As the temperature starts to rise, nothing beats a scoop (or three scoops) of fresh ice cream to hit the scene. We firmly believe that the most delicious way to enjoy snacks is to make them from scratch.
Now, turning cream and sugar into delicious, smooth ice cream seems amazing, but all you need is a simple ice cream maker.
“The advantage of having your own ice cream maker is that you can endlessly try various flavor combinations,” said Brian Smith, co-owner of Ample Hills Creamery in New York City.
“This is how we founded Ample Hills. I make ice cream at home and invite friends to come over and let them taste the crazy flavor. Few things are more important than sitting next to a hand-cranked ice cream maker and stirring the ice cream in turn!”
However, when deciding which one is best for you, don’t worry about freezing. We talked with four professional ice cream manufacturers and carefully studied thousands of reviews from real shoppers who purchased and tested the makers themselves.
No matter how much you want to spend, here are our recommended manufacturers of the best manual cranks, frozen bowls, and compressor ice cream.
Scroll down to see why we choose each ice cream maker and learn more details about each ice cream maker!
10 Best Ice Cream Maker Reviews
Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
If you want to use a compressor ice cream maker but have a limited budget, check out the Cuisinart ICE-100 compressor ice cream and ice cream maker, whose prices are hundreds of dollars lower than Lello and Breville.
Malek explained that Cuisinart makes an excellent freezer bowl maker, and its compressor model is no exception. Similar to other compressor makers, ice cream mixing bowls can be frozen without waiting time.
Its two unique mixing paddles and a 60-minute countdown timer ensure the perfect consistency of homemade ice cream, ice cream, or sorbet.
Many users shared that Cuisinart ICE-100 is their first foray into the compressor field. “Before that, I freeze the bowl first,” wrote a Williams Sonoma shopper.
“It might be a bit bulky, but if you like ice cream, it’s worth it. We even decided to drink the juice at the last minute and it turned out very well. It is easy to clean and use.”
Another added: “Love this maker! My favorite part is that you don’t have to cool the bowl for 24 hours before making ice cream. It’s also quiet, which surprised me.”
Whynter ICM-15LS Automatic Ice Cream Maker
For an amazing maker that even professionals can use, check out Whynter’s 2-quart ice cream maker.
It has a powerful compressor freezer, no need to pre-freeze, once the ice cream hardens, it can automatically turn off the motor to prevent damage.
Its compact stainless steel housing wipes clean effortlessly and is equipped with a removable bowl and mixing blade for easy shoveling, storage, and cleaning.
Reviewers who bought the Whynter ice cream maker appreciated its consistency and praised its durability and user-friendliness.
A Wayfair user wrote: “This ice cream maker is amazing.” “It made incredible ice cream in less than an hour!”
Another shopper said: “Pros: Makes great ice cream, easy to operate, and you don’t need to store the ice bucket in the refrigerator like other types of makers. Disadvantages: none!”
DASH My Pint Electric Ice Cream Maker maker
Like larger products of its kind, this Dash ice cream maker can produce creamy products at the touch of a button.
This small but powerful maker can make 1.6 cups of fresh ice cream in just 30 minutes and is equipped with a plastic spoon to help mix the toppings and the mix together.
In addition, its compact footprint is easy to fit into the kitchen cabinet and does not take up much counter space.
Amazon customers like the size and high-quality results of this small ice cream maker, saying it is perfect for single servings.
A five-star reviewer wrote: “I think it will be a novel’ item, and it is not powered enough and may break after a few uses.” “I was wrong, it seems there is enough flavor to mix I think Any kind of ice cream you want.
The small freezer cup unit does not take up too much space in the freezer. I find that I can enjoy ice cream as I want.”
Another added: “It’s really easy to clean up, and preparing for the next batch is as easy as rinsing it, drying it, and then freezing it again.”
White Mountain Electric Ice Cream Maker
To make the rock salt ice cream not sweaty and delicious, consider the electric version of White Mountain. It uses a 12,000 RPM commercial-grade motor, strong enough to stir homemade ice cream in 20-40 minutes.
