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Rival White Mountain 6-Quart F69206-X

*Est. $240

Reviewed

April 2011

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

6-quart capacity
Minimizes ice crystals
Nostalgic feel

Cons

Noisy operation
Requires lots of ice and salt
Can be messy to use
Many reports of quality-control problems

Where to Buy

for $249.99

Our Analysis
Specs
285 Amazon Reviews

Owners praise the White Mountain F69206-X electric ice cream maker for making 6 quarts at a time, though this requires 10 pounds of ice in addition to rock salt. Reviewers say this old-fashioned wooden ice cream maker produced by Rival is best used outdoors, or at least near a drain (since it can create a messy runoff). While users say it can be noisy, they also claim the ice cream making process is fun. That said, we found a slew of complaints dating from 2009 and beyond reporting malfunctioning motors, metal shavings in the ice cream and leaky buckets. Another drawback: Over time, the salt and moisture can also cause the metal parts on this unit to rust. Reviewers say you'll get better results -- and spend less money -- on the Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Ice Cream Maker (*Est. $40).

We found no professional tests of the White Mountain F69206-X, but nearly 215 owners rate and review it at Amazon.com, and about a dozen reviews are available on both Viewpoints.com and Epinions.com. These reviews are especially helpful because owners can discuss how the model holds up over time.

Hamilton Beach 68330R 4-Quart Automatic Ice-Cream Maker

from Amazon.com

New: $32.99 $24.41

In Stock.

Average Customer Review:

Our Sources

1. Amazon.com

Nearly 215 people give the White Mountain F69206-X an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 here. Owners like the large quantity of ice cream this machine makes but complain about its noise. Looking at recent reviews, complaints of malfunctioning parts and faulty motors far outweigh praise on this model since about 2009.

Review: White Mountain F69206-X 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Freezer, Contributors to Amazon.com

2. About.com

About.com's guide to housewares, Mariette Mifflin, includes this short article on the White Mountain Traditional Electric 4-Qt. Ice Cream Maker. However, there's no mention of any testing, and it's not even clear if Mifflin has used this machine at all. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: White Mountain Traditional Electric 4 Qt. Ice Cream Maker Model F69204, Mariette Mifflin

3. Viewpoints.com

About a dozen owners review the White Mountain 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker, where feedback is more positive. Here it has an average rating of 4.58 stars out of 5, with many owners appreciating the ability to make a large quantity of ice cream.

Review: White Mountain 6-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker, Contributors to Viewpoints.com

4. Epinions.com

Just over 10 owners contribute to an average rating of 3 stars out of 5. Similar to feedback found on other consumer-review sites, there are numerous complaints of poor quality, but a few owners say it's fun to use.

Review: White Mountain F69206-X Ice Cream Maker, Contributors to Epinions.com

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