An ice cream maker is a machine designed to make ice cream in small quantities for personal consumption. Ice cream makers may prepare the mixture through the hand-cranking method or by using an electric motor. An ice cream maker must at the same time freeze the mixture while churning it so as to aerate the mixture and avoid ice crystals; hence most ice creams are ready to be consumed immediately. There are three types of electric ice cream machines, each equipped with an electric motor to impel either the bowl or the paddle to stir the mixture.