On Amazon, it has the coveted “Amazon’s Choice” title and more than 200 five-star reviews.
A reviewer said: “The biggest benefit I noticed from this high-quality ice cream maker is the time it takes to freeze ice cream.” “For my cheap manufacturer, the freezing ice cream usually takes more than an hour, and I Keep adding more ice and salt. The instructions of this maker say that it will take about 25 minutes from the time you add ice and salt. (You shouldn’t actually stop the motor, probably because it’s bad for the motor.) I’m now Three batches have been processed, and they are already after 25 minutes (including fully filled when finished). When I waited for about 30 minutes, it actually froze to the point where the motor stopped (hoarse). Fortunately. The thing is, the motor can still work normally.”
Another praised the design level of the maker. “I wanted a white mountain for a long time. After my X brand bites off the dust, I decided to buy it. Yes, I could have bought a few new Brand X at this price, but I would also endure the same Disadvantages. After using the new Baishan, I firmly believe that it is worth the money. For many years, I have never used various cheche freezers but made a batch that was not frozen near the barrel wall and squeezed in The freezer in the middle. The powerful drive, dashboard design, stainless steel bucket, bucket geometry, and a fairly large ice cavity solve all these problems. These makers are well designed and perform well in construction. I wish I had five years of warranty, and every part can be replaced, so I hope I bought it many years ago.”
Nostalgia ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker
Whether you are planning a beach holiday or a family cabin, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to miss homemade ice cream. This 4-quart ice cream maker from Nostalgia is equipped with a convenient handle to carry the ice cream wherever you need it.
Shoppers at Wayfair love its Nostalgia ice cream maker for its convenience and performance, and say the maker creates “special memories.” No wonder it received a 4.6-star rating.
One person wrote: “It can make delicious ice cream from your own fresh ingredients in 30 minutes.” “It’s much easier than when I grew up and watched my father stir it.”
Another said: “My grandson and I are very happy to make homemade ice cream for the first time. We like it and hope to have more memorable times to make our favorite ice cream and try some new ice cream.”
Cuisinart ICE-30BCP1 Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart ICE-30BC is a portable and compact ice cream maker.
Its fast working process and one-button operation are its great advantages, which makes this ice cream maker particularly attractive for people who want to become ice cream connoisseurs.
If you want an affordable ice cream maker that can bring you soft ice cream suitable for parties or meals, then Cuisinart ICE-30BC is definitely your best choice.
Cuisinart ICE-30BC weighs about 12 pounds, covers an area of 11.26 inches, and is 8.31 inches wide. Its size is comparable to an electric rice cooker.
Small in size, you can easily hide it in a deep drawer or cabinet when not in use. Its relatively small size also makes it ideal for anyone living in a dormitory, small apartment, or RV.
Cuisinart ICE-30BC is a pre-freezing bowl maker, so the mixing bowl needs to freeze solids.
This means that you either need to keep the bowl in the refrigerator all the time so that the bowl is ready when needed, or you must think ahead and freeze it in advance.
If you skip this step, the ice cream will never freeze. The colder the bowl, the better the ice cream.
This process is obviously time-consuming because it requires more thinking and planning, but in terms of its performance and price, it is definitely worth the investment.
This fully automatic maker can produce high-quality ice cream. Although ice cream maybe a little bit icy, it is still creamier than store-bought ice cream.
Another feature we like about this ice cream maker is its ability to make fruit smoothies. You can also choose to try many other frozen foods, and they all look great.
When making sorbet and ice cream, just make sure to freeze the bowl thoroughly.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Ease of use
- effectiveness
Cons
- A bit noisy
- Need to pre-freeze
Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker
Whether you are preparing ice cream for the crowd or want to try a variety of frozen foods, the strength and efficient compressor of Whynter ICM-202SB makes the operation simple.
Compared with our preferred product, the ice cream produced by Whynter ICM-202SB is more creamy. Also more convenient. Although its price is three times that of Cuisinart, it is definitely worth the money.
