With Memorial Day behind and temperatures rising, kitchen shops around the city report a noticeable uptick in ice cream maker sales. Staff at Whisk in Williamsburg say they've restocked small-batch machines twice since last Friday. The surge comes as home cooks look for ways to bring summer treats indoors, especially with local schools set to let out next month.
Manufacturers have responded with quieter, more compact models. At the Broadway Bed Bath & Beyond, a floor manager pointed to a Cuisinart model now priced at $79.99, down $20 from last season. Shoppers on Sunday afternoon weighed the merits of built-in compressors versus freezer-bowl designs, with some citing space as a deciding factor.
Recipes circulating on social media this week favor fruit-forward flavors. A customer at Sahadi’s on Atlantic Avenue mentioned plans for a sour cherry sorbet, using the first market haul from Union Square Greenmarket. Several buyers said they plan to avoid artificial stabilizers by churning at home.
Industry reviewers have published new roundups, noting ease of cleaning and batch size as key factors. One local food writer said she made over 30 pints in various machines before naming a favorite. The consensus among staff and shoppers: simplicity and quick results matter most during the short New York summer.
With street festivals and backyard gatherings on the horizon, retailers expect demand for home ice cream makers to hold steady through July.