anyone try an ice cream machine for stirring maple cream?

[wagnerppw]

OK, I've been mostly lurking on mapletrader.com for over a year now. Getting lots and lots of great advice, ideas and tips just from reading. This is our first year striking out on our own making syrup. My wife grew up with it and I was introduced into it when I married her. Anyway - we built our own sap house this summer and fall and have had 3 boils resulting in super light syrup. We want to try to make cream out of some if it. My wife's family has one of those nifty commercial cream machines and a 3 pan cooling station. We have to be more resourceful and the kitchen aid mixer is NOT an option (as we've read on many a post). Has anyone every tried using an ice cream machine? Could even put the cream in there to cool with ice water and rock salt. Although I do like the in the freezer overnight idea for cooling too.

PS - We're both having a blast so far!

[bigtreemaple]

Yes I did make maple cream on a ice cream freezer machine. It will work but it ruins the motors in a short time I killed two of them doing it, but you can make it work until they burn out or the gears strip.

[wagnerppw]

I wondered if the hand crank one would work. We did make cream last night. Used a nice light medium amber - a little over a pint. Cooled it in an ice water bath in the sink and then stirred by hand. It came out awesome. Smooth, creamy and thick. At first we didn't think we stirred it quite long enough but it set up great. Can't imagine stirring a bigger batch by hand though!

[CBOYER]

Try a clean bench press drill, with a new gypsum/paint mixer.

[woodshillmaple]

We have used an ice cream maker to make cream before but the type that turns the drum and not the paddle works better. It is too much as it thickens to turn the paddle.

[maple marc]

Wagner,

A standard Kitchen Aid will handle up to a third of a gallon, but don't push it too hard. Use the wisk to speed it along. I have used it extensively. Now I have my hands on a big commercial job and I can do a gallon at a time. Still would like a gear machine, and thought about building one. Good luck and keep us posted.

Marc

[wagnerppw]

Thanks for the info Marc. Good to know that we can put smaller amounts in the kitchenaid. I would go into a deep dark depression if we burned out the motor (yes, wife currently posting - we share ). We've been researching to make our own "commercial/homemade" machine. At first we were thinking the gear pump style - looks awesome, but components seem a little expensive. But after our great results from stirring by hand we're thinking the more traditional machine. Looking for a motor. Tractor Supply has some stainless pet bowls that would work great as pans and we found some nice heavy wooden paddles on a restaurant supply website. Looks like the motor would be the only high cost item. If we get it together I'll post.