You can get soda and coffee from a vending machine, chips and candy from a vending machine, even egg salad sandwiches and soup from a vending machine. So it was only a matter of time until someone invented a vending machine that dispenses custom made ice cream.
That’s exactly what the folks at MooBella have done. We first heard about their creation when they won a Food Network Award in the category of “Icy Innovations” (a category Turkey Hill hopes to win next year for its work with Duetto).
As far as we can tell, the machine exists only in a few markets in the Boston area, but it’s designed for use just about anywhere—malls, cafeterias, museums, universities, living rooms. It uses a touch-screen (below) and a flash freezing method to create 12 flavors of premium or low-carb ice cream with your choice of several mix-ins.
In movies about the future, this would be one of the crazy inventions the main character uses before strapping on his jet pack and zooming off to work. Except this thing is actually real!
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
Love the chunks of peanut butter
This only causes me to miss those old time soda fountains where you watched as the clerk made your cherry fosphate or those wonderful banana splits. Oh, for the good old days.
That’s a good point Joan. As fun as it might be to make your own ice cream (or push a few buttons and watch a machine make it for you), nothing beats talking with someone who’s making it for you.
Speaking of watching this machine make your ice cream, it would be neat if the front of the machine were glass and you could actually SEE the cream being flash frozen and the flavors mixing together before your eyes.
How does it taste?
The machine is absolutely, Jetson’s cool, but its worth is in the taste. If it’s at all equal to those machines that make coffee, cappucino…there may be work yet to do. However, if I could put one in my living room, or den, I don’t think I could say no, regardless.
Good Luck Turkey Hill with the Food Network competition.
I’m off to Giant Eagle today to look for an ice cream sale, specifically the party cake flavor. My son’s birthday is on Wednesday and our hearts are set on having Turkey Hill Party Cake Ice Cream for the celebration.
Do you think Turkey Hill could someday offer serving size treats in vending machines?
I like it. It’d be fun to try. Especially if the price was right.
I just bought a Feature Flavor called Fried Ice Cream. Way to go Turkey Hill. It is very good.
All it takes is one company to start something, and the rest will follow.
RUTH – To answer your question about whether Turkey Hill might someday sell serving sized treats in vending machines. If the technology is readily available, it’s possible. Vending machines that offer frozen treats (besides the Moobella one) do exist, but haven’t really become widely used in the U.S.
I used to live in the grter Boston area. Can someone out there let me know when we can get these in vermont? Yum, yum, yummy! What a splendid idea!
Pretty neat invention. And Martie, Fried Ice Cream is really good isn’t it? It reminds me of fried ice cream and of a snickerdoodle.
JUST WANTED TO SAY I RECEIVED MY COUPONS IN THE MAIL TODAY AND WAS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED….GIANT EAGLE HAS TURKEY HILL THIS WEEK 4/$10.00 and I AM GOING TO USE ALL MY COUPONS AND STOCK UP MY FREEZER….CAN’T WAIT TO TRY MOOSE TRACKS AND MANGO DUETTO…..LOVE ALL THE OTHER FLAVORS OF THE DUETTO AND TRIED BANANA SPLIT AND THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT……WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK OF THE MOOSE TRACKS
Just wanted to say that the Mango Duetto will definitely be a hands down winner with the Food Networks contest for icy innovations. I buy a carton a week ever since I tried it. I’m hooked on that flavor. (My husband feels the same way about the chocolate Moosetracks.) We haven’t bought any other brand of ice cream this summer, because no other brand comes close to Turkey Hill.
I agree that the mango duetto is abolutely perfect for summertime! I would go to 10 different stores if I had to just to get it there is no replacement for it.
With all the good comments on duetto I will try it.
Would be nice to have had a machine in the school lunch room.
I have been purchasing Turkey Hill Ice Cream, Sherbets and Iced teas for quite sometime now because these products are the best out there. I have not had the opportunity to try the Mango Duetto yet, as my nearby grocery store hasn’t stocked it yet. I have requested it so let’s see what happens. If not, I did just notice that I can order it directly! That is awesome! Thanks Turkey Hill!!!
Not for me. Reminds me of the hot drink machines which despensed hot water with powered coffee, tea or hot chocolate and you got part of the last purchase. This looks like you get a basic icecream with the flavor and extras added when bought thus poor quality control.
