This is so much easier and faster than the old fashioned hand crank makers. The speed, ease and quality of the machine probably deserve five stars. The only minor problem I've had with it is that even when following the recipes exactly, it will tend to overflow a little at the end. It's not a big deal, but put it where a little bit of a mess won't hurt. You can certainly eat the ice cream as soon as it's done but for my taste, it's better after a few hours in the freezer.