DASH DIC700AQ Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The DASH DIC700AQ Ice Cream Machine is an electric ice cream maker that allows you to make delicious soft serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and gelato right at home. This compact appliance has a sleek and modern design that looks great on any countertop.

Some of the key features of the DASH ice cream maker include:

• Makes up to 1.5 quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet
• No ice required - uses built-in compressor to freeze contents
• Make ice cream in as little as 30 minutes
• Fully automatic - no manual churning needed
• Digital display with touch controls
• Transparent lid to monitor ice cream as it's being made
• Quiet operation
• Includes recipe book

With the DASH ice cream machine, you can create custom ice cream flavors and frozen treats without much effort or noise. It's a great appliance for ice cream lovers who want the enjoyment of homemade frozen desserts.

Design & Appearance

The DASH DIC700AQ ice cream maker has a sleek and compact design that won't take up much space on your countertop. It measures 10.2 x 11.3 x 15.2 inches and weighs just under 12 pounds, making it easy to store when not in use.

The ice cream maker has a modern white and aqua color scheme. The base and lid are white with aqua accents, giving it a clean, contemporary look. The mixing bowl has the same color scheme. The touchpad control panel is simple with just two aqua buttons - one to turn it on and off, and another to start the freezing process.

Overall, the appliance is attractively designed with a smaller footprint than many other ice cream machines. The aesthetics allow it to seamlessly blend into any kitchen décor.

Ice Cream Making Process

The DASH ice cream maker takes a unique approach to making homemade ice cream. Rather than requiring pre-freezing a bowl or using ice and salt, it relies on a powerful compressor to freeze the ice cream mixture.

To make ice cream, you simply add your ingredients to the provided mixing bowl and turn on the machine. The compressor will begin cooling the bowl down to freezing temperatures. Most recipes take around 30 minutes to freeze, with the machine continuously mixing and aerating the ice cream to produce a smooth, creamy texture.

There are a few key steps in the ice cream making process:

1. Add your ice cream ingredients to the mixing bowl and lock the bowl into place on the base.

2. Turn on the machine and select your desired consistency - either soft serve or firmer ice cream.

3. Let the machine run for around 30 minutes, scraping down the sides with the provided scraper as needed.

4. Once your ice cream has reached your desired consistency, turn off the machine and enjoy your creation!

The DASH takes the guesswork and labor out of making homemade ice cream. With no ice or salt needed, it's as easy as mixing your ingredients and turning on the machine. The powerful cooling compressor churns and freezes your mixture, delivering creamy ice cream in under 30 minutes.

Ease of Use

The DASH Everyday Ice Cream Maker is designed for simple, hassle-free use. Setting it up out of the box takes just a couple minutes. The frozen bowl needs to be frozen overnight before getting started, but after that, making ice cream is incredibly easy.

Operation is straightforward - simply add your ingredients to the provided mixing cup, pour into the frozen bowl, and turn on the machine. The mixer arm spreads and mixes the contents automatically as it freezes for 20-30 minutes. No manual churning required.

Cleaning is also simple since there are no gears, pulleys or motors inside the bowl itself. The bowl, mixer arm, and lid are all dishwasher safe. The mixing cup just needs handwashing.

Overall, the DASH ice cream maker scores very highly for convenience. With minimal preparation and effort, anyone can churn out delicious homemade ice cream using this machine. The automated process and easy cleanup make it ideal for beginners and ice cream lovers short on time.

Noise Level

The DASH DIC700AQ ice cream maker operates at a reasonable noise level that allows for conversation. This makes it well-suited for family gatherings and parties where you want to keep the ambiance social. The motor emits a low hum as the mixture churns, but this is not overly distracting. Some users note the noise is comparable to a small fan running in the background. There are no jarring sounds produced during the churning process. The paddles turn smoothly once the motor starts up. Overall, the noise output is not disruptive and allows you to continue enjoying time with others while making ice cream together. This contrasts with some louder ice cream machines that can make it hard to hear each other during operation. The DASH manages to strike a good balance between power and noise level.

Ice Cream Quality

The DASH DIC700AQ ice cream maker produces ice cream with excellent texture, consistency, and flavor. The ice cream comes out smooth and creamy thanks to the inbuilt compressor that churns and aerates the mixture. This results in a rich, dense texture without large ice crystals.