I love ice cream in any way, shape, or form so the machine would be fine with me. However, my very favorite ice cream of all is Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter. I am not sure I am calling it the right thing because the package doesn’t sit around long here. I even heard the ice cream calling me at 3AM and I got up to eat some right our of the carton. My daughter introduced me to this flavor and I said Ugh till I tasted it. I can’t get enough. I am glad my daughter grew up and moved out!
Go Turkey Hill go, the Best Ice Cream and Teas out there.
Carm Hodgins
I have to cast my vote for all the Duetto flavors–they are excellent and I love that they are low fat too.
I’m curious about this Fried Ice Cream flavor–I’d love to try it. Is it available at all stores? If not, where can I get it?
I am happy that Turkey Hill Dairy was “invented” and/or “created” so long ago and still exists today to make a lot of people happy. I will hope and pray that Turkey Hill Dairy’s “Duetto” will win the Food Network Award next year. Nonetheless, if they do not win I will still be happy to have Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream in my life. Thanks Turkey Hill Dairy.
i love the chocolate penutbutter but live in north texas and can’t get it here. I really miss it
Wowwww..this machine would be great at a campsite. When we were much younger we always went camping. We had to go into town for ice cream or donuts. I’ll take my Turkey Hill. I was at Giant Eagle and picked up French Vanilla, Moose Tracks, Black Raspberry, Choco Mint, and the very last carton of German Choc.Cake – YEAH! I’ll have to go back before the sale is over to get the Mango Duetto. We liked Lemon and Raspberry –but not the Cherry. I was surprised because I like most anything Cherry. I’m sure I’ll pick up some others also. Thank goodness my new side by side came Wed. LOTS OF FREEZER SPACE-LOL!!
Wow! Ice cream any time, any place! Would be fabulous. But could be dangerous – unless I only eat lowfat lowcal!
The Chocolate Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Cup that you guys are talking about is awesome. As for the Duettos, I prefer the cherry one.
Fried Ice Cream was the feature flavor for May, so it’s probably getting pretty scarce now. I bought one on July 4 and there were only three left. I’ve not been able to find the German Chocolate Cake which was the feature flavor for June, but my options are limited- I live in the NC Piedmont and have to drive into southern Virginia to find any Turkey Hill.
going to visit maine next month,must have moose tracks.
I’m saving my quarters for when it has Turkey Hill STrawberry Cheesecake in it!
It also reminds me of the Jetsons. One of many cartoons I used to watch. Funny how I try my best not to let my kids watch cartoons but I was glued to them. Well the one thing I love to share with my children is my love for ice cream. One night last week (well past bed time – my twins, my husband, and I – were watching the food network and eating Turkey Hill Ice Cream. Welll at least the 2 year old was asleep.
If this was a Turkey Hill machine, I might be tempted to try it. I’m particular about my ice cream and if I saw this machine, I would probably pass it up in favor of an ice cream shop or the grocery store (where I could get Turkey Hill!!)
It’s almost like their version of the slushie but more frozen. Might make a killing if installed in theme parks.
Now that’s innovation! Complete with mix-ins, too. Love the idea and hope it catches on in the rest of the NE…and beyond! I wonder what the prices are like.
Seems like a great idea, but I agree with the other posters – if its at all like the coffee vending machines, I think I’ll pass. I guess it would depend on who’s ice cream is actually in it… (hint! hint!).
Good luck with Food Network and Duetto. I was very reluctant to buy that instead of my fav (moose tracks) but is was VERY good. So refreshing!
We will be watching for these machines! Like the idea of one for the living room!!!
What a great idea.
I would love to see this come to my area soon.
I like almonds and cherries on my ice cream.
I’m not sure this belongs on the blog but I just recieved the email thanking us (the ice cream eaters). As part of the email it mentioned that the actual day of celebration for National Ice Cream Month is Sunday July 15th. That’s my birthday. No wonder I’m such an ice cream lover!
Yahoo! Happy National Ice Cream Day (like we need a special occasion to have a big bowl of Turkey Hill). May have to make it two big bowls on Sunday. An ice cream machine could be trouble for me.
I read in a newspaper once (the article was about suggestions for inventions) that we should sell things in serving sizes.
I’m going to Boston this month-I’ll have to try it!
My grandmother has to watch her weight, and when I was up there, she had Skinny Cow stuff (mint chocolate of course). You’ve got a bit of competition, TH! I like it, but not as much as yours.
Happy birthday, Karen!!
Good luck with winning with Duetto. I got my coupons, so this is my chance to try it.
Crazy Mint Chocolate Chip lovers unite!!!!!
I love ice cream. I think that is downright sexy. Ice cream should be available on demand. It is the best food invention ever.
