20 most worthless pieces of junk: #8 -- Ice cream maker, bread machine
Filed under: Food, Home, Shopping
There are two machines in my kitchen that are supposed to save me time, but don't -- an ice cream maker and a bread making machine.
I understand that these machines are meant to save time and produce something better than what is available at the store. The smell of homemade bread is one of the best things around, and home-churned ice cream is great. But neither of these machines works well enough to have me yearning for their bread or ice cream.
Both machines make food that is excellent if eaten as soon as it's ready -- you can't beat freshly made hot bread or cold ice cream -- but after less than a day they each lost their appeal.My wife and I have had a bread machine since we were first married, and I don't think it has worked for at least half of our marriage. But there it sits at the bottom of the pantry -- a bulky, expensive machine made by Oster that was so hard to get the baked loaf of bread out of that some would remain wedged under the rotor, impossible to remove. The rotor doesn't spin anymore, and with the warranty having expired long ago, we're unsure what to do with it.
The ingredients were easy enough to find, but we could never get a loaf of bread to rise enough. And it always seemed that within a day the bread was so hard that I didn't care to eat any more of it. I'd rather go to my local grocery store, or better yet to a bakery, for cheap, fresh bread.
The ice cream maker was a gift I bought my wife. While I wasn't thrilled with having something in the house capable of creating more fat calories for me to eat, I longed for the ice cream my grandpa used to make with a hand-cranked ice cream maker. It was so fresh and creamy that as soon as it was ready, the family spooned it down as fast as we could.
The electric ice cream maker we have takes a fair amount of work to prepare the ingredients, but it churns out ice cream a lot quicker than cranking by hand. But it still doesn't taste as good as the hand-crank version. And while it tastes better than store-bought ice cream immediately after being made, within an hour of putting it in the freezer the creaminess has solidified into ice.
There is a way to make ice cream by hand without an ice cream maker. It also looks like a lot of work. Better to go to your local creamery and buy a pint to take home.
Aaron Crowe is an unemployed journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read about his job search at www.AaronCrowe.net.
I understand that these machines are meant to save time and produce something better than what is available at the store. The smell of homemade bread is one of the best things around, and home-churned ice cream is great. But neither of these machines works well enough to have me yearning for their bread or ice cream.
Both machines make food that is excellent if eaten as soon as it's ready -- you can't beat freshly made hot bread or cold ice cream -- but after less than a day they each lost their appeal.My wife and I have had a bread machine since we were first married, and I don't think it has worked for at least half of our marriage. But there it sits at the bottom of the pantry -- a bulky, expensive machine made by Oster that was so hard to get the baked loaf of bread out of that some would remain wedged under the rotor, impossible to remove. The rotor doesn't spin anymore, and with the warranty having expired long ago, we're unsure what to do with it.
The ingredients were easy enough to find, but we could never get a loaf of bread to rise enough. And it always seemed that within a day the bread was so hard that I didn't care to eat any more of it. I'd rather go to my local grocery store, or better yet to a bakery, for cheap, fresh bread.
The ice cream maker was a gift I bought my wife. While I wasn't thrilled with having something in the house capable of creating more fat calories for me to eat, I longed for the ice cream my grandpa used to make with a hand-cranked ice cream maker. It was so fresh and creamy that as soon as it was ready, the family spooned it down as fast as we could.
The electric ice cream maker we have takes a fair amount of work to prepare the ingredients, but it churns out ice cream a lot quicker than cranking by hand. But it still doesn't taste as good as the hand-crank version. And while it tastes better than store-bought ice cream immediately after being made, within an hour of putting it in the freezer the creaminess has solidified into ice.
There is a way to make ice cream by hand without an ice cream maker. It also looks like a lot of work. Better to go to your local creamery and buy a pint to take home.
Aaron Crowe is an unemployed journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read about his job search at www.AaronCrowe.net.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-09-2009 @ 6:38AM
kim reynolds said...
For bread it may be a pain, but we use it all the time to make pizza dough for all kinds of home-made pizza, my 13-yr old daughter loves to make it. Our ice cream maker too, we don't use as often because of having to buy the ingred; but it's always so good when we do.
