Cathy, I have just one word for you... ENABLER! You bad bad girl! Guess what followed me home from Aldi this morning? Yep, this ice cream maker. I was given a lovely brown vintage Waring years ago by a friend when she moved (the same one that is staying with me now actually), but the lid cracked and I had to make an ugly repair with something called plastic surgery. It also requires lots of ice and salt and that's just too much to mess with, and I hate buying that stuff every time I want to make ice cream! I never use the thing because of that! I've long wanted one with the freezable container... ever since the Cuisinarts first came out. I debated hard about buying this, but went back in after buying and loading groceries into the car... I just couldn't resist for 20 dollars. I thought about waiting, but I know Aldi.... once they are gone, they are gone, and may never come back. I plugged it in to hear the motor, and it doesn't seem very powerful, but maybe it doesn't need to be. I love the ingredient fill hole... just hope cat hair doesn't fly in when I'm making ice cream! I'll report back after I use it. Thanks Cathy!

This isn't going to help you decide because mine is an antique and was free! I've had a couple Rivals over the years. Gave them to friends... VERY LOUD. I have a Waring right now that a friend gave me... made I think back in the 70's. I think it only has a 2 quart capacity, and I cracked the lid and had to seal it up with plastic weld... looks terrible but the lids are impossible to find since they haven't made that machine in eons. It is the kind that uses the rock salt and ice with a thin aluminum can and a dasher in the middle. I thought about the Cuisinart before, but I would hate to have to freeze the canister. I would forget... I tend to do things last minute. I was also intrigued by the KA stand mixer attachment, but I think it has to be pre-frozen as well. Dealing with salt and ice is very annoying! I found one on Ebay a few weeks ago that had a wooden barrel and a choice of an electric motor or a hand crank top. I wanted it sooooo badly, but couldn't justify it because the Waring still works. Please let us know what you get! I've also seen the ice cream "balls" that you fill with ice cream ingredients and toss back and forth. Anyone have experience with these?

Michelle, I'm glad it finally froze! When I use mine, as soon as I take the ice cream out and pack it in another container and put it in the freezer, I rinse out the canister with cold water, and shake it off (drying it will result in bits of lint freezing to the sides). I then put it in a plastic bag and right back into the chest freezer. Don't even be tempted to try to make a second batch of ice cream before it refreezes overnight. Lee

I bought one extra one because I would get free shipping, and the shipping was close to the cost of another $15 ice cream maker. Might as well get something for the $$. \ The Kohl's card gave you free shipping and another $1.75 off, or something like that. I don't have a Kohl charge card either, but it was still a good deal at $15.