GSEICE ST16ER Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The GSEICE ST16ER is an automatic ice cream machine made by the company GSEICE. GSEICE has been manufacturing high quality gelato, frozen yogurt and ice cream making equipment since 2009. Their focus is on commercial grade machines for businesses, but they also make select home models like the ST16ER for personal use. This countertop ice cream maker is designed to make soft serve style ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, sherbet and sorbet at home.

With its straightforward operation and stainless steel body, the ST16ER offers an affordable option for homemade frozen desserts in under 30 minutes. Keep reading to learn more about the key features and user experience of the GSEICE ST16ER ice cream machine.

Overview

The GSEICE ST16ER is a self-contained countertop ice cream maker designed for commercial use in restaurants, cafes, and delis. This machine features a built-in freezing system, so it does not require pre-freezing a bowl or using ice packs. It is capable of producing 1.6 quarts (1.5 liters) of soft serve ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt per cycle.

The self-refrigerating compressor allows you to make frozen desserts without any extra equipment. It functions as an automatic batch freezer, with an ingredient hopper for adding mixes, built-in paddle to stir and scrape the sides, spigot to dispense completed product, and side opening for easy cleaning. This countertop model has a small footprint and stainless steel exterior, making it easy to use in tight spaces and keep clean in commercial settings.

Design & Build Quality

The GSEICE ST16ER is built with commercial-grade stainless steel, featuring a welded and polished design. The machine has dimensions of 17.3 x 11.8 x 12.2 inches and weighs 41.8 pounds. Despite its substantial build, the compact size allows it to fit well on most countertops.

The stainless steel bowl has a 1.5 quarts capacity and is designed for efficient freezing. It features a double-insulation wall to help maintain ideal freezing temperatures. The mixing arm is also made of durable stainless steel.

The exterior housing seems very sturdy and well-constructed based on customer reviews. The feet have anti-slip rubber pads to prevent sliding. Overall, the materials and solid build quality make this a ice cream maker built to last.

Features

The GSEICE ST16ER commercial ice cream machine has a variety of useful features for making high-quality soft serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and other frozen desserts.

• Large 1.6 Quart Capacity: The machine has a sizeable 1.6 quart stainless steel bowl to make batches of frozen dessert. This allows you to serve crowds or make multiple flavors.

• Precise Temperature Control: You can adjust the temperature from -4°F to +2°F to achieve the perfect consistency, whether you're making soft serve or dense gelato. It cools down quickly to start freezing the mix.

• Auto Mix Function: The auto mix mode automates the freezing cycle so you don't have to monitor the process. It churns the mixture at regular intervals for even freezing.

• 60-Minute Timer: Set the built-in 60-minute timer and the machine will automatically stop when time is up. This prevents over-churning your dessert.

• Keep Cool Function: The Keep Cool function holds your frozen dessert at the ideal temperature for up to 30 minutes while serving a crowd. This prevents melting.

• Low Noise: The compressor and freezing cylinder produce minimal noise so you can have conversations over your frozen dessert.

• Variable Speed Settings: Customize the texture with slow, medium and high speed settings. Faster speeds result in lighter, fluffier texture.

• Pre-Cooling Function: The Pre-Cooling function chills the bowl before you add the mix for faster freezing. Just pour in your mix when it's ready.

• Mix Spout: The spout makes it easy to pour your mix into the bowl without spilling.

Ease of Use

The GSEICE ST16ER ice cream machine is incredibly easy to use and setup. The intuitive control panel allows you to make selections with the simple turn of a dial. There's options for choosing the hardness of your ice cream, setting timers, and controlling the speed of the mixing. The LED display clearly shows your selections.

The whole machine can be assembled in minutes without any complicated instructions required. All the parts either click or screw into place intuitively. The included paddles slide right into place allowing you to start freezing your ingredients after a quick prep.

The transparent lid also allows you to monitor the freezing process and visually check the consistency of your ice cream. This makes it easy to get the texture just right without having to constantly open the machine.

Overall, the GSEICE ice cream maker couldn't be simpler to operate. The intuitive controls and setup help you go from ingredients to delicious homemade ice cream with ease. Even first-time users will find this machine remarkably straightforward.

Noise Level

The GSEICE ST16ER is a relatively quiet ice cream maker. When in use, it produces a low hum that is comparable to a small household appliance. The noise level increases slightly when the freezing cycle starts, but is not overly intrusive.

Some users may find the noise distracting if making ice cream in a quiet home environment. But in general, the noise is within reasonable levels for an ice cream maker of this size and power. The compressor and internal motor seem well insulated and do not vibrate excessively when running.

