It’s great to let a taste of smooth, sweet ice cream melt in your mouth, but it’s an even better feeling to know that you made it yourself. Making your own ice cream isn’t that hard, and if you buy a best ice cream makers, you’ll get delicious results every time. After testing seven models for our 2021 update and making more than 40 pints of custard, Philadelphia-style, and dairy-free coconut ice cream, we think the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker (ICE-21) is an affordable, reliable machine that can make some of the best ice cream you can make at home.
When you make your own ice cream, you have full control over the ingredients and flavors, and it’s often better than store-bought. With an ice cream maker, you can make any kind of ice cream you want right at home. But how do you choose which one to buy? We tested some of the most famous ice cream makers, including fully automatic, electric, and soft serve models. To find the best ice cream makers, we looked at how easy they were to use, how they looked, how the ice cream turned out, how evenly the mix-ins were spread, how easy they were to clean, and how much money they cost.
Best Ice Cream Makers Comparison Table
| Ice Cream Makers | Capacity | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart | 2 quarts | Freezer bowl | Digital timer, LCD display, auto-stop |
| Cuisinart 1.5-Quart | 1.5 | Freezer bowl | Double-insulated freezer bowl |
| Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric | 4 quarts | Electric, no freezer bowl | Easy-carry handle, see-through lid |
| Breville Smart Scoop | 1.5 | Compressor | 12 hardness settings, self-refrigerating |
| Whynter ICM-200LS Automatic | 2.1 | Compressor | LCD timer control, stainless steel bowl |
Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart
| Ice Cream Maker Model | Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2 Quarts |
| Churning Time | 20-30 Minutes |
| Mixing Paddle | Removable Mixing Paