LelloMusso Pola 5030 Dessert Maker Silver, 2 Quart

Got the machine last week. The first time I used it I made two batches and then last night made 6. The machine freezes very fast, twenty minutes seems typical. Some small batches with the bowl pre-chilled around 10. Made a batch of frozen daiquiri, which took a bit longer. I am very happy with the time to freeze.Also the ice cream and sorbets are very smooth. With recipies as simple as blended fruit and a little syrup (Raw Agave) the ice crystals are very fine and the texture smoother than many other sorbets I have made. The machine has enough torque to freeze these very solid, which greatly helps with keeping them spoonable after storing overnight in the freezer.As for the cleaning some people have complained that the unit is tough to clean because the bowl is not removable. I have not had any problems and can clean it in a couple of minutes. It is easiest if you let it warm up for five or ten minutes before hand but a wet kitchen towel (warm) or some papertowels wipe it clean in two or three passes. The integrated bowl has no seams or crevices so it wipes out easily. As an engineer this really seems like a superior design even if it is not something that can be thrown into the dishwasher. The only trick to cleaning is to use a larger towel that doesn't need rinsed as often as a sponge, which was a bit tedious. I have had no problem turning it around for a second batch in less than five minutes.The only problem I had was the first unit I received would not cool. I suspect it was shipping related and Amazon returns had a new unit on my doorstep within 48 hours and offered to reimburse for the return shipping on the defective unit. While somewhat annoying as I was excited about trying the new unit out, I was very pleased with the hassle free experience dealing with Amazon customer service / returns.In summary the machine is expensive, but if you want or need a fast, high-end machine that produces excellent ice cream and sorbets then don't hesitate. This machine is solid. Everyone who has come over to help try it out is amazed by the speed, low level of noise and the quality of the end result.

The Lello Musso Pola Ice Cream Machine is a high-quality two quart capacity electric ice cream machine made in Italy. This is a commercial machine–it can make up to six quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, sherbet, or sorbet per hour. The dimensions of the machine are 12 1/4 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 14 inches deep. The unit weighs 66 pounds.The machine has an all stainless steel construction including the blade in the mixing bowl. There is a clear plastic lid used so you can see the ice cream being made–this lid does not come in contact with the ice cream. Note that the bowl is not removable. This is actually not an issue–to clean up, simply unscrew the steel locking nut and remove the blade. Then add some hot water to the bowl, mop with a sponge, and repeat a few times until clean, then dry with a towel.The operation of the machine is very simple–pour the cream mixture into the bowl with the blade, turn the timer to the desired time, then turn on the Churn and Chill switches. The timer is mechanical and emits a light tick-tick as it counts down the time until you can enjoy your delicious dessert. The blade rotates only when the timer has been set and the Churn switch has been turned on. Turning the Chill switch off 3-4 minutes prior to your ice cream is ready can help in the removal of your dessert. The machine comes with a plastic spatula that will not scratch the machine’s finish.Since operating the machine is so simple, most of the instruction manual actually contains recipes for ice creams, sorbets, sherbets, and frozen yogurts. In addition, there are recipes for sauces you can serve over your frozen desserts as well as frozen drinks recipes–who knew you could make frozen margaritas in your ice cream machine? The length of time it takes to make the desserts depends on the temperature of the cream and the room you are making the ice cream in, but from my experience freezing usually takes 20-30 minutes. In operation the machine is surprisingly quiet though I would be sure to leave room behind the machine so it can vent excess warm air.All in all I am very happy with the Lello Musso Pola Ice Cream Machine. I never dreamed making ice cream was this easy–this high-quality machine is dependable, easy to use, and as far as I can tell will last a very long time. I’ve made weekly batches since owning the machine. The best part is that you can customize the dessert recipes according to your own taste preferences. So if you want the ability to make a lot of delicious ice creams, frozen yogurts, sherbets, gelatos, and sorbets (and frozen drinks!) at home (or to sell in your ice cream shop), this machine is definitely worth the price.