading through some of the other reviews, I think people have unrealistic expectations of a home ice cream freezer. The Cuisinart unit freezes just as hard as the hand crank buckets we used as a kid. And it works just like the 2 frozen tub units it replaced (the ones where you have to store the tub in the freezer before use).

If you're looking for ice cream that's as hard as what you get from the store, you'll have to take it out of your machine and store it in the freezer overnight... just like it sat in the freezer for a couple days at the store.

Don't forget to chill your ingredients BEFORE freezing them. I get perfectly textured soft-serve ice cream from chilled ingredients in 20 minutes from a completely room temperature machine.

And I break the usage rules by ignoring the filling instructions. I put the paddle in, then pour in my mix, then assemble the arm and lid, and only then connect the arm - which sets the lid at the same time. Set the timer to 20-30 minutes and walk away. Much easier than Cuisinart's own instructions.

BTW... my favorite use has nothing to do with ice cream. I take store bought limeaid (usually a brand called Simply Limeaid) or other juice product, add a little kick (wine, spirits, etc.) and let it freeze into a nice Friday night slushie. :) For that use alone, the machine pays for itself. Can anyone say "frozen margarita"?

I do wish the arm had a more positive attachment. It needs a more firm connection method than just general pressure. Cuisinart should have made some kind of positive locking mechanism for it like they have on their food processors. But... I understand the design. It's made to pop loose when the paddle can't turn. That helps prevent paddle breakage and motor burnout. Maybe a smart engineer will come up with a more sturdy after-market arm and paddle for those who want to freeze thick/dense mixtures.

I am a professional pastry chef and I can say that this machine is the pits. I needed a machine for home use and wanted an internal compressor as I don't have a lot of freezer space. This machine is easily the loudest in my kitchen. The quality of the ice cream that it churns out is poor; icy (due to poor dasher design) and airy (due to 40+ minute freeze times). Save up your bucks for one of the Italian machines because this one is junk. After my experience with this piece of junk and the equally miserable burr coffee grinder, I'll never waste my money on Cuisinart again.

Purchased this ice cream maker in October and am very pleased with it. It is noisy, however, I just place it in the laundry room while it is running. The results are well worth the noise. The ice cream maker is very easy to use and the ice cream texture is perfect. I've made several batches from the recipe book that comes with it that have turned out great. Tip, be sure to use pasturized eggs for raw egg ice cream recipes.

We have made many different ice creams, frozen custards, gelatos, and sorbets with this machine. All turned out great. I am thinking about buying mixing bowls for storage. Very loud.

I love it! It works for me. It's easy and quick. One hour for each batch of ice cream, or sorbet/sherbet receipe. I'm constantly experimenting with different flavors and ingredients and creating my own receipes and they've all worked well. There are 2 minor problems; 1)most ice creams or sorbet/sherbet are not ready immediately out of the machine, you have to put in a container and freeze for a couple of hours to get the right consistency. 2)The machine makes a very loud noise during the process!
So, I just plan ahead and use the machine where I can set it and shut the door behind it. No Problem!

The first machine i bought was way too loud. I had Amazon replace it and it is much better now. It is easy to clean and makes great ice cream.

I had tried a different ice cream maker that you had to freeze the bowl and returned it. It was too annoying to keep freezing the bowl and it took up too much space in my freezer. I love the cuisinaret Ice-50bc it makes great ice cream. The only negative is the noise and that's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. It is extremely noisy so I pretty much have to leave the room when it's on. I do recommend the Ben and Jerry's ice cream book but wish they would revise it or do another one. See my review on it.

I received my unit as a present. The electric conection of the motor arm was damaged when I opend the box. The connection is held in place with three bent metal tabs and one of them had broken off and the connector had slid into the motor arm and could no longer be attached. When I called Cuisinart, they said that the unit was "Out of Warranty". I asked if that meant the unit was more than three years old (bear in mind I thought I was buying a "new" unit), and they said yes it was more than three years old based on the serial number.

Cuisinart indicated that I should send in a copy of my order and they might still honor the warranty. I said no thanks and returned the unit. Three years (at least) in a warehouse is not a product that I consider "new"... especially since it contains chemicals that degrade over time.

Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware.