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7-09-2009 @ 7:33AM
ConnieJ said...
You missed it on this one. There is nothing to compare with fresh-baked bread and/or homemade ice cream. Kim mentioned having to "buy ingredients", but everything that I need I already have, including a jar of yeast for the bread. For the ice cream, I use the same recipe that my in-laws used years ago and it beats anything that you can buy in the stores.
So, every now and then I will drag out the appliances and we enjoy truly good bread and/or ice cream.
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7-09-2009 @ 8:28AM
Joan Beckner said...
We also love the bread and ice cream. We make ice cream every holiday and I make dinner roll dough in the bread maker and my grandkids love it. Nothing you can buy is better. My grown children always request ice cream and homemade dinner rolls when visiting.
7-09-2009 @ 8:29AM
Joan Beckner said...
I forgot to mention that the recipe I use is over 100 years old with very few alterations as ingredients have changed.
7-09-2009 @ 12:21PM
Donna L. said...
Ahh - bread machines! You either love them or hate them! I use mine just to make the dough then put in a regular oven. Comes out great every time and saves me about 1 1/2 hrs not waiting for the dough to rise then knead then repeat. Also just the the pan in the machine to wash & the bread pan I baked it in!
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7-09-2009 @ 9:35AM
alex said...
While I can't speak to the value of ice cream makers, never having used one, I totally disagree with the assessment of bread machines. I'm a single male and I love my bread machine. I agree that some models are probably less satisfactory, but my Rival machine makes perfect loaves, and I have several bread machine cookbooks with fantastic recipes for breads I'd never be able to taste without making them myself. As for oven-baking in the traditional manner, who'd want the effort and heat involved in that process? My machine takes me about 10 minutes max of prep time, and then I press the GO button, and 3 hours or so later, I have some awesome results!
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7-09-2009 @ 11:39AM
Larea said...
what is the model number of your Rival breadmaker? I am interested in purchasing one.
7-09-2009 @ 10:01AM
Joe said...
I did have an ice cream machine and maybe used it twice in 5 years, so I agree on that one. But the Bread Machine is another story! I use it all the time and my bread comes out great! I do also use it to make dough for pizza and specialty breads that need to be baked in the oven.
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7-09-2009 @ 10:28AM
Mary said...
Although I've never owned neither a bread maker or an ice cream maker; I often think of purchasing the latter. As for the former; I've never used a bread machine. However, I did make bread on practically a daily basis when my kids were young.
I remember when living in Pendleton, Oregon...we didn't have a car at the time; so I would walk the kids to school as we lived just under a mile, making riding a bus unavailable for my kids. I'd bundle up the baby and get out the stroller and walk the kids to school. I would pop the risen bread dough loaves into the oven just before leaving to pick them up as the freshly baked bread would be ready to come out of the oven when we got home. One day one of my kids was detained after school. Needless-to-say; my smoke-filled house with burned bread was something to behold when we got back home. I think I was the only parent who insisted on some other form of punishment for my kids rather than being kept after school, because of my bread-making.
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7-09-2009 @ 10:38AM
Betty said...
One of the many great memories I have of my childhood was summertime at my grandparents home. Grandmother would make home made ice cream. Sometimes she'd add fresh peaches or strawberries to the cooked vanilla custard base. She'd pour the mixture into the White Mountain hand-crank wooden freezer, and pack the outside with salt and ice. She'd set it outside on the back porch, and then all the grandchildren would eagerly take turns cranking the handle until the ice cream became firm. When it was ready, she'd let us have the paddle to lick as a sampling of what was to come later on. Then after a delicious home cooked country dinner, we'd all get a bowl of the best ice cream ever made! It was all the more enjoyable because we kids helped to make it. Life's simple pleasures are sometimes the ones best remembered.
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7-09-2009 @ 10:42AM
L. Rope said...
Whoever decided ice cream makers and bread machines are junk - there is pity in my heart for them. The ice cream maker brings back a wealth of good memories involving family, extended family, Saturday afternoon parties/picnics and Sunday afternoon family dinners. The old fashion crank ice cream maker, well you get a good workout but is not my maker of choice. The electric churn ice cream maker to me and my family is something that will go on for generations, never to be considered junk. It may take some effort but what you're left with is far more valuable than any effort exerted. The taste, yum, yum, nothing better. Let's hear it for old world, generational family recipes!
