Dont even bother

We got this for a Christmas gift last year.Used it twice.Never again.Very time consuming prep work,requiring pre-cooking of ingredients,then you have to let liquid ingredients cool down before starting...NOT TO MENTION freezing the mixing unit bowl the day before.So basically it takes two days to make icecream!Then once you actually get it going,your lucky if it all doesnt freeze up on you,causing the mixing mechanismn to come to a complete halt.I found this machine very fustrating to use,too time comsuming with the prep work,expensive to buy ingredients,a horror to assemble,and an absolute nightmare to clean.I do not recommend this to anyone,I do recommend you going down to your local ice cream parlor and supporting their establishment by buying your frozen treats there!Do not bother with this machine.A wonderful idea,but not worth the aggrivation.