Hamilton Beach 68880 Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

Hamilton Beach is a leading manufacturer of small kitchen appliances in North America. Founded over 100 years ago, the company is known for making affordable and reliable products for the home chef. This includes a range of ice cream makers that allow you to create creamy, homemade ice cream with ease.

The Hamilton Beach 68880 Automatic Ice Cream Maker is one of their popular models for making frozen desserts. This compact appliance can churn out batch after batch of ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and more. Keep reading for an in-depth review of the features and performance of the Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream machine.

Overview

The Hamilton Beach 68880 is an ice cream maker sold on Amazon in the $40-60 USD price range. This 1.5 quart electric ice cream machine allows you to make frozen treats at home.

The 68880 features a simple design with an ice cream bucket that contains the freezing bowl. It has an easy locking lid and the bucket doubles as a server once your dessert is ready. This model can make up to 1.5 quarts of ice cream, yogurt, gelato or sorbet in 20-40 minutes. There's an included recipes booklet and it comes with everything needed to get started.

Design

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker has a sleek and modern design perfect for any kitchen. It comes in either a white or red glossy finish that will add a pop of color. The appliance is compact in size, measuring only 10.63 x 15.16 x 9.13 inches, so it doesn't take up too much counter space.

Despite its small footprint, the machine is made of sturdy plastic that feels solidly constructed. The glossy finish makes it easy to just wipe clean in case of any messes or splatters while making ice cream. The lid opens up completely via a hinge to allow full access for adding ingredients or cleaning. All of the components either snap or twist securely into place.

There are also convenient cord storage and a built-in stand that folds out at the back to allow the canister to tilt for easy pouring when dispensing the ice cream. Overall, the thoughtful design elements not only make the ice cream maker attractive, but also highly functional in any home kitchen.

Capacity

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker has a generous 1.5 quart capacity, allowing you to make a good amount of ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato in one batch. With this size bowl, you can make enough frozen dessert to serve 3-4 people at once. The advantage of the 1.5 quart capacity is that you don't have to make multiple smaller batches if you're serving a crowd. You can make it all in one go. However, keep in mind that the larger capacity does mean it will take a bit longer for the bowl to properly freeze and churn a batch compared to smaller capacity machines. But the wait is worth it to be able to churn out quarts of your favorite frozen treats. Overall, the capacity is one of the highlights of this model, letting you create a nice big batch for the whole family to enjoy.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker is designed to be very easy to use. The process of making ice cream involves just a few simple steps:

1. Prepare your ice cream mixture and pour it into the freezer bowl. The freezer bowl has a capacity of 1.5 quarts.

2. Lock the motor base and freezer bowl together. There is an easy turn fastening latch that locks the pieces into place.

3. Turn the dial to ON. The machine will now handle both the freezing and churning process to turn your mixture into ice cream.

4. When the ice cream reaches the desired consistency, turn the dial to OFF. The latch will pop open so you can remove the freezer bowl.

5. Scoop out your freshly made ice cream and enjoy!

The entire process is very straightforward and simple even for beginners. The difficulty level is low and the machine essentially does all the hard work for you.

Cleaning up after making a batch of ice cream is also hassle-free. The freezer bowl, beater, and spatula are all removable and dishwasher safe. The base can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth. So there's no dreaded post-ice cream mess to contend with.

Overall, ease of use is one of the standout features of the Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker. The simple operation and no-fuss cleanup make it an appliance anyone can feel confident using.

Speed

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker can churn out a batch of delicious soft-serve ice cream in around 20-30 minutes. This speed is quite impressive for a home ice cream machine in this price range.

The quick churn time is thanks to the powerful motor and frozen bowl design. The bowl needs to be frozen solid before making ice cream, which takes around 8 hours in the freezer. Once frozen, you simply add your ice cream ingredients into the bowl and turn on the machine.

The paddles spin to continually scrape and blend the mixture as it freezes, delivering soft ice cream texture in less than half an hour. You don't have to wait hours for a traditional old-fashioned ice cream maker to be ready. With the Hamilton Beach model, frozen treats can be enjoyed on short notice for spur of the moment gatherings and cravings.

The timer function allows you to set churn times up to 40 minutes if you prefer a firmer consistency. But for soft-serve fans, the fast 20-30 minute churn delivers premium results without the hassle or waiting. You can conveniently make ice cream when guests arrive or the craving strikes.

Noise Level

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker operates at a moderate noise level. It's not completely silent, but it won't be disturbingly loud either.

When the machine first turns on, there is a slight hum as the freezer bowl starts freezing the contents. This is comparable to the sound of a small fan running. It's noticeable but not intrusive.

Once the ice cream mixture is added and churning begins, the noise level increases slightly. There is a low mechanical whirring sound as the dasher arm rotates to churn the ice cream. It's similar to the sound of an electric mixer on low speed.

Overall, the churning noise is not overly intrusive. It's low enough that you can carry on a conversation over it. The freezing and churning noises are contained within the unit and don't echo throughout the kitchen.

Some buyers note the Hamilton Beach ice cream maker is quieter than comparable models. The noise is unlikely to be an issue or annoyance for most users. It operates at a reasonable volume that won't disrupt conversations or activities.

Quality of Ice Cream

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker produces creamy, smooth, and delicious ice cream. The end product has a rich, creamy texture with excellent consistency thanks to the powerful motor and cooling system that churns and freezes the mixture effectively.

The ice cream comes out with a nice smooth and velvety mouthfeel, without any ice crystals or chunkiness. It has a rich, indulgent taste and retains its flavor well without becoming watery or icy even after stored for a bit. Users mention the ice cream tastes just as good, if not better, than store-bought brands.

The machine makes ice cream with a nice fluffy whipped texture that holds its shape well. There is no separation of ingredients, so flavors are distributed evenly. The recipes also allow customization with various flavors and mix-in options. Overall, homemade ice cream enthusiasts are very satisfied with the decadent taste and creamy consistency produced by this machine.

Extra Features

The Hamilton Beach 68880 ice cream maker has a few handy extra features that improve the user experience. One useful feature is the automatic shutoff. Once the ice cream has finished churning, the machine will automatically shut itself off. This prevents the ice cream from over-churning and getting too hard or icy. It also provides peace of mind, allowing you to walk away once the cycle has completed without having to worry about turning it off manually.

The lid of the ice cream maker is also designed for convenience. It has a large opening that allows you to easily add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts without making a mess. The lid keeps everything contained while churning.

Additionally, the bowl, churn dasher, and lid are all dishwasher safe which makes cleanup fast and easy. No need to hand wash or scrub any complicated parts. Just toss them in the dishwasher and you're done.

Overall, the extra features of the Hamilton Beach 68880 focus on ease of use and simplifying the ice cream making process for home users. The handy automatic shutoff, large opening lid, and dishwasher safe parts make this an very user-friendly ice cream machine.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Fast freeze bowl produces ice cream in 30 minutes or less
• Large 1.5 quart capacity
• Easy to use with automatic or manual settings
• Attractive retro design looks great on countertops
• Quiet operation while churning
• Makes rich, creamy, and delicious ice cream
• Nonstick removable bowl for easy cleaning
• Compact size doesn't take up much space

Cons

• Bowl needs to freeze fully (6-22 hours) before making ice cream
• Lid can leak if not secured tightly
• Limited options for consistency control
• Noisier than some higher-end ice cream makers
• Base/motor housing is made of plastic
• Occasional complaints of motor failures after a year or two