Whynter ICM-202SB is a multifunctional automatic ice cream maker, which allows you to easily make your favorite ice cream, gelato, sorbet, yogurt, etc.
Using a self-refrigerating compressor, the mixture can be frozen without pre-freezing the mixing bowl. The built-in compressor can also be used continuously, so you can carry out mass production without stopping the maker.
This frozen ice cream maker has a small, easy-to-read LCD display that can display internal temperature and working hours.
Its interface is simple to operate, with only four buttons: on/off, timer, menu (ice cream, cooling, and mixing), and pause.
It also has an automatic shutdown mechanism, which is essential to protect the motor from overheating after the work is completed.
The operation is very simple: just add the pre-mixed liquid to the bowl, select the desired mixing mode, set the time, press the start button, and then watch the maker through the transparent observation window to perform the remaining operations.
During the mixing process, you can use the pause button to easily add ingredients or check the consistency of the ice cream.
Usually, Whynter ICM-202SB takes 45 to 60 minutes to reach the ideal hardness for 1.7 quarts of ice cream.
When finished, the ice cream needs to be transferred to a container that can be stored safely in the freezer, and then stuck in the freezer to harden it for two hours.
As a nice reward, ice cream can be taken out quickly and easily. You can delete the dashboard before starting the extraction to speed up the processing. The dashboard without BPA is also easy to remove.
Pros
- versatile
- fast
- Even texture and delicious ice cream
- simple
Cons
- Quite heavy
- Pricey
KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker
With this beautiful gadget, you can eat fresh and fluffy homemade ice cream with almost no ice crystals in 20 to 30 minutes. Remember, you need a KitchenAid stand mixer to use this accessory.
The accessory itself cannot make ice cream, but it must be powered by a stand mixer.
As with our preferred product Cuisinart ICE-30BC, it is necessary to completely freeze the bowl in the refrigerator in advance (at least 15 hours).
We strongly recommend that you always keep the parchment liner in the refrigerator for easy use. This also helps prevent the blue ice in the middle of the bowl from leaking.
We also recommend freezing the ice cream after mixing to make it hard. Although the ice cream maker produces soft ice cream, the result is still very soft, softer than a runny milkshake.
If you don’t want to drink ice cream, you need to transfer it to a container and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours before using it to get a higher quality.
This accessory is compatible with most KitchenAid stand mixers from 1990 or later.
Many reviews think this maker is difficult to assemble, but we think it is not. The bowl and paddle are easy to install on the mixer and the operation is simple.
Just remember to start the paddle movement before pouring the mixture into the freezing bowl, unless you want to see the mixture immediately freeze to the side of the mixing bowl (this will prevent the paddle from turning). Not clear, but the process is simple.
Your KitchenAid stand mixer has the advantage of allowing you to switch between 10 speeds, but even the lowest speed is faster than most existing ice cream makers.
Therefore, the resulting mixture is usually fluffy and extremely ventilated, but not dense. If you are a thick ice cream lover, then the built-in compressor maker (such as Whynter ICM-201SB) should be a more suitable choice.
The amount of air incorporated into the mixture greatly affects the physical and sensory properties of ice cream. Lightweight, fluffy ice cream exudes more air than thick, dense, and creamy ice cream.
Air volume also affects storage stability. Ice cream with more air melts faster than ice cream with less air. How much air is added depends largely on the speed?
If the dashboard rotates at a slow speed, the ice cream will absorb less air.
Pros
- Reasonable price tag
- Compact size
- Dishwasher safe blender
- Make a fair amount of ice cream
- Easy to clean with warm soapy water
Cons
- Freezer space required
Cuisinart ICE21R Frozen Yogurt Automatic Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
The Cuisinart ICE-21R ice cream maker is perfect for trying out flavor options and healthy alternatives. This is also an interesting project for children. It is not too loud, works fast, and is super easy to operate.
Compared with Cuisinart ICE-30BC, this plastic ice cream maker is quieter. Of course, both of them produce noise, but the sound of stainless steel is much louder and the pitch is higher.
