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Step 1
Assess how much ice cream you'll need to make at a time. If you have a large family you'll need an ice cream maker that makes at least a quart and a half to 2 quarts at a time. Anything less and you will not have enough to satisfy the ice cream vultures that are sure to flock.
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Step 2
Determine how much manual work you or your kids want to do. The old fashioned hand crank style makers are still for sale in some stores and online if you want that retro feel. If you're not into nostalgia, there are also electric models as well, but there is a drawback: Because of the work it takes to make ice cream and the load on the motor, the motors have a tendency to burn out.
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Step 3
Locate reviews for several different makes, models and brands. Get a feel for what a particular model will and won't do, and also get a cost comparison from several different retailers. You can even get a feel of the reliability of some models.
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Step 4
Call a few retailers and see what they have in stock. This is one of those items that is not stocked year-round in most stores, so if you're shopping off-season you may not find what you are looking for by just stopping in.
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Step 5
Stop at the store and check out the selection. It's always a good idea when making an investment to go and look at the actual item. See if it has a heavy-duty mixing blade. Check out the freezer bowl, and, if the retailer lets you, plug it in and check out the motor. You also may want to check where it was manufactured, which is sometimes a good indicator of quality.
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Step 6
Take your purchase home and enjoy. Most ice cream makers also make frozen drinks, frozen yogurt and sorbet as well.