The noise is unlikely to be a major issue for most users. While not silent, the ST16ER won't drown out conversation or force you out of the kitchen when making a batch of ice cream. Noise sensitive users may want to avoid extended high speed freezing cycles, but overall the noise level is acceptable for an appliance of this type.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Keeping the GSEICE ST16ER ice cream machine clean is crucial for both food safety and optimal performance. The good news is that this unit is designed for simple, hassle-free cleaning.

The removable bowl, beater, and paddle all come apart quickly and can be hand washed or placed in the dishwasher. GSEICE recommends using warm soapy water and a soft cloth to gently wipe down the main housing after each use. It's important not to submerge the base in water.

One maintenance task is keeping the freezer bowl chilled between uses. The built-in compressor provides continuous freezing, so you can keep the bowl in the unit. But if storing for an extended period, transfer the bowl to the freezer.

The only other regular upkeep is occasionally oiling the dasher shaft so it rotates smoothly. The machine doesn't require any special sanitizing fluids or other involved cleaning regimens. Just wipe it out and let the parts air dry after each use.

With easy disassembly and dishwasher-safe components, the GSEICE ST16ER keeps cleaning fast and simple. Just a little regular maintenance ensures you can churn out batch after batch of frozen desserts.

Special Features

The GSEICE ST16ER commercial ice cream machine has several special features not found on most home ice cream makers.

• Advanced Compressor Cooling System: This ice cream maker uses an advanced compressor like professional machines to produce consistent freezing temperatures. The compressor allows the bowl to maintain ideal temperatures for perfect ice cream texture.

• Removable Mixing Paddle: The paddle attaches to the motor and can be easily removed for cleaning. Many home machines have paddles fixed in the bowl.

• Digital Timer and Temperature Controls: The ST16ER allows you to precisely control time and temperature settings. Many home machines lack advanced controls. You can customize batches and achieve the ideal texture.

• Large Production Capacity: With its 2.6 quart bowl, the ST16ER can make large batches of ice cream at once. Larger than most home machines. Great for entertaining and big families.

• Pre-Cooling Function: The ST16ER can pre-cool the bowl down to freezing temp before you add your ice cream mixture. This further improves texture and process.

• Stainless Steel Construction: The heavy-duty stainless steel build makes this ice cream maker extremely durable for constant use. Much higher quality than plastic home machines.

The advanced features allow the GSEICE ST16ER to rival professional ice cream shops. It's perfect for serious ice cream lovers who want premium results without commercial equipment costs.

Pros & Cons

This ice cream machine has several pros and cons worth considering:

Pros:

• Compact countertop design saves space
• Powerful 1.5 horsepower motor provides fast freezing
• Generous 1.65 quart capacity makes ~1 quart ice cream
• Pre-cooling function chills bowl before freezing
• Digital timer and temperature controls are easy to use
• Quiet operation compared to some ice cream machines
• Removable bowl and dasher simplify cleaning
• Self-refrigeration eliminates the need for ice

Cons:

• High initial cost compared to basic ice cream makers
• Heavyweight model may be difficult to move
• Bowls require hand-washing and air drying
• Limited to making ice cream, no gelato or yogurt functions
• May require some trial and error to master recipes
• Small capacity not ideal for large batches or parties
• No viewing window to monitor freezing progress

Overall, this is a high-performing ice cream maker with excellent freezing power and convenient automatic operation. The compact size and self-contained freezing make it easy to use, although the capacity is relatively small. For frequent homemade ice cream, it's a quality choice worth the investment.

Conclusion

Overall, the GSEICE ST16ER is an excellent choice for a commercial ice cream machine that can handle frequent use in a busy shop or restaurant. It performs well across all metrics - it makes delicious soft serve ice cream quickly and efficiently, is easy to use and maintain, and has a durable stainless steel construction.

The pre-cooling cylinder ensures a constant low temperature for smooth, creamy results every time. Automatic functions like the standby mode help save energy. While it lacks built-in freezing capability, the separate freeze cylinder allows more customization for your space and needs.

This ice cream machine is ideal for high volume situations that require making many servings back-to-back. The heavy-duty motor and compressor can operate continuously without overheating. Easy to clean parts also make it more sanitary for commercial use.

If you're looking for a fast, consistent ice cream maker that can keep up with customer demand, produces rich and creamy soft serve, and is designed for commercial use, the GSEICE ST16ER is a great choice worth investing in. It delivers excellent results while being easy enough for staff to operate and maintain.