However, our best purchase product may be more attractive because it has a capacity of 2 quarts, while the ICE-21R has a capacity of 1.5 quarts.
Keep in mind that although the maker is advertised to make 1.5 quarts of ice cream, you can usually put at most one quart in a storage bowl that can be put in a freezer.
This means that the yield may not exceed 4 small servings. If you plan to hold an ice cream party, then buying another freezer bowl would be a wise choice.
This compact ice cream maker can provide excellent ice cream, especially one made with sweetened condensed milk. It takes 20-25 minutes to freeze 1 quart of ice cream.
Having said that, the ice cream is not as creamy as those produced by the above three models.
The control is intuitive and easy to use, with only one on/off button. No technical knowledge is required. For best results, remember to pre-freeze the bowl for at least 12 hours.
Moreover, the end result should not be as hard as store-bought ice cream. If you want to make it stronger, put it in the refrigerator.
In terms of cleaning, the sink is not dishwasher safe because the dish soap reacts with the aluminum inside. You can rinse the lid and then throw the dial in the dishwasher. Both are completely dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Easy lock transparent cover
- High capacity
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- very loud
Nostalgia WICM4L Electric Ice Cream Maker
Nostalgia WICM4L is a reliable ice-salt ice cream manufacturer. This type has been used for more than 100 years and has achieved good results.
There is no magic in design. A bucket with a scraper/paddle rotates in a bucket of ice and salt. If you are looking for a solid “old-fashioned” ice cream maker, but with a more modern feel, then Nostalgia WICM4L may be your ideal choice.
We like Nostalgia WICM4L because it is very easy to use, assemble and store. At such a low price, this maker is well constructed and offers a range that exceeds your expectations.
Equipped with a heavy-duty motor, a useful transparent cover, and an easy-to-clean plastic bucket, this is a great value.
Nostalgia WICM4L measures about 15 inches by 12 inches, which is very compact and can fit in most cabinets or cabinets.
Despite its small size, it can only hold 4 quarts of ice cream mix at a time, enough to meet the needs of a family reunion.
Some users said they noticed ice crystals, which may be caused by agitation, but other users ended up tasting great ice cream.
After reaching an agreement with many buyers, this ice-salt ice cream maker produces better results than some freezers, although the mixing process may take longer.
We also agree that the recipe book lacks some key steps, which is frustrating.
Locking the motor helps ensure the safety of all parts, so no damage will occur. Nostalgia WICM4L produces high-quality ice cream with milkshake consistency.
If you want a firmer consistency, you can store the ice cream in the refrigerator using the transparent lid on the top of the jar.
It is relatively easy to put the maker together. Although it may be a bit confusing at first, once you figure it out, it runs smoothly and requires almost no labor.
Just insert a metal container, fill it with a mixture of rock salt and ice, and pour the mixed ingredients into the metal container. Finally, insert the stirrer and place the motor on top.
Keep in mind that this equipment requires more attention to the ice and salt content. This is not a “forgot after setting up” maker.
Salt can lower the temperature below 32°F. Too much salt will make it too cold, and the mixture will crystallize too quickly, resulting in granular or ice-cold ice cream.
Although too little salt will not freeze the ice cream. Be sure to follow the instructions!
Pros
- Easy-to-clean plastic bucket
- Convenient handle
- No labor required
- transparent lid
- High capacity
Cons
- Ineffective recipe book
- Must use ice and salt
Electric ice cream maker and stand mixer
If you feel that the ice cream maker is spending too much money due to insufficient features, then another option is to buy a stand mixer with an ice cream maker attachment.
If you already own a powerful stand mixer and only want to make ice cream a few times during the summer months, please purchase an optional ice cream maker accessory to make your favorite frozen food.
The stand mixer is an all-in-one kitchen appliance. From chopped chicken breast to kneading and pizza dough, a powerful stand mixer can be a convenient helper.
Although they are expensive, they are usually worth it due to their top-notch performance, versatile use, and long service life.
