We tried the ice cream maker you'll want this summer

Mums, dads, sweet tooths, gym junkies and kids unite, the verdict is in: Tefal's Dolci frozen dessert maker is the perfect kitchen appliance to beat the heat this summer.

This 10-in-1 powerhouse is clearly Tefal's direct challenge to the popular Ninja Creami, and as a first-time user of an ice cream maker, I was genuinely impressed by the easy results.

I've spent a bit of time with the Dolci, so here are my honest thoughts on why this is the definitive lifestyle upgrade for summer.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

Tefal Dolci at a glance...

Now available for $349.95

Pros: Ten different presets, provided digital catalogue with 50+ recipes, easy to use and clean, creates great textured frozen desserts

Cons: Rinse function is not the best, and the machine sounds like a jet plane taking off

Who's it for?: Anyone and everyone

What we tried during our hands-on testing

Getting started with the Dolci's ten different programs (six scoopable, four drinkable) was surprisingly simple, even as a first-time user. Here's a breakdown of the frozen treats we created:

• Chocolate ice cream: This was perfectly creamy, dense, and smooth in a single cycle. A fan favourite, but it took more effort than the other presets.
• Mango sorbet: Fantastic and worked easily with zero icy crystallisation. The texture was smooth, light, and bright, proving the machine handles sticky fruit bases effortlessly.
• Slushie: The beverage of choice was Pasitos; it tasted great and was an extremely refreshing slushie. A must-try for summer entertaining, and perfect for those heatwave days.
• Light ice cream: Worked well and maintained a smooth, scoopable texture, although the taste was a bit bland.
• Frozen yoghurt: This quickly became my go-to morning treat and post-gym snack. I often blended my usual protein smoothies and ran them on this preset. The biggest wobble is trying to achieve a smooth, silky base; a second spin cycle was always required for the right texture (no biggie, as it tasted great). The mix-in function worked fantastically with some delicious maple flakes.
• Milkshake: I tried making an Oreo milkshake from the recipe book, and failed terribly, so I won't even bother to show a photo. If I want a milkshake, I think I'll stick with a blender and use some homemade ice cream now.

Having proven the Dolci delivers on taste and texture, the next question is: what makes this better than other machines?

So why the Dolci over other machines?

Tefal engineered the machine to solve the biggest headaches of at-home frozen desserts, and honestly, the features held up really well.

• Great versatility: With up to ten dedicated programs (including milkshakes, sorbet, cocktails, etc.), and a function to mix in toppings.
• 1-step perfector technology: Perfect texture on first spin for *most* recipes.
• Auto-rinsing cleaning: A self-cleaning program that cleans up *most* of the mess, with accessible parts that make finishing the cleaning super easy.
• Built for hosting: Includes three 500mL bowls, a plastic scoop spoon and comes with three 250g Nesquik tins.

Just note, it's recommended you freeze your sweet treats for 24 hours before running the programs in the machine.

Our honest cons

No review is complete without balance, and we did find four honest drawbacks during our testing.

1. The one spin caveat: The primary selling point of this perfect technology was not universally true on the six programs I tried.
2. Turbo jet plane noise levels: The Dolci is unbearably loud when running, to which I was reminded, "it's churning through solid ice". Touché.
3. Mediocre rinse: As noted, the auto-rinse function is a helper, not a substitute for washing. Manage your expectations here, as it handles the major clean-up, but the final wipe-down and wash is still necessary after.
4. Extra parts: Sorry Tefal, I used a Ninja Blender to help me create my smoothie and açai bowls. I highly recommend the same, but that means extra cost.

So what's the final verdict?

The Tefal Dolci is a versatile and easy-to-use frozen dessert maker that delivers on its promise of great texture, especially for ice cream and sorbet. For families and serious dessert connoisseurs, the ten programs, digital recipe book, rinse program, and three bowls make it great fun and good value for $349.

If you're looking for the ultimate kitchen appliance to beat the Aussie summer heat, the Dolci is a clear winner to have on your kitchen bench this summer. If we still haven't convinced you, be sure to check back as we'll update this article once we've tried all programs. We've still got lots of ice cream to get through.

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