Best Ice Cream Makers

Review & Comparison, Last Update August 17, 2024
Homemade ice cream is a real cold pleasure that tastes awesome! With a high-quality ice cream maker, you can make exceptionally ...Read more
PROS

Whynter ice cream maker is ready for use in 2-3 min after startup. Hence, you don't have to pre-freeze a bowl or add ice by yourself. The Extended Cooling function prevents the mixture from melting.

CONS
Despite a fairly large size, this Gelato ice cream maker has a rather small churning bowl.
OUR VERDICT

The Whynter fully automatic ice cream maker allows for making ice cream and other delicious frozen desserts any time without unnecessary intervention in the cooking process. This superb ice cream maker is ideal for dinner parties at home.

detailed parameters
Operation Principle
Fully automatic
Cooking
Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen beverages
Freeze Method
Сompressor Freezer
Freezing Time
30-60 minutes
Bowl capacity
2.1 quarts
Convenience
Built-in audible timer, Temperature display, Ice cream scoop, Recipe book included
Material
Stainless steel body, Removable stainless steel bowl, Plastic lid
Weight

25 pounds

Warranty

1 year limited

PROS

This model comes with an ice cream paddle and patent-pending gelato/sorbet paddle. With the first one, you can create soft and smooth ice cream or yogurt, while the second one gives richly-textured results with intense flavor.

CONS

The recipes that come with the machine are rather complicated. 

OUR VERDICT

This fully automatic Cuisinart ICE-100 ice cream and gelato maker will quickly create your favorite frozen treats batch after batch. In only 10-60 minutes, you'll be able to enjoy a tasty homemade ice cream, sorbet, or gelato without leaving the comforts of your home. 

detailed parameters
Operation Principle

Fully automatic

Cooking

Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen beverages

Freeze Method

Compressor Freezer

Freezing Time

10 - 60 minutes

Bowl capacity

1.5 quarts

Convenience

2 mixing paddles, 10-minute keep cool feature, Built-in audible timer, Touchpad control panel with LCD readout, Sturdy base, Recipe book

Material

Stainless steel body with plastic parts, Removable stainless steel bowl with lift-out handle, Plastic lid

Weight

32 pounds

Warranty

3 years limited

PROS

The machine is fitted with a see-through lid allowing you to watch the process and check the consistency of ice cream whenever you want.

CONS

The bucket is made from aluminum that's not very durable.

OUR VERDICT

The Nostalgia ICMP400WD is a unique machine that looks very expensive and classy. It has a capacious bucket and is able to serve quite a lot of ice cream per one go. If you often host parties and seek a machine to surprise your guests, it's a good pick.

detailed parameters
Operation Principle

Semi-automatic

Cooking

Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato 

Freeze Method

Salt and Ice

Freezing Time

20-30 minutes

Bowl capacity

4 quarts

Convenience

See-thru lid, Locking motor, Recipes included in manual

Material

Real wood construction with plastic liner, Aluminum bowl, Plastic lid cap

Weight

7.75 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS
Owing to a metal housing, a double insulated freezer bowl keeps frozen liquids longer. Thus, making large amounts of delicious homemade ice cream for the whole family is easier than you'd think.
CONS
The upper plastic protective lid is rather fragile, so be careful and don't drop it while cleaning.
OUR VERDICT

Making outstanding desserts is easy as pie if you use this fantastic ice cream maker. Don't deprive yourself of the opportunity to make delicious frozen desserts right at home instead of buying them in the supermarket, and save your money.

detailed parameters
Operation Principle
Semi-automatic
Cooking
Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen beverages
Freeze Method
Freezer Bowl
Freezing Time
20-25 minutes
Bowl capacity
2 quarts
Convenience
Rubber Feet, Cord storage, Easy-lock transparent lid with a large ingredient spout for adding mix-ins, Recipe book included
Material
Brushed metal housing, Double insulated stainless steel bowl, Plastic lid
Weight

13.5 pounds

Warranty

3 years limited

PROS

The appliance is available not only in classic white and light gray but also in vibrant pink and red designs to suit any interior.