Many people use KitchenAid stand mixers to make ice cream, which does a good job of replicating the mixing action of standard ice cream makers. Therefore, this is a viable option.
It should be noted that when using a stand mixer, you must pre-freeze the bowl of the mixer for at least 15 hours before making a batch of sweet homemade ice cream or any frozen food.
The bowl must be cold enough to stir the liquid ice cream mixture.
Moreover, ice cream melts quickly in a vertical mixer, especially without any additives. Although you can put it in the refrigerator for later use, the taste after freezing is not ideal.
This is a big difference between a built-in ice cream maker and an electric vertical mixer.
Before purchasing any other accessories, please check if the accessories are compatible with your mixer.
How to choose an ice cream maker
To find an excellent ice cream maker, you have nothing to do except for a comprehensive understanding of each style of ice cream maker.
Although most ice cream makers are made and run well, the type of maker greatly affects the time required to mix a batch of ice, how easy it is to use, and the effect it produces.
There are three basic types of ice cream makers, each with a price range ranging from 40 dollars to hundreds of dollars.
1. Ice salt cooler
These old-fashioned ice cream makers are practical, cheap, and fun to use. They are usually equipped with a bucket, a small tank with a lid, a dashboard, and a small electric motor.
Before the mixing process, the jars should be pre-cooled in the refrigerator. When the refrigerated tank is full of all the ingredients, put the blender in it and place the tank in the middle of the bucket filled with salt and ice.
To make ice cream, a powerful motor locked on the top of the maker will rotate the canister and keep the stirring paddle still. The more efficiently the tank rotates, the better results you will get.
The ice salt coolant maker requires manual labor to produce a perfect batch of ice cream.
Because ice cream melts and settles before the ice cream is finished, you need to add ice and salt frequently to keep the process going smoothly.
Most ice and salt coolers can deliver soft ice cream in about 30 minutes. Having said that, although they can make ice cream, they cannot freeze it.
You may need to transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and harden it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours until it can be used.
2. Countertop maker
Countertop makers usually have a double-walled bowl where the liquid between the walls freezes below 32°F (0°C). This means you must pre-freeze the bowl for up to 24 hours before making ice cream.
The freezing bowl ensures that the ice cream will freeze while being stirred or blended. It usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the bowl to melt and the ice cream to freeze.
Although these ice cream makers are on a limited budget, you need to do some pre-planning, and the settings can become very confusing.
Since you must freeze the mixing bowl in advance, you cannot mix two or more batches continuously.
There will be a delay between uses. If you want to mass produce at once, you can purchase additional bowls for the maker. Just make sure that your refrigerator has enough space for all spare bowls.
For best results, make sure to freeze the bowl completely and refrigerate or freeze the ice cream mixture.
The best way to tell if your bowl is ready is to shake it. If you don’t hear any liquid moving around within its walls, your bowl is completely frozen.
Most pre-frozen bowl ice cream manufacturers will not automatically shut down.
After the recommended mixing time, you must do it yourself. Therefore, make sure you know how long a given recipe will take. If you stir the mixture too much, the ice cream will never have a soft taste.
3. Built-in freezer
If you are looking for a quick and convenient way to freeze desserts in batches without delay between batches, then consider using the built-in freezer.
Among the three main types of ice cream makers, the built-in freezer is the easiest to use.
Since these models are equipped with a compressor that can cool for you, there is no need to pre-cool the bowl before the ice cream making process.
Although this type of maker is expensive and usually larger than similar makers, it provides a more effective way to make your favorite ice cream, ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and even ice-cold beverages.
Many affordable built-in freezer makers have automatic settings, so you can get a fresh batch of homemade ice cream effortlessly.
If money is not a problem, then the automatically frozen ice cream maker is the maker you want to buy.
Conclusion
That is our list of the best ice cream manufacturers this year. Whether you want to eat healthier or spend the night with your family instead of being trapped in the kitchen, you can browse and buy a high-quality electric ice cream maker, which is fun and delicious in any kitchen thing.