Rival 4 Quart Ice Cream Maker

This is a cheap 4-quart ice cream maker. It is relatively easy to use and makes great ice cream. It does use salt and ice so it does not require any pre-freezing.

What it came with.
The bucket.
The stirring arm.
The metal canister.
The lid for the metal canister.
The top motor.

How it works.
You first need to make your ice cream. What I do is warm up a pot of cream. Then add a couple of eggs, vanilla, salt, and flavorings. The eggs need to be tempered unless you like scrambled eggs in your ice cream. The eggs make it more like a custard and can be omitted. I just like the texture eggs produce.
The nice thing is you can omit anything you like depending on your dietary requirements.
After I make my mix I put it in the metal canister and let it cool down in my refrigerator. Then I put the pieces of the machine together. Just place the metal cylinder in the plastic bucket, put the plastic paddle in the metal container with your cream mixture, put the plastic cap on top of the metal cylinder, and then put the motor on top of the plastic bucket. To turn it on you plug in the cord. There is no on/off button, it turns on when you plug it in.

Then start putting ice and salt in the bucket following a layering technique so the rock salt is mixed evenly with the ice. Check back and put more ice & rock salt when the ice level starts to get lower. Depending on temperature and volume, it will take 20-50 minutes to freeze properly.

You now have a couple of choices. You can immediately serve the ice cream (in chilled bowls) and serve it like soft serve. You can leave the unit off, put more ice and salt in the bucket and let the ice cream further harden in the bucket (a good solution if you do not have a fridge available like at a picnic), or scoop the ice cream into individual containers and freeze in the freezer.

My first couple of batches.
This unit is small enough to fit in my sink, which is nice. But it was a little loud and the ice level did need to be monitored. I first made the batch by heating up the cream and applying the ingredients. The directions called for semi-melted sweetened chocolate. I instead guesstimated as to how much coca powder I needed. I came pretty close but added about a tablespoon too much. But that was the only problem with the recipe. Part of the process included tempering the eggs so I did not wind up with scrambled eggs in my ice cream. Then I let it sit in my fridge for a couple of hours to cool before putting The metal cylinder in the bucket.
The ice cream came out really well. Initially the ice cream is like soft serve and has a smooth texture. I prefer it this way. But my family and I couldn’t take on 2 quarts of ice cream (I only did half a batch) so I froze the rest in Ziploc containers. The ice cream was very hard and needed some thawing but the taste and texture was still good. It was also much more like store bought ice cream at that stage.

That was the only time I followed direction (or didn’t follow). The rest of the experiments were purely out of my head. And for the most part they came out very well.

The next time I did some eggnog ice cream. I just used a half-gallon of eggnog, added vanilla, salt, and a couple of eggs. I heated the mixture like before. It came out really well. I froze the extra but it did not freeze well. But that didn’t stop my kids from wanting more the next day.
I have also tried some juice and it worked out well. The result was a frozen slushy type thing.

The ultimate verdict
I recommend this product because it works and makes large batches. So if you are having a large gathering then it is perfect. If you just want to make individual batches then you may want to look elsewhere.
My biggest complaint with this tool is the scraper is not close enough to the side. This means that you will not have a fine crystalline structure like in my old Krups. Instead it will be a creamier/milkier result and this leads to disappointing results when it is frozen in the freezer. I do not like the results so I try to finish the ice cream at the time that I make it.

The noise
It is loud like most ice cream makers. So keep that in mind when you decide the location. You will turn up the radio or television when making your ice cream.

Tips and common complaints
There are two main reasons people do not make good ice cream. The first reason is they do not like the soft serve style. They do not realize that manufacturers freeze their ice cream after they make it. You need to do the same thing with your ice cream if you like that style. I personally like the softer version so I’m fine with it but you do need to eat it immediately after it is done.
Another reason people may not like this style is they use milk instead of cream. Cream will have a much richer taste than milk and makes a world of difference in your final product. Yes it is more expensive and has a higher fat content, but it also tastes a lot better.

My recommendation.
If you need a cheap and high capacity ice cream maker then I recommend this model. It fits both requirements. If you want individual servings then get one of the containers that freeze in the freezer because they are usually smaller. They also save you money on ice and rock salt. I owned one before the beater broke and I think it produces a better product. If you have the money then you may want to check one of those batch freezer units.

Cleaning
Just wash out the saltwater bucket in the sink. The metal cylinder, lid and beater are also easily cleaned in the sink. The process should only take you 2-3 minutes. You could use the dishwasher but the plastic bucket and metal cylinder may be too tall. I just do it by hand.

Durability and concerns.
I have only had this for 6 months now so long term durability cannot be assessed. But with that said, I have had no problems whatsoever since owning it. The only issue is my wife dropped the motor and one of the plastic fan arms broke off inside the motor casing. But it hasn’t affected the performance any.
I am a little concerned with the durability of the bucket. It is a thin plastic bucket that could easily break under the right circumstances. If not treated and stored properly then it will break.
The motor seems pretty good. Even though it is loud, the motor is not straining or groining like a weak motor would.

What I like.
-Large capacity.
-Inexpensive.
-Really works and makes good ice cream.

What I do not like.
-No on/off switch.
-Can’t see the ice cream while it is being made.
-No ingredient spout.
-Cheap feel.
-You have to hassle with salt and ice.
-Doesn’t seem to whip the right amount of air in the ice cream.

Weight and dimensions
Weight: 5 pounds, 3 & 1/8 ounces
Diameter: 11 5/8 inches
Height: 15 1/4 inches
Capacity: 4 quarts

Summary
This is an inexpensive 4-quart ice cream maker. It is relatively easy to use and makes great ice cream to boot. It does use salt and ice so it does not require any pre-freezing containers. The unit is noisy like most ice cream makers. It also has a descent motor. So if you make large amounts of ice cream then this is a good solution. If you only make small amounts for 1-2 servings then you probably want to stick with a 1 quart model.

Other reviews you might be interested in.
OXO ice cream scoop
Ziploc square container, great for storing ice cream in the freezer.