New York, NY, May 1st, 2008 – Hammacher Schlemmer announces the selection of the Best Ice Cream Maker, proven to be superior to a field of leading candidates after tests by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute for the quality of ice cream it produced, ease of use, and features.

“Since its inception in 1983, the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute has been committed to testing consumer products and determining which are the best,” explained Fred Berns, President of the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute.

The Best Ice Cream Maker’s specially designed paddle quickly whipped air into the ingredients for cookies ’n cream, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, resulting in velvety smooth, rich frozen desserts that were far superior to the dense, ice crystal-laden confection produced by lesser models.

Unlike other models’ ice cream that was described by panelists as “gummy” with “little-to-no taste”, the Best Ice Cream Maker was lauded for producing ice cream with a creaminess, texture, and flavor that are the hallmarks of professionally made ice cream.

While other units require the priming of the mixing bowl in the freezer for 24 hours, the Best Ice Cream Maker’s internal freezing mechanism automatically chills the mixing canister to -4º F in minutes, eliminating extended preparation and allowing you to make 1½-quarts of ice cream every 30 minutes.

“Because of its integrated freezer, the Best Ice Cream Maker can make consecutive batches without stopping to refreeze the mixing bowl,” explained Product Analyst Jaclyn Gragnani. “This feature allows users to make 1½-quarts of chocolate and 1½-quarts of vanilla in one hour.”

None of the other units recorded higher scores for features; the 25-watt motor crushes chocolate chips and cookies, and the unit comes with 55 recipes for ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and more. The Best Ice Cream Maker’s stainless steel housing wipes clean, and it is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $699.95. For more information, please visit www.hammacher.com or call 1-800-543-3366.

About Hammacher Schlemmer
Hammacher Schlemmer is America’s longest running catalog, offering the Best, the Only, and the Unexpected since 1848. The company provides unique products that solve problems or represent the only one of their kind, and backs its products by a rather famous Lifetime Guarantee of Complete Satisfaction. Hammacher Schlemmer’s innovative offerings are available through its catalog, online at www.hammacher.com, and at its landmark store on East 57th Street in New York City.