The consistency is neither too soft nor hard. It's just the right amount of firmness you'd expect in good quality ice cream. The machine churns continuously while freezing to prevent the ice cream from becoming too hard.

As for flavor, the ice cream tastes great since the mixture is frozen gently and gradually. There is no heat applied that could affect or dull the flavors. The end result is ice cream with bright, pronounced flavors and a creamy mouthfeel. You can really taste the fresh ingredients used in homemade ice cream recipes.

Overall, the DASH delivers on all fronts when it comes to ice cream quality. It makes ice cream comparable to premium ice cream shops thanks to the well-made compressor, thoughtful design, and continuous freezing method. You'll be satisfied with the smooth, creamy texture and flavorful ice cream this machine churns out.

Capacity

The DASH DIC700AQ Ice Cream Maker has a modest 1.5 pint capacity per batch, which is enough to serve 2-4 people depending on portion sizes. This equates to making approximately 1 quart (4 cups) of ice cream per hour. The bowl needs to fully freeze again between batches, so you cannot continually churn out ice cream all day long. However, the small capacity makes it well-suited for making personal sized batches rather than huge quantities you may not finish. With each batch taking only 30-40 minutes to churn, it's easy enough to make multiple rounds if serving a larger group. Just plan ahead and stagger batches allowing the bowl to freeze completely in between. The compact size does limit the DASH's capacity compared to larger ice cream machines, but is reasonable for a personal model. It's a suitable option for couples, families, and small parties who want fresh homemade ice cream in single serving sizes.

Extra Features

The DASH DIC700AQ ice cream maker offers some additional features beyond just ice cream making. One handy extra is the mixing paddle that comes included. This allows you to blend milkshakes, smoothies, slushies, or other frozen drinks. The paddle attaches to the motor mount and mixes up thick, creamy drinks.

Another useful capability is that the machine can also be used just to freeze items without mixing. You can pour ingredients into the freezing bowl and let it solidify into popsicles, sorbet, or other frozen desserts. No mixing is required for freezing only.

The included recipes book provides guidance on making items beyond just ice cream. It offers recipes and instructions for milkshakes, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and more. So you're not limited to just standard ice cream with this machine.

Overall, the extra mixing paddle, freezing capability, and recipe book allow you to expand beyond basic ice cream making. You can explore milkshakes, slushies, popsicles, sorbet, gelato, and other frozen desserts. The versatile design offers more functionality than many competing ice cream machines.

Price

The DASH DIC700AQ Everyday Ice Cream Maker generally falls in the mid-range price bracket for countertop ice cream machines. At around $100, it's more affordable than high-end models that can cost over $500, but pricier than basic $30-50 machines.

When you look at other machines in the $100 range like the Cuisinart ICE-70 or Hamilton Beach 68330N, the DASH offers competitive pricing for the features. While not the absolute lowest priced option, it delivers solid performance and extras like the mixing paddle and recipe book at a reasonable cost.

The price is justified by the faster freezing time, larger capacity, and useful accessories compared to cheaper models. Overall, it's a good value buy for an everyday ice cream maker that doesn't require a premium budget. The price fits its strengths as a versatile machine for making fresh ice cream and yogurt frequently at home.

Pros & Cons

The Dash DIC700AQ comes with many of the pros you'd expect from an ice cream machine along with a few cons to consider.

Pros

• Makes ice cream in 30 minutes or less, allowing you to churn a fresh batch faster than many other models.
• Compact size takes up minimal counter space.
• Simple to operate with just an on/off switch.
• Quieter motor than many competitors.
• Bowl lifts out for easy transferring and serving of ice cream.
• Can make frozen yogurt in addition to ice cream.
• Churns ice cream with good consistency free of ice crystals.
• Affordable price point compared to many other machines.

Cons

• Small 1.5 quart capacity limits how much ice cream you can make in one batch.
• Needs to be frozen overnight before making ice cream, unlike some models with built-in freezers.
• Limited to just vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavor mixes included.
• Materials like plastic housing may be less durable than higher-end models.
• No advanced features like digital displays or different speed settings.