Hand Crank Ice Cream Makers

Hand crank ice cream makers are a great option for homesteaders wanting to go off the grid, or if you want to continue having ice cream should the power go out. Better still, just because it's a hand cranked ice cream maker, it doesn't necessarily mean wearing your arm off cranking the thing. Thanks to a little ingenuity, there are some really nice options out there.

But Why Get One of These?

You may be wondering: Why invest in an ice cream maker that you have to crank by hand? Isn't that an awful lot of work? 

Yes, it is more work, but you'll find that it's worth it. Here are some reasons it's better to hand-crank that ice cream:

Better Quality Ice Cream

Stir cream long enough, and you get butter. But add cold air (not to mention sugar, eggs, and flavorings), and you get ice cream. It's a complex mixture - scientists call it a food colloid - of cream, sugar, flavors, ice crystals, and air bubbles. You need the right mixture of all three to have the proper consistency of ice cream. 

The size of the ice crystals makes a huge difference between creamy ice cream and something hard as a rock. If you want smooth and creamy ice cream, then you want the majority of the ice crystals to be small. If the ice crystals get too big, then the ice cream will be too icy and coarse. 

Stir the mixture too quickly, and the blades scrape against the sides of the container too fast, and you get friction, which in turn produces heat. The ice crystals get too big, and you end up with ice cream that is grainy and becomes hard as a rock. 

Hand-cranked ice cream, on the other hand, is - well - creamy and soft.

Exhausted Kids

Or at least occupied kids. Heck, they've got to burn that energy somehow, so why not burn it making ice cream? Plus, they'll have an experience they'll remember for years to come. So why not?

But with any appliance you decide to make an investment in, there are pros and cons to the different choices available. Here are some things to consider when looking for an off-the-grid ice cream maker.

Ice Cream Ball is the Funnest
Hand Crank Ice Cream Makers

This ball is actually a hand crank ice cream maker that's great for the kids

This ball ice cream maker is great for kids.  You can find one here.

Pros: Fun and easy to use; great for kids
Cons: Without kids, risk of appearing silly kicking ball around.

The ball ice cream maker is one of my favorite ice cream makers. My daughter loves making ice cream this way and is always disappointed when ice cream making time is over.

Plus, it's simple to use. You fill one end with ice and rock salt and then fill the other end with your prepared cream.

Put the lids back on, and then roll the ball, kick it, toss it to each other, you name it.

This ice cream maker is really sturdy and better still, it makes a really nice, but soft ice cream. My sister-in-law gave this to me for Christmas one year, and I was amazed at how easy it is to use.

My only warning about using this ice cream maker is to not screw the lids on too tight; we were so worried about the cream or ice spilling out, that we tightened both lids way too tight and had a dickens of a time unscrewing them.

The ice cream is generally soft when it comes out using this ice cream maker, but kept in the freezer overnight, it sets up really well, especially when using this recipe.

But what if you don't have any kids handy who want to spend half an hour rolling, tossing, or kicking a ball, and you don't want to look silly in front of the neighbors? Fortunately, there are some other good options for hand crank ice cream makers out there.

Electric Manual Ice Cream Maker

This is both a hand crank ice cream maker and an electric one.

This is a great option if you really don't want to hand-crank your ice cream maker at all, but want control over the consistency of your ice cream. 

It's also great to use should the power go out, and you're looking for a way to spend your time until the power company gets the power back up. 

A combination electric/manual ice cream maker is a bit more costly than other hand crank ice cream makers, but still affordable.

Learn More About Going Off the Grid

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About the Author

My name is Sue Merriam, and I began the journey of self-reliant living more than three decades ago, which enabled me to stay home with my children. Fifteen years ago, I founded Joyful Homesteading to help others save money and face the future without fear. My goal is to give you practical, honest advice so you can save money and experience the joy of simple living. I hope you join me.

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