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What exactly is a gelato maker? A gelato maker is similar to an ice cream maker, but rather than making American ice cream, it produces a smother, creamier textured product known as gelato. Gelato is an Italian word which means "ice cream" and Gelataio means "ice cream maker".

Gelato makers allow people to enjoy this delicious dessert in the comfort of their homes where they can create their own flavored batches of Italian ice cream. These machines allow users to choose from a near endless list of possible ingredients as well as quality of ingredients to be used.

These machines will include the main following components: lid, paddle, removable bowl, function selector and ventilation grille.

The Bowl

The bowl sits inside the machine where all the ingredients are first added. There is no need to mix the ingredients separately as is frequently done with baking where mixing the wet or dry ingredients apart from each other is essential. In this case, the machine will mix everything for you. There are however, exceptions for some recipes that might call for adding a blended or frothy egg for example.

The bowl will be made of either stainless steel or plastic. For models which have a refrigerating compressor, the bowl will most likely be made of stainless steel to provide a better environment for bringing the ingredients to the appropriate freezing temperatures.

When adding the ingredients, make sure any milk and/or cream is cool or cold, not warm. If using eggs, make sure the eggs are good by checking for any bad smells, making sure the egg white is thick and sticks to the sides of the yolk, and finally that the yolk is round and looks "swollen".

Since making gelato does not involve cooking, it is important that the egg is not spoiled. Not all recipes require eggs, so if you feel uncomfortable or unsure, it is best to leave it out. 

The Paddle

Similar to a bread maker, the gelato maker contains a specially made paddle which is designed to gradually mix all the ingredients in the bowl in a manner that ensures consistent and thorough blending during the entire cycle.

The paddle will most likely be made of plastic, but don't let this fool you into thinking it is an cheaply made part. The paddle is made of plastic intentionally so that it will not scratch the bowl, which is very important especially when the bowl is made of stainless steel, in addition, the sound of metal against metal is not a sound any user would want to hear.

The paddle will turn at a consistent speed for approximately 35 to 50 minutes depending on the chosen settings. It is important to remember to never remove the lid while the paddle is moving.

The Selector Knob

On the top of the machine will be a knob which is called a "selector knob" which can vary in functionality from model to model, however in general will have three or four purposes: 

• Paddle Rotation
• Application Off
• Chilling
• Combined paddle rotation and chilling

Paddle Rotation: This setting is used to mix the ingredients which you added into the bowl. It is used to start the machine's first phase of the gelato making process.

Application Off: This setting turns off the machine entirely.

Chilling: This setting is only used in order to temporarily stop the paddle from moving, but keep the chilling process going. The reason behind using this setting is so users can add ingredients such as pieces of fruit, nuts, or other food items towards the end of the mixing process.

This setting is also used when doing a taste test, again towards the end of the mixing stage. This setting may not be on models which do not have a self containing refrigerating compressor like the DeLonghi gm6000 gelato maker, and therefore will require the user to chill and freeze the ingredients after the mixing process.

Combined paddle rotation and chilling: This setting is used for the main phase of the gelato making process. It still allows the paddle to continue mixing the ingredients until the desired consistency is reached (within 30 to 40 minutes), but at the same time begins to bring the temperature of the ingredients down to the proper temperature.

The Lid

The lid is a crucial component to why gelato is different than regular ice cream. A regular American ice cream maker will mix air in with the ingredients as this is what gives ice cream its lighter density and texture (sometimes up to 50% air in included).

However, one of the key differences between gelato and ice cream is the air content as gelato's heavier density is directly related to the lack of air mixed in. Therefore, having an air tight lid is critical to prevent additional air from being incorporated during the mixing process.

This is a large reason why it is difficult at best to achieve a true gelato consistency using a regular ice cream maker not designed specifically for gelato production - the machine must have an air tight lid. 

The Gelato Making Process

Using the gelato maker is very easy as the machine will do all the work once the ingredients are added to the bowl and secured with the air tight lid. Here the raw ingredients are continuously mixed thoroughly during the gelato making process at freezing temperatures. Over a period of time, usually ranging from 35 minutes and higher depending on model, the ingredients will achieve the proper consistency and temperature.

If the model does not include a timer make sure to use one because running these machines for too long can cause the gelato to become overly dense and tough in consistency, in addition putting undue stress on the motor.

Once the machine has finished and completed its full process, the gelato is ready to be removed from the bowl and stored in its own container and put in the freezer for storage - unless it is ready to be served directly.

Some models require additional freezing times while others use a self contained refrigerating compressor to bring everything down to freezing temperatures, eliminating any additional steps of freezing in an external freezer.

Each manufacturer will most likely have a few variations in their instructions, but the overall process is the same. Make sure to always read the manuals completely to know how to properly care for your gelato maker such as handling, cleaning and storage, thereby extending the life cycle of the product.

Understand what is included in the warranty and keep your sales information handy should you need to replace a part or send back the machine for repairs during the warranty period.

About the Author: Liz experienced her first taste of real gelato in Italy in the summer of '98 and still remembers it vividly to this day. She owns and publishes her own Italian cooking website featuring easy Italian recipes and Italian kitchen appliance reviews. She enjoys writing about Italian food and enjoys experimenting with various recipes and tries to come up with healthier versions of popular dishes.