Read Why I Rate the Delonghi Gelato GM6000 Machine as the Best Gelato Maker

My first encounter with gelato was in Rome, Italy. My Uncle Salvatore and I were taking a walk around the block and he bought me a cup of this Italian ice cream. I did not speak Italian and he did not speak English, but in the wondrous world of Italian food - it made no difference and we enjoyed our gelato in perfect harmony. I wouldn't be surprised if you know exactly what I'm talking about. Gelato is an international favorite!

Over the decades companies have tried to make it possible to make your own gelato in your own home. The various makers often require you to freeze the mixing bowl 24 hours ahead, or overnight at a minimum. For most people, this is cumbersome and requires space in the freezer which just doesn't exist for most Americans.

Delonghi came out with a machine called the DeLonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker that solves these issues and truly brings you the next best thing to eating gelato on the streets of Italy. They bring it to you in your own kitchen.

What Does the Gelato GM6000 Look Like?

This machine is made of stainless steel and has a sleek, modern design which will look nice in any kitchen. It weighs 28 pounds.

It is 12.50 inches wide, 16.75 inches deep and only 9.44 inches in height. This will fit under almost any kitchen cabinet. Many other brands which make ice cream or gelato, tend to be too tall in my opinion. Delonghi did an excellent job in their design to make it suitable for just about any kitchen.

The GM6000's mixing bowl is located in the front of the machine which provides easy access for adding ingredients, looking through the transparent lid, or replacing the removable mixing bowl. Each batch produces 1.2 to 1.5 liters of gelato.

 

What Comes in the Box?

The whole package contains:

 

Are the Parts Dishwasher Safe?

The bowl, blades and lid are all dishwasher safe. However, Delonghi does advise to use only the top rack for cleaning.

 

What is a Hermetic Closure Lid and Why is it Important?

It is important that gelato is made with as little air as possible. To prevent air from mixing into the gelato, the GM6000 has a special transparent lid which locks into place over the mixing bowl when inserted into the machine. This lid is called a "hermetic closure lid" which means it keeps out air during the entire mixing process - it is vacuum tight. The machine cannot run without this lid locked in place.

This serves two purposes :

One: No air gets into the gelato which is key to what makes gelato unique and why Italians love it so much.

Two: It keeps the temperature of the ingredients consistent during the mixing and blending process. Remember, gelato must be made at under freezing temperatures, so allowing it to be exposed to warmer air, would not be good.

Self Refrigerating Compressor

With most models on the market, you have to pre-freeze a bowl in your freezer overnight in order to make it cold enough for the machine to make its ice cream or gelato. With the GM6000, you completely avoid this step because it has its own self contained compressor which brings the bowl down to freezing temperatures within the unit itself. This allows you to create batch after batch continuously.

 

Features Worth Mentioning

There are three features which I believe puts this gelato maker above the rest.

1. The transparent hermetic closure lid. Not only does it keep air out while mixing and allows the machine to keep at a consistent temperature, but it is simply fun to be able to see what stage the gelato is at while blending. Kids will love to watch the process. Who am I kidding... so do adults!

2. The compressor of course deserves mentioning because it relieves you of the hassle of pre-freezing the bowl and adds the convenience of making batch after batch.

3. The third feature which deserves mention is the overall sleek design. It will go well in any kitchen and is not so tall that it could not fit under a cabinet. Delonghi did an excellent job not only making this an aesthetically pleasing appliance, but also making it practical as well.

 

1. Ice cream can contain up to 50% air. That's right - air. This gives ice cream its light and airy texture. Gelato on the other hand does not have air mixed into it which results in a denser, smoother and creamier texture.
2. Ice cream uses cream as a main ingredient. Gelato uses whole milk which has less calories than cream. This makes gelato a lower calorie dessert.
3. Ice cream uses egg yolk, gelato does not. Therefore gelato has a lower cholesterol content.
4. Gelato must be made at below freezing temperatures, unlike ice cream.
5. You can use ice cream recipes for a gelato maker, but it will still have a consistency more like gelato. I explain more below in this review.

How it Works

Simply place the ingredients which the recipe calls for into the removable bowl with the blade attached. Place the bowl into the machine and lock the lid into place. Turn it to the appropriate setting and then let the machine run for the appropriate time. Delonghi recommends if you are using any nuts or berries, to add them in the last 5 minutes.

The GM6000 does not come with a timer, so you will need to use a separate timer. You should have perfect gelato consistency in 30 minutes.

Keep in mind, each batch you make can be stored in the freezer for later - such as a party or for dessert.

*Note: You are not limited to using only gelato recipes in the gelato machine. Instead you can use ice cream recipes as well. The main difference in ingredients will be the cream. However, the result you end up with will be ice cream with a gelato consistency - not an American ice cream consistency. Remember, ice cream machines and gelato machines are not the same.

Where to Buy for the Best Price?

I have found that Amazon offers the best price for gelato machines, and their customer service cannot be beat.

To learn more about the Delonghi Gelato GM600, Visit Here.

Enjoy Your Gelato!

Sincerely,