CONS
It has a rather small bowl capacity.
OUR VERDICT

If you're looking for a compact and affordable ice maker, the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 hits the sweet spot. It deftly combines portability and versatility. Plus, it can make delicious homemade ice cream and various frozen desserts for small families.

detailed parameters
Operation Principle
Semi-automatic
Cooking
Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen beverages
Freeze Method
Freezer Bowl
Freezing Time
20 minutes or less
Bowl capacity

1.5 quarts

Convenience
Rubber Feet, Cord storage, Easy-lock transparent lid with a large spout (to add ingredients when in use), Recipe book included
Material
Plastic body, Removable stainless steel bowl, Plastic lid
Weight
9 pounds
Warranty

3 years limited

Fully Automatic

At a glance, it becomes obvious that the Whynter fully automatic ice cream maker is a premium machine. Unlike many other models out there, it's made of heavy-duty stainless steel material rather than plastic. Thus, it surely looks much more professional and sleeker. Yet, not only appearance makes it stand out from the crowd.

The Whynter ice cream maker is fitted with a powerful built-in refrigeration unit, which works like a traditional freezer, allowing you to make delectable frozen desserts any time without additional preparation prior to cooking. That is to say, you won't need to hassle with pre-freezing of the mixing bowl. Just set it and forget it.

The Whynter ice cream maker generally requires about 30-60 minutes to pre-freeze the bowl for making ice cream or other scrumptious frozen desserts. Another advantage of this electric ice cream maker is that you can make one batch of ice cream after another almost immediately, spending little to no time on waiting. So, even though the capacity of the stainless steel bowl isn't big, capping at 2.1-quart, which is enough for 2-4 people, nothing will stop you from making a new batch in a short while.

Smart Design

This model is quite easy to operate - it comes with a soft-touch LCD control panel with 5 buttons that include a timer button, start/pause button, menu button, and ON/OFF switch. The machine allows you to choose Ice cream mode, Cooling-only mode, or Mixing-only mode, as well as adjusting the temperature from -0.4ºF to -31ºF. This way, you'll be able to choose the ideal consistency of your ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt.

Lastly, we would like to mention that the Whynter ice cream maker boasts a large number of helpful functions. We won't list all of them though, but mention only those that are the most remarkable. One such function is Motor Protection which tracks the process of ice making and when the mixture becomes too solid, automatically switches the device off to prevent its motor from failure or overheating. Another function is Extended Cooling - this one allows keeping the ice cold for longer, preventing it from melting too fast.

All this makes the Whynter ICM-200LS one of the best offerings on the market today. It lets you make delicious homemade ice cream that you can fully customize to your taste. With that, it's incredibly easy to use and requires no pre-freezing.

Last updated price $265.84
Stock In stock
ASIN B00N63J432

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Features(4.5)

I've experimented with french-style (egg- yolk based) recipes, Philadelphia style (no egg) recipes and even the super quick condensed milk recipes, and they all turn out creamy without the dreaded ice crystals that other machines create.

Key Specs(4.3)

With this machine, I make it almost every week, my freezer is stacked to the brim with homemade ice cream, and it's smooth and cream like store bought but 10 times better with the freshness of high quality ingredients with no chemicals and preservatives.

Size & Weight(4.3)

The bucket sits tightly in the sleeve. This is needed for the heat of the liquid in the bucket to be transferred to the refrigerant in the sleeve. Nice unit, cleans up easily.

BATCH AFTER BATCH

The Cuisinart ICE-100 is a fully automatic ice cream and gelato maker that is ideal for big families and those who often host big parties. It boasts a commercial-style compressor which freezes ice cream and other treats while also mixing them. A built-in freezer also means that no pre-freezing is required, thus, you can make batch after batch without a need to wait or plan ahead. However, the compressor makes the ICE-100 rather bulky and heavy. It measures 12" x 16.73" x 9.33" and weighs 32 lb.

The Cuisinart ICE-100 compressor ice cream and gelato maker has a nice stainless steel body with some plastic parts. The 1.5-quart bowl is made of anodized aluminum and is very easy to clean. Once freezing is completed, you just need to take the bucket out of the machine and clean it with warm soapy water. Unlike the lid and dashers, the bowl isn't dishwasher-safe. The lid is fully transparent so that you can watch the mixing process in action anytime you want. It has an additional mix-in opening allowing you to add different toppings, chocolate chunks, nuts, or fruit without interrupting the freezing process.

