Ours is great, Amy, because you just keep the little bowls in the freezer until you're ready and then you can have ice cream in 30 minutes!!! I sound like a Cuisinart commercial and I could probably do one for them now!! I'm sold!! No more rock salt, no more ice........even though the days of churning ice cream outside are some of my fondest memories. For today's lifestyle, this is a terrific thing! And all thanks to my good Pet Talk friend who sent it!!!