Hamilton Beach 68330N Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The Hamilton Beach 68330N is an automatic ice cream maker that allows you to create rich and creamy homemade ice cream with minimal effort. This fully automatic ice cream machine features an integrated freezing bowl to chill and churn your ice cream mixture, taking the hassle out of making homemade frozen treats. The powerful motor delivers thick and frozen results consistently. With simple controls and a compact size, the Hamilton Beach 68330N is perfect for families wanting an easy and convenient way to enjoy delicious soft serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and more in the comfort of their own home.

Specifications

The Hamilton Beach 68330N is a compact and lightweight ice cream maker measuring 14.5 x 8.26 x 11.25 inches and weighing just 7.04 pounds. Despite its small footprint, it has a generous 1.5 quart capacity, enough to make 3 pints of ice cream at a time. The machine is made mostly of plastic, with a stainless steel mixing bowl, making it lightweight for easy storage. Key specifications include:

• Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.26 x 11.25 inches
• Weight: 7.04 pounds
• Capacity: 1.5 quarts
• Makes 3 pints of ice cream at a time
• Housing Material: Plastic
• Mixing Bowl Material: Stainless Steel

The electrical requirements are standard: it plugs into a 120V outlet and uses 55 watts during operation. There is a 6 foot power cord that allows flexibility in placement.

Overall, the specifications indicate this is a compact yet powerful ice cream maker perfect for small households. It can make tasty frozen treats in decent batches without occupying too much space.

Another excellent option is the GreenLife CC005074-001. This model offers a modern design with user-friendly features, perfect for families and ice cream lovers. Its non-stick coating ensures easy cleanup, and it boasts an eco-friendly construction. The GreenLife CC005074-001 also features a robust compressor, allowing you to produce rich and creamy ice cream without the need for pre-freezing the bowl, making it an efficient choice.

Designed for Convenience and Style

The Hamilton Beach 68330N ice cream maker has a sleek, modern design that looks great on any countertop. It has a white finish with chrome accents that give it an elegant, minimalist look.

At 10.5 x 15.2 x 9.1 inches, the 68330N has a compact footprint. It doesn't take up too much counter space but still has a 1.5 quart capacity. The base houses the freezing bowl and motor, while the lid and easy-lock arm lift off for access.

The see-through lid allows you to watch the ice cream being made without having to open it. It has a fill opening at the top to add extra ingredients once it's going. The easy-lock arm keeps the motor locked into place during churning.

Overall, the visual design is clean and modern. The appliance looks high-end but without taking up too much room. The see-through lid is a nice touch that adds both visual appeal and functionality.

Another excellent option is the Elite Gourmet EIM-924L#, which offers a variety of features for ice cream enthusiasts. This machine comes with a double-insulated freezer bowl that provides superior cooling, allowing you to create delicious frozen treats effortlessly. Its user-friendly design ensures that making ice cream is simple, straightforward, and enjoyable. With a capacity of 1.5 quarts, it’s perfect for families or gatherings, giving you the flexibility to whip up a batch whenever the craving strikes.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 68330N is designed to be very easy to use. Setup is straightforward, with clear instructions provided. Operating the machine simply involves adding ingredients, turning it on, and letting it run through the freezing and churning process automatically. The lid flips up for easy adding of ingredients. Controls are simple and intuitive. There's an automatic timer that stops the machine when the ice cream is ready, so no need to monitor it constantly. Cleaning up after use is also simple - the removable parts are dishwasher safe. The bucket is easy to lift out, pour ice cream into a container, and rinse clean. The paddles can also be removed to make cleaning easier. Overall, ease of use is a major benefit of this ice cream maker. From start to finish, it's designed to make homemade ice cream with minimal effort. Even first-time users will find it simple to churn out delicious ice cream.

Features

The Hamilton Beach 68330N automatic ice cream maker has several useful features that make it convenient and easy to use. One of the most notable is the automatic shutoff. Once the ice cream is finished churning, the machine will automatically stop operating. This prevents overchurning and saves you from having to monitor it constantly.

Another handy feature is the ingredients alarm. The machine has an alarm that will sound when it's time to add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts. This ensures you don't forget to add any extras you want in your ice cream.

The Hamilton Beach ice cream maker also includes a viewing window so you can check the consistency of your ice cream as it churns without having to open the lid. This window makes it easy to get your desired texture without any guesswork.

For safety, there is a locking motorhead that keeps the paddle attachment secured during churning. This prevents any messes or accidents from the paddle coming loose while in use.

Overall, the features onboard the Hamilton Beach 68330N provide convenience, ease of use, and safety for making homemade ice cream. Key highlights are the automatic shutoff, ingredients alarm, viewing window, and locking motorhead.