For the ease of use, the appliance is equipped with a small LCD display and 3 buttons (Power button, Start / Stop button, Timer button). The Power button is backlit with a red LED light to inform you when the appliance is on. The countdown timer can be set anywhere between 10 - 60 minutes for a better control over your batch. The powerful motor along with high-quality freezer can whip up a whole batch of ice cream in less than an hour. The Cuisinart ICE-100 stops automatically once your dessert is ready and switches to keep-cool mode. The dessert gets very smooth and extremely creamy. Because of the 25% air content, the machine produces pretty dense gelato, ice cream, or sorbet. It comes with a handy recipe book that will help you add "right" mix-ins and experiment with flavors to create "superpremium" homemade ice cream. So, if you need an incredibly easy to use, capacious, and quick machine for making creamy desserts for big companies, the Cuisinart ICE-100 is the best bet.

TWO PADDLES ARE BETTER THAN ONE

It's the only ice cream machine on the market that comes with two mixing paddles - one for ice cream or frozen yogurt and the other for sorbet or gelato. These two paddles can mix and aerate the ingredients in different ways. The dasher for churning gelato or sorbet brings less air into your mixture, creating richly textured desserts with intense flavor. The other dasher enriches ice cream with more air to give it a lighter and fluffier consistency. Both mixing paddles rotate evenly, blending and aerating all ingredients perfectly for silky texture without ice crystals.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $249.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B006UKLUFS

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.2)

What a great ice cream maker. My only wish is that they made a bigger size (1/2 gallon) but then I guess the machine would probably be too big and bulky.

Size & Weight(4.1)

The size is like one of the old automatic bread makers but not as tall.

Features(4.1)

It has a neat feature that is a "keep cold" or "hold" feature so that when it is finished making the ice cream it keeps it cold until you are ready to use it.

Nostalgia

If you're in the market for something unique, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more exquisite ice maker than the Nostalgia ICMP400WD Electric Wood Bucket. At the very first glance at this machine, it becomes obvious that it looks nothing like most other models out there. While other manufacturers are trying to make their ice makers as sleek and modern-looking as possible, the folks behind this one want to bring it closer to the genuine machines.

With an expensive real wood exterior that reminds old-fashioned hand-crank ice cream makers, this product looks very solid and beautiful. Yet, it offers plenty of modern conveniences to be very easy to use even for first-time users. Moreover, it comes with clear instructions that guide you through each step.

Even though it looks old-fashioned, it doesn’t require any manual effort to work. As soon as the machine is connected to the mains, its powerful motor will churn and start to mix ice cream ingredients so you can get your yummy dessert done to perfection.

This vintage-looking ice maker allows users to make up to 4 quarts of ice cream per one go, which is a more-than-average capacity for home ice cream makers. And if you run several batches in a row, you'll be able to serve delicious home-made ice cream during the next family gathering or party.

The appliance requires about 20-30 minutes to get the job done. And what we like the most is that you can check the mixture during the cycle. The machine is fitted with a see-through lid allowing you to watch the process and check the consistency of your ice cream whenever you want. When done, you can use the included lid and lid cap to store the leftovers in the freezer.

Ready Mixes

As a bonus, the manufacturer provides many ready-made ice cream mixes which can be purchased separately. That way, in addition to the appliance, you can order Chocolate, Vanilla Creme, or Strawberry mixes to your liking and get down to making desserts shortly after delivery.

It's worth mentioning that although you don't need to pre-freeze an aluminum bucket in advance, you'll need to treat it with salt and ice in order to achieve creamier results. Worry that salt may damage the wood that the exterior of the bucket is made of? Worry not, as the interior of the bucket is lined with very thick plastic, eliminating the risk of salt contacting the wood material. The plastic interior also ensures easy cleaning and prevents leakage of ingredients.

Summing up, the Nostalgia ICMP400WD is a unique machine that looks very expensive and classy. It has a high-capacity bucket and can make a good portion of ice cream per one go. If you often host parties and seek a machine capable of feeding the crowd, you should definitely consider this one.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $71.92
Stock In stock
ASIN B00C5ZK93G

Beautiful in Its Simplicity

If you like the idea of treating your dearest people to soft and delicious ice-cream, consider buying the Cuisinart ICE-30. This perfect ice cream maker allows you to make any frozen dessert in less than half an hour, which is impressively quick. Besides ice cream, you can also prepare frozen yogurt or sorbet in it. Families who've got kids would definitely praise this option.

