Remember, gelato makers are different than ice cream makers.
Understanding what to look for will help you choose the best
gelato machine for creating the next best thing to eating
fresh gelato in Italy.
Gelato vs. Ice cream
Gelato
in Italian means, "ice cream", so gelato is simply
Italian ice cream. This doesn't mean it tastes the same as
American ice cream however. They are similar, but think of
them more like cousins.
One area where gelato is different is the fact that it does
not mix in air during the blending process - unlike it's American
counterpart which can include up to 50% air.
By incorporating less air, the ice cream texture is denser
and creamier. More air brings about the more American airier
and lighter consistency.
And because of this "air" factor, this is why an
gelato maker is different than an ice cream maker. In order
to prevent as much air as possible from getting into the ice
cream, the machine must have an air tight lid. The GM6000
Gelato Maker
has exactly that (in fact it won't even run if the lid is
opened). I'll explain more about that later on below.
If you want the real gelato consistency, you need an actual
gelato maker. Yes, ice cream makers can say they can create
gelato - but remember... gelato is different and therefore
so must be the machine.
Air Tight Lid - Why is it Important?
As mentioned above, the amount of air blended into the ice
cream mixture is a critical difference between real gelato
and American ice cream.
This gelato maker by DeLonghi uses a transparent hermetic
closure lid which creates an air tight seal thus keeping air
out during the mixing process.
The machine is designed so that it cannot operate without
this lid locked in place. Not only does this prevent additional
air from blending into the mixture, thus changing the consistency,
but it also keeps the temperature of the ingredients consistent
during the blending process. Since gelato must be made at
freezing temperatures, allowing it to be exposed to warmer
air would alter the outcome.
Refrigerating Compressor
This is an important feature for any gelato maker, and in fact some ice cream
machines are beginning to catch on as well. Having a machine
with an internal refrigerating compressor allows the user
to avoid pre-freezing any bowls in their freezer to achieve
a certain temperature.
Often times, this pre-freezing step will require the user
to pre-freeze a bowl for a minimum of 8 hours prior to making
a batch of ice cream.
Since the GM6000
has its own refrigerating compressor, the machine can operate
at below freezing temperatures, allowing the user to create
batch after batch of gelato, without the need of pre-freezing
any bowl.
Is it Dishwasher Safe?
This is something to look for as it adds quite a bit of
convenience to the clean up process. In regards to this gelato
maker, the bowl, blades and lid are all dishwasher safe. However,
Delonghi does advise to use only the top rack for cleaning.
Stainless Steel Bowl
This gelato maker uses a stainless steel bowl, and for a
reason too. Since the bowl and ingredients in the bowl must
be brought down to freezing temperatures, stainless steel
is a good material to use in order to ensure that the contents
are kept at the colder temperatures during the entire mixing
process.
The machine comes with plastic mixing blades. The blades
are made of plastic to prevent the bowl from being scratched
during the mixing process.
Size and Design
Size is an important factor when purchasing any kitchen
appliance. You want to make sure that the machine fits nicely
on the countertop and within easy reach.
The DeLonghi
Gelato Maker
measures 12 1/2 inches wide, 16 3/4 inches deep and only 9.44
inches tall. This will fit under almost any kitchen cabinet.
In addition to the size, the machine is made of stainless
steel and has a sleek modern design. Delonghi did an excellent
job in their design of this machine, making it a convenient
and aesthetically appealing appliance suitable for any kitchen.
Another benefit to the design, is that the mixing bowl is
located in the front of the machine which provides easy access
for adding ingredients, looking through the transparent lid,
or for removing the mixing bowl for serving. Each batch produces
1.2 to 1.5 liters of gelato.
How Much Does a Gelato Maker Cost?
At the of this writing the Delonghi GM6000 Gelato Maker
was available on their corporate site for $299.95, which is
more than you need to pay. The best price I've seen online
is at Amazon,
who consistently sells this item for less and comes with FREE
shipping.
What's in the Box?
1. Removable stainless steel bowl
2. Plastic mixing blades
3. Transparent lid
4. Delonghi recipe book with 50 recipes: Very useful for getting
started. Amazon offers additional gelato
recipe books
for those who want to experiment with various flavors.
5. Instruction manual
What About the Warranty?
The DeLonghi warranty is for 1 year from the date of purchase
on your receipt.
What are Others Saying?
This gelato machine has received a positive 4 stars out
of 5 on average from Amazon reviewers.
To give an idea of some feedback...