Ice Cream Quality

The ice cream that comes out of the Hamilton Beach 68330N is creamy, smooth, and has excellent consistency. The texture is light and fluffy, similar to soft serve ice cream from an ice cream shop or yogurt store.

Most users find the ice cream has a rich, indulgent taste. The flavor is well-balanced and not overly icy. Since you add your own ingredients, you have full control over the sweetness and can customize flavors to your liking. Everything from classic vanilla to cookies and cream comes out with robust flavor.

The machine churns continuously while freezing to incorporate air into the mixture. This aerates the ice cream, preventing iciness and producing a luscious, creamy treat. Ice cream base made with higher fat ingredients like cream and egg yolks churns up especially smoothly. With the right recipe, the ice cream can rival gourmet store-bought brands.

You can experiment with different mixes and ingredients to achieve your ideal ice cream texture and taste. Overall, customers are consistently impressed with the rich creaminess of ice cream produced by this Hamilton Beach ice cream maker.

Noise Level

The Hamilton Beach 68330N ice cream maker operates at a reasonable noise level that is comparable to a household blender when churning ice cream. The motor produces a hum during operation, but it is not overly loud or disruptive. Some user reviews mention the noise being noticeable but not intolerable.

The sound seems louder when the dasher attachment is scraping the sides of the frozen bowl to stir the contents. Opening and closing the lid creates minimal noise. Overall, the noise generated appears acceptable for a small domestic ice cream machine used in home kitchens. While not silent, the 68330N enables making ice cream at home without excessive noise that disturbs conversations or TV viewing. Some buyers wishing for a very quiet appliance may prefer a more expensive model with a more powerful motor that produces less sound. But for most purposes, the Hamilton Beach delivers satisfactory ice cream with a suitable noise output.

Cleaning

While the Hamilton Beach 68330N is easy to use, cleaning it can be a bit tricky. The removable components need to be fully disassembled and hand washed after each use.

The ice cream bowl has to be taken apart piece by piece. You'll need to remove the dasher first, followed by unscrewing the dispensing spindle and removing the splash guard. Then the bowl itself needs to be washed thoroughly as ice cream residue can get stuck in crevices if you're not diligent.

The freezing canister also requires a deep clean to prevent mold growth. You'll need to wipe down the inside walls to remove any ice buildup or leftover ingredients. Some users recommend filling it halfway with warm water and leaving it for 5-10 minutes to loosen up hardened drips before scrubbing clean.

The lid and dispensing handle are easy enough to wash with soap and water. But the various small parts like the splash cover and dispensing spindle need some extra attention to clean out any trapped gunk.

Overall, while the Hamilton Beach ice cream maker does produce delicious frozen treats, be prepared to spend 10-15 minutes disassembling and washing all the parts after each use. Proper cleaning is essential to keep the machine fresh and prevent potential mechanical issues.

Value

The Hamilton Beach 68330N offers excellent value when you consider its quality and features relative to its very reasonable price point. At around $50, it's one of the most affordable electric ice cream makers on the market. Despite the low cost, it still produces rich, creamy, and delicious ice cream with a smooth texture. The simple design means there aren't a lot of bells and whistles, but you get impressive performance without paying for unnecessary extras. For a basic electric ice cream maker that gets the job done well without breaking the bank, the 68330N is hard to beat. The motor is powerful enough to churn ice cream properly and the freezing canister has enough capacity to make 1.5 quarts at a time. While more expensive models may have some extra convenience features, they don't necessarily make better quality ice cream. Considering you can frequently find this Hamilton Beach model on sale for under $40, it's an absolute steal if all you want is delicious homemade ice cream. The value is tough to top for an electric ice cream maker with these capabilities at this price point.

Conclusion

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 68330N Automatic Ice Cream Maker is a great choice for making delicious soft serve ice cream at home. This machine allows you to make ice cream in as little as 20 minutes without any mess. The large 1.5 quart capacity is perfect for making enough ice cream for 3-4 people at a time.

The fully automatic operation, along with the built-in timer and automatic shutoff make using this ice cream maker extremely convenient. Simply add your ingredients, turn it on, and walk away while it does the work. The freezing bowl needs to be pre-frozen ahead of time, but as long as you keep it in the freezer, you'll be able to whip up homemade ice cream whenever the craving strikes.

The Nostalgia Electrics ICMP400 is very affordably priced and delivers great results. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and compact enough to store in any freezer. If you're looking for an easy way to make soft, creamy ice cream at home without any fuss, the Hamilton Beach 68330N is a recommended option to consider.