The Cuisinart ICE30 is very easy to use, though, like many other ice makers, it requires a bowl pre-freezing (from 12 hours to 24 hours). Other than that, it's all simple and straightforward. You will be surprised at how easy making your favorite frozen treats is! All you need to do is pour the mixture into the pre-chilled bowl and turn On/Off switcher. Your dessert will be ready-to-eat in as little as 25 minutes. A double insulated stainless steel freezer bowl can make up to 2 quarts of frozen homemade desserts from the freshest ingredients for you and all your family members. 

The open lid design provides aeration of ice cream while mixing to make the dessert much more airy and fluffy. It also allows users to add more ingredients during the process. You can pour chocolate chips, nuts, caramel drops, favorite toppings, or any other mix-ins. Having this machine in your household, you'll be able to make unbelievably delicious frozen desserts: ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, and frozen beverages. Just put in the needed ingredients and this ice cream maker will do the rest of the work for you. This Cuisinart 2-quart ice cream maker is truly cost-effective if you decide in favor of making your own frozen treats rather than buying them at the supermarket.

Easy to Keep Clean

The freezer bowl rotates about 25 minutes, and the machine comes with rubber feet to ensure maximum stability and prevent vibration during the mixing process. The appliance has a robust metal housing that is very easy to clean. The whole machine requires low maintenance as well. After using this ice cream maker, you can easily clean the freezer bowl, mixing arm, and transparent lid in warm soapy water. However, never clean the freezer bowl with abrasive cleaners or put it in the dishwasher. As for the motor base, you just need to wipe it clean with a damp cloth after use. We would like to note that there is a cord storage compartment underneath the base where you can neatly hide the cable. The model is available in Red and Silver colors to suit your preferences.

Last updated price $99.95
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B0006ONQOC

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.4)

Even though this machine is rated as a 2 Qt. ice-cream maker, if you use the B&J recipes don't try to double the batch size of the recipe. B&J's recipe say they are for one quart but it completely filled the two Qt.bowl.

Features(4.6)

The freezer bowl is awesome. Works great without having to add ice or rock salt like other ice cream makers. Very pleased with the purchase and look forward to trying new recipes in the future.

Size & Weight(4.5)

Great value for the price. You need this larger size. The smaller 1.5 quart is too small for 1 quart recipes if you add anything like nuts or fruit. This one is the perfect size. I find myself using it way more often than I expected.

Frills-free Model

If you've never tried making homemade ice cream before, it makes sense to get something simple, something that has straightforward functionality and won't break your bank. The Cuisinart ICE-21 ice cream maker is one such option.

First off, the Cuisinart ICE-21's a semi-automatic machine, meaning you'll need to pre-freeze the bowl before making a frozen dessert. This usually takes between 16 hours and 24 hours, which is standard for most similar machines. To determine whether the bowl's already frozen, simply shake it lightly. If you hear no liquids running inside, you're good to go. When it comes to ice cream making in particular, the process is pretty quick and won't take longer than 20 minutes to get a portion of ready-to-eat ice cream.

In addition to ice cream, the Cuisinart ICE-21 ice cream maker is capable of making frozen yogurt, sorbet, and even frozen beverages. Admittedly, it isn't very capacious and can make only 1-1/2 quarts of treats at a time, which's a bit less compared to other ice cream makers on the market, but on the other hand, you have an option to polish your recipes and experiment with new batches without waiting too long. Plus, the smaller bowl is easier to fit in a freezer.

About Maintenance

As mentioned, the freezing time makes around 16 - 24 hours, and is largely dependent on how cold your freezer is. However, you can try speeding up this time a bit by placing the bowl in the back of the freezer behind the rest of the food. Also, it's recommended to use the bowl straight after removing it from the freezer. By following these simple tips, you'll be able to reduce the freezing time to the maximum.  

As far as design goes, the Cuisinart ICE-21 ice cream maker features non-slip rubber feet to keep the base stable when the appliance is in use. Also, there's neat cord storage, which allows you to easily push the cord into the base after use. Moreover, the unit has an easy-lock lid with a large spout to let users add various ingredients without interrupting the freezing process.

Lastly, we would like to mention that this ice cream machine is made of high-quality plastic, so it weighs only 9 pounds and is easy to carry around. Being portable, neat-looking, and quick, the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 is surely one of the best models for small families that would like to try making ice cream in the comfort of their own home.

