This Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Doesn’t Need Permanent Counter Space – The Compact Design Is a Game-Changer for Tiny Kitchens
It even fits in drawers for easy storage
I am an ice cream fanatic. Come rain or shine, it is one of my go-to sweet treats at the end of the day, be it to cool off in summer or as a satisfying pick-me-up in winter.
Despite this, I have never taken the plunge and bought one of the best ice cream makers. Why? They have a reputation for being big, bulky, and awkward to store. In my tiny kitchen, it is not worth the headache.
That was until I spotted the Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker at Williams Sonoma. This clever, stick-shaped ice cream maker is designed for single servings and stores neatly in a deep kitchen drawer, making it an ideal option for small spaces where every inch of storage counts.
The FastFreeze has 5-in-1 functionality to make slushies, milkshakes, sorbets, and half a pint of ice cream in minutes (pre-freeze base 24 hours in advance) using your choice of pre-frozen ingredients. You can even add mix-ins.
For bigger servings, there is the slightly larger, slightly more expensive Cuisinart FastFreeze MAX, also at Amazon, which makes full pints.
Don't get me wrong, the FastFreeze is not the only compact ice cream maker available. The nutribullet Chill Ice Cream Maker is another fabulously compact option. However, the Cuisinart maker is the only one I have ever seen that could feasibly be stored in organized deep drawers.
If, like me, you are dealing with a small kitchen with limited kitchen storage, you may find that your cabinet and shelf space disappears first, making it far more difficult to add another appliance to the mix, especially one that technically serves only one function. Anything that can slot into a drawer is, therefore, an immediate winner.
Giving up the space is far easier when you consider that the FastFreeze, also available at Amazon, is far from a one-trick pony. It can create half-pints of any frozen treat your mind can create, from ice cream and milkshakes to slushies and sorbet; the machine helps you whip up delicious custom desserts in minutes. You can even add mix-ins, a feature few of the smaller ice cream makers offer.
As with any ice cream maker, you do need to pre-freeze your ingredients overnight; from there, it can take just a few minutes to have your dessert ready to go. With three included dessert cups, it is easy to prep ahead, too.
Although I have yet to get my hands on it directly, the customer reviews have easily swayed me. One anonymous customer shared in their five-star Amazon review, 'I love this machine. I have been wanting to get an ice cream maker for protein ice creams. I didn’t want to buy some other brands because of the price and size.
'This machine is both affordable and easy to store! It is compact and does the job. It is fast and easy to use. Cleans up quickly. Makes a great ice cream out of simple ingredients.'
Another, Stephan, adds, 'I adore this machine! I live alone, so the half-pint size is perfect. And it's easy enough for a child to use! Plus, so many options. You can do ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, shaved ice, and blizzard-type treats.'
It's small but mighty, and for the first time, it lets me choose kitchen appliances based on what I actually want to use, rather than what my limited storage space will allow.
What Else to Shop
No matter if you are planning the perfect ice cream social or simply want to whip up a personal pick-me-up, I have collated a series of frozen treat essentials, from chic serveware to classic cones to add that parlour-style finishing touch.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
With 13 unique one-touch programs, there’s a frozen treat for everyone. The real headline of this machine is the soft serve feature, offering ice-cream store-level desserts at the touch of a button, and all from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Create the true ice cream truck experience at home by picking up some authentic waffle cones for your soft serve.
Yes, you can just use a spoon, but using a quality ice cream scoop can help you get perfect balls of ice cream when hosting, offering the perfect finishing touch to your luxury homemade desserts.
This sumptuous dessert bowl is finished with 24k gold-decaled hand-painted and glazed stoneware, drawing inspiration from the sun-drenched cafés and colorful cliffside villages along the Amalfi Coast,
Ideal for milkshakes and slush, these glasses are designed to showcase iced tea, lemonade and more combining classic Artois elegance with a practical, elongated silhouette.
You cannot have ice cream without toppings. This four-in-one container is designed for spices, but will work just as well for keeping varying sprinkles.
Need some inspiration? Check out the ice cream recipes we cannot get through summer without.
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