I love this idea! Especially if it has Duetto’s in it!!!!
Wow! This is amazing. But, this might be my demise! That is all I need, an easily accessible (And amazingly tasty) Turkey Hill Vending Machine! Bring on the middle of the work day treat!
Come on Turkey Hill design one of your own
Just think a Peanut Butter Ripple sandwich……………..
Or a Pranut butter sundae…………..
I’d buy!!!!
Ann
I love this idea. I so want to work for them. YUMMMY. Great idea for the ice cream world!
My husband and I have high cholesterol but both love ice cream. We enjoy Turkey Hill fat free. We mostly buy Neaplitan (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry). That gives us variety. But I would love to see more flavors in fat free. Is it possible to make the taste richer without adding extra sugar? I believe there are a lot of people like us who worry about triglycerides and cholesterol but still want to enjoy ice cream.
Happy early birthday Karen! Ice Cream Day falls on the third Sunday of each July, so you lucked out with it falling on your birthday this year.
Now you have an excuse to eat lots of cake AND lots of ice cream!
OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT ONE!!!!!! I want some right now!!!!!!! That is the most beautiful machine I’ve ever seen!! I’m sooooo excited now!!! What an amazing invention!! I’m Lactose intolerant, but I buy lactaid by the bundles to ensure I get to enjoy my Turkey Hill goodness!!!
This is amazing! I really wish we had these locally!
What an incredible idea! I would just love to have one of these nearby. The only thing that would make it better would be to use Turkey Hill ice cream in the machine!!!
How about an impromptu group that drives around in a couple of vans to pick up friends (who may not at all be aware of the significance of the day) and take the group to converge enmass on the local ice cream parlor (while wearing party hats, etc., of course, that have been provided by the instigators of the celebration!)
awesome idea! i’m sure it would do well in the DC area…
I love the idea of being able to buy locally produced ice cream through a vending machine!
YES!!!!!!!!!!! This is the mid point of Ice Cream Week and I will observe it with a hug dish of Moose Tracks this evening after our cookout. Ice cream is one of the All Americam standards and I enjoy it 12 months out of the year. I am a loyal Turkey Hill buyer and love the large assortment of flavors. There is nothing better than Turkey Hill on a hot summer afternoon. It really cools and refreshs me. Thanks Turkey Hill, You are the best.
grandchildren were in last night—-naturally wanted icecream—they were thrilled to have their choice of cherry, black cherry, banana splint or peach cream, love the 4 for 10.00 sale.
joan w.
Mango Duetto is the best summer treat!
It’s bad enough I can’t control my ice cream consumption at home….I don’t need the convenient temptations of ice- cream-laden vending machines in my pedestrian life.
This is WONDERFUL. I’d love to see one locally with Turkey Hill!
I love some of the flavors you can choose from this machine, especially the Cake Batter flavor. That is my favorite type of ice cream. I’m practically addicted to Turkey Hill’s Party Cake Ice Cream and I know I would be addicted to getting Cake Batter mixed in with candy as well.
I can’t find turkey hill in my area
This machine is a great idea!
This machine is a great idea and I would like one for my home.
Wouldn’t that make a great addition to a movie/game room?!
Hmmm…. I can’t immediately think of anywhere you could put this machine that there’s not already a Turkey Hill located somewhere nearby… that’s why it’s called a “convenience” store.
And I have to agree with the comment about seeing someone mix your mix-ins live and in person, or having a glass-front on the machine so you can see it happening. But it sounds a bit technical… and maybe wouldn’t be cost-effective. Turkey Hill ice creams taste great, but I gotta be honest – low-cost it part of what makes it so enjoyable!
This looks too good to be true. My husband and kids would be in heaven. Right now the only machine I knew about was dippin dots but those don’t intest me. If a machine like this were available for home installation I’d be in trouble.
duetto, wow 2 of my most favorites, soft ice cream and form of water ice. still miss muddy sneakers, my all time favorite. i would buy it and fill my freezer with as much as i could get in there. i was addicted. would love to try fried ice cream.good work
i am a bona fide ice cream lover, especially turkey hill, the machine would be great if you would watch the mix that you choose. but would store, other than convenience be interested in using it, your ice cream is everywhere, and to take it home and have when you want still appeals to me.but i would also buy from the machine if available.
I love icecream! This tour in Lancaster county, is this the lancaster county in NE?
Eureka…this is exactly what our PTA have been looking to put in our school. How do we get one of these?