Last updated price $69.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B003KYSLMW

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Features(4.6)

I noticed that I can increase the hardness of my ice-cream by manually spreading the ice-cream mix to touch all inside surfaces of the bowl while still on by using rubber spatula. I do that in the last 2-3min before I turn off the machine.

Key Specs(4.4)

The capacity is just right for two or three servings so you don't need one of the big monster capacity machines

Size & Weight(4.2)

Storage takes a very small amount of space. I put the ice cream made in a Rubbermaid container in the freezer and wash & dry canister and it's stored in the freezer

What Is an Ice Cream Maker?

An ice cream maker is a home appliance designed to make homemade ice cream. However, this appliance can be used not only for making ice cream. In fact, you can make a good share of other delicious frozen desserts in it, including milky cocktails, chilly fruit beverages, sorbets, delectable gelatos, and many others. The working principle of an ice cream maker is based on the churning action and aeration so that the mixture you make freezes evenly and without ice crystal formation. This way, all deserts that you'll make in an ice cream maker, as well as ice cream itself, become soft and gain a nice, slightly porous texture.

Aside from ice cream, you may also want to try to cook home-made candy floss. For that, you may be interested in getting a candy maker. To help you with your choice, we've picked five of the most popular models from the reputable brands so you can compare them and choose the one that fits you perfectly. Another appliance that might come in handy especially when the summer comes is an ice maker. It will let you make ice in bulk and make delicious iced tea and other drinks.

What Features to Compare

Operation Principle

When choosing an ice cream maker, the first thing to consider is the operation principle, which primarily depends on the freeze method. It should be noted that the earliest ice cream makers were hand-cranked. Thus, to make some ice cream you had to stir the mixture manually every 2-3 minutes. Currently, these machines are out-of-date and replaced by semi-automatic and automatic ice cream makers. To use a semi-automatic ice cream maker, you need to pre-freeze the bowl in the fridge prior to use. This method of making ice cream is called Freezer Bowl. The freezing time is generally up to 8-12 hours. To make the next batch, you have to wait until the bowl freezes again. There are also semi-automatic ice cream machines that require no pre-freezing of the bowl in the fridge. You just need to add ice and rock salt between the bucket and the inner bowl. This is so-called Salt and Ice method. Salt and ice lower the freezing temperature, therefore, the temperature of the mixture around the ice cream gets colder. On the contrary, automatic ice cream makers are more convenient as they require no pre-freezing or adding ice and salt. Although, such models are more pricey as they feature a built-in refrigeration unit. It's very easy-to-use - just turn the electric motor on, wait for 5-10 minutes until the bowl is frozen to the desired temperature, pour the prepared ice cream mixture, and get the ready product in a short while.

Capacity

The other thing we’d like to draw your attention to is ice cream maker's capacity, which is mainly determined by a bowl capacity and freezing time. There are models with smaller and bigger freezer bowls so you can choose the one to fit your family needs. As a matter of fact, the overall amount of ice cream depends on bowl capacity. A freezer bowl of 1/1.5-quart capacity will be surely enough for a small household. However, if you are planning a dinner party, you should choose an ice cream maker with at least 4/6-quart bowl capacity. While churning the mix, ice cream gets saturated with air and becomes fluffy. The time required for freezing usually varies between 20-60 minutes (depending on the chosen model and the amount of product you need to produce).

Usability

And finally, you should pay attention to the usability of an ice cream maker. In fact, ice cream makers are quite easy to handle even for inexperienced users. Actually, you should press the on/off button on the front control panel, or simply plug your machine in. Some ice cream makers come with an LCD display with a number of handy features like a built-in timer, various temperature modes, a pause option, etc. Next, when selecting an ice cream maker, it's reasonable to choose a compact and lightweight appliance that can be easily stored or transported. Besides, you should pay attention to the material a bucket and a bowl are made of. Ice cream makers can be manufactured from high-quality plastic that makes them lighter. If an ice cream maker is made of metal, it is considered to be more solid and durable. Meanwhile, the inner bowl is typically made of stainless steel or aluminum that ensures better absorption of the cold. Furthermore, a reliable lid adjustment prevents ice and rock salt from getting into the bowl and spoil your frozen dessert while rubber feet on the bottom of the bucket keep the base stationary, providing safe use of the appliance. To sum up, all these useful features can make your cooking experience really enjoyable.

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