The bread maching, I cannot say as much for. While I use mine often, I would consider this to be a newer invention that is in a different class than the ice cream maker. For me, there is nothing better, though it doesn't happen often and this is where the bread machine comes in, than bread made completely from scratch the old fashion way. The upside, I bake the love in so to speak. It is a little different with the bread machine though I use the same amount of care. Maybe it is the effort, I don't know? I do know my from scratch rolls are loved and requested by family members especially my mother who can taste the difference between the bread machine rolls and the scratch rolls without me saying anything.... Trust me, I've tried. If anyone could offer any tips or secrets to the bread machine from a taste respect, I'm all ears.
But to say these fine machines are junk, not a chance!
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7-09-2009 @ 10:46AM
marilyn said...
We have recipes for keylime pie ice cream and some coffee ice cream variations that are wonderful. I vote for keeping our electric ice cream maker. No scary chemicals either.
How come you didn't include those stupid SALAD SHOOTERS in your list of junk appliances?
I still use an iron, can't be without it if you sew.
m.
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7-09-2009 @ 11:13AM
hamsami said...
Now we know why you are unemployed....this was a dumbass article.
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7-09-2009 @ 11:37AM
legalchef said...
After Hurricane Katrina when there was not a loaf of bread to be found in the stores (if the stores were open), my bread machine was indispensable. Plus the bread that comes out is wonderful. I wouldn't give it up.
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7-09-2009 @ 11:37AM
Linda said...
First...you gotta be smarter than the thing you're working with. Second...sounds like you didn't have the right recipe for each machine.
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7-09-2009 @ 11:39AM
Diane said...
I have actually started a business because of the bread machine and ice cream machine,both of which I found at a thrift store for under $5.00.I make the best tasting ice cream you have EVER tasted and it is dairy and egg free and my customers can't get enough of it,vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike.You can't find anything this good in any store,delicious,creamy and zero cholesterol and no trans fat.My bread also has no animal ingredients and I get calls from all over begging for more more more please and now!These two inventions are one of the best things that have happened to me(and my customers).You're way off track.
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8-19-2009 @ 9:43PM
Kurt said...
Hi Diane...I'm really curious about your products and have been trying to find ways to make traditional favorites more healthful but not sacrifice much in flavor. Where are you located? Are you willing to share ideas on recipes, principles, etc? Please contact me when convenient...thanks! Kurt in Mesa, AZ
7-09-2009 @ 11:48AM
cheryl said...
About the icecream maker. The difference between todays icecream and years gone by, is the cream. It use to be a higher fat count. If you can get cream straight from a farm or a place they dont add additives to make the cream stay fresh longer, you will see the difference. Full cream would last a week in the fridge if unopened. Once a bottle of cream was opened, you had to use it within the next two days. Whipping was fast, and if you overdid it, it would separate into butter with water running out. The taste is better too in what I call real cream and real butter.
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7-09-2009 @ 11:54AM
Bill M. said...
Obviously the author has never had a group of bored kids at home wanting something to do. Giving them a project of making ice cream gives them activity. Also it lets them taste what real ice cream is like, unlike the processed stuff that comes from stores.
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7-09-2009 @ 12:27PM
jane said...
The chilling center of my ice cream maker lives in the freezer so that I can make my ice cream whenever we want it, which is usually weekly. My ice cream maker cost me $50 and it was worth every penny. I've gotten more than my money's worth from it.
I've had two bread machines but after I got a mixer with a bread hook attachment, I started making bread by hand. But I love baking. Bread machines are terrific for people who have neither the time nor the inclination to make bread by hand. When my son was in high school, I'd set the machine the night before and he woke up to fresh bread for his breakfast.
I respectfully disagree with the writer that these machines are worthless. It's clear that these are not the right appliances for him but lots of others of us clearly like them and use them regularly.
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