Ice cream makers come in different sizes and feature a variety of features. This can make it quite difficult to know exactly what features you should really look out for when buying one of these particular devices. Once again, we get to a factor where personal preference will play a big role in what you end up buying.

Your budget is one of the main elements that will determine what type of ice cream maker you will be able to get your hands on. If you have a lower budget, then you would have to look for basic features. If your budget is higher, then you will be able to buy an ice cream maker with a more impressive range of features that will come in handy when trying to fix up a batch of frozen dessert quickly and easily.

The goal of making the perfect batch of homemade ice cream would be to get the mixture to freeze quickly. The faster you get your ice cream to freeze, the lower the risk of ice crystals forming in the ice cream. If you are serious about a smooth texture and no ice crystals, then opting for a machine that comes with a built-in compressor would certainly be a good way to go about your shopping process.

Compressor devices have the ability to freeze the ice cream much faster than standard ice cream machines. This means your ice cream will come out with a texture that is much smoother – helping you avoid a grainy texture that is caused by the formation of ice crystals. In many cases, an ice cream maker with a built-in compressor would not even need the combination of salt and ice to effectively freeze your mixture and get the frozen dessert ready for serving.

While we are talking about the freezing factor of ice cream, be sure to also look at the temperature of the device that you might be interested in. If the device can reach a freezing temperature of -32 degrees Fahrenheit, then you have a great option at hand. The maintenance of temperature is another important factor. You would, however, usually only be able to get this low of temperature if the ice cream maker has a compressor.

You should also take a look at the material that the dasher is made from. In the majority of cases, you will find that the dasher is made from plastic. If you do have a higher budget, you should see if you can get a machine that has a metal dasher. This is a great way to improve the stirring and whipping of the ice cream while it freezes, and would also help to produce a smoother texture in the end.

All of these factors should be considered if you are looking for a frozen dessert maker that can satisfy your specific needs. An automatic ice cream maker is usually the preferred option – but if your needs differ.