I had this item 2 weeks when I found the small paddle broken. Because it makes wonderful ice cream easily, I wanted to get a replacement paddle and keep the ice cream maker. Cuisinart said they would replace the paddle, but they don't do it. The item has been sitting on my counter for weeks, and I cannot use it. Finally, I ordered four paddles and paid for them myself. If you buy this item, be sure to buy extra paddles. They are very fragile. No one touched the machine but me, and I followed the directions religiously.

8-30-06 Cuisinart still cannot supply the replacement paddle for the defective one on the machine I purchased. I have tried to purchase them on my credit card and they also promised to send me free replacement paddles. I have received nothing!! It has been 2 and a half months since I first requested a replacement from Cuisinart, and 1 month since I tried to buy a replacement paddle. I cannot use the ice cream maker. I would never purchase another Cuisinart product again. They have no customer service. I am forced to return the ice cream maker because Cuisinart cannot supply replacement parts. And they told me I was a "First Priority" when the paddles came in.

Today is September 5th and I finally got a replacement paddle. My first request for a replacement paddle was the end of June.) We finally will have ice cream. I tried to make arrangements to return the machine and that seemed to make Cuisinart send the paddles. Tonight it will be a delicious fat-free, sugar-free strawberry. (Skim milk, Splenda, and frozen strawberries run thru the blender first.) I am in heaven!!!!!!!!! If it weren't for the terrible time Cuisinart gave me, I would have given this item 5 stars. As it is, I cannot give more than two or three. Cuisinart stinks in Customer service, but the machine makes delicious, easy, soft-serve ice cream.

Why this ice cream maker is worth the price tag: 1) No need to store quantities of salt in your pantry. 2) No need to store sacks of ice in your freezer. 3) No need to pre-chill a tub in your freezer. 4) Assembly is simple. 5) Parts have strength, do not seem flimsy. 6) Parts requiring washing are easily washed and popped back into the machine. 7) The manual is comprehendible and offers good recipes. 8) I've experimented with low-fat recipes only and they work beautifully.

Things worth knowing: after mixing the ingredients, it will take, on the average, 45 minutes to freeze in the machine, after which it will be more like soft serve. You will need to freeze it for an hour or so to get the harder texture. And, you will have to let it sit at room temperature 10 minutes if it's been in the freezer any longer than that. It makes noise, getting louder as it gets toward the end of the cycle and is pushing against the thickening mass; however, leave it behind a closed door and you don't hear it. Also, the generator has to be level for a while to work, so you can't use it immediately after unpackaging it. Perhaps let it sit a couple of days before attempting it.

I ordered this ice cream maker after reading all the reviews and checking prices other places, and I made a very good investment in this ice ceam maker. We have had it a few days and all ready made several different kinds of ice cream and they were all excellant. Very easy to use, easy to clean, I LOVE THIS MACHINE.
A little pricey but WELL WORTH THE MONEY !!!!

Ah, now this is a great appliance to have in the kitchen. It looks great and is nice and compact, easily able to be stored anywhere. With a compressor it makes things a whole lot easier, although I must confess that I have never used the old turn and crank or rock salt and ice machines.

I whipped up a quick Mango Sorbet and it turned out great. I did have to set the timer for 50 minutes and then still had to place it in the freezer to harden up some, but having such yummy sorbet that quick is just amazing.

Two issues to address. The noise. The first forty minutes isn't so bad as it sounds no louder than if you were to have your dishwasher on. After that, though, as the ice cream thickens up the motor starts to make a bit more noise as it begins to meet resistance. But this still is not too loud. I was in the other room watching television and had no problem hearing the tv. Granted, you wouldn't want to be making the ice cream in the same room that you plan to entertain guests. The second item is from a previous reviewer who said that as his ice cream thickened up he thought his machine was going to burn the motor out so he returned it. Now I haven't run into this situation, but the manual does say that if it did thicken enough to stress the motor then it would turn itself off, so this shouldn't be a worry.

All in all, I would recommend this to anyone. A great price here on amazon especially if you want to be able to make homemade ice cream.

** After use a few more times I have noticed that it does indeed get louder right from the get go the more you use. Was trying to watch a movie and had to move the machine to my room. Because of this, drops rating a little more, although it does make great ice cream. Try the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in the book, absolutely amazing and I made it with fat free milk!!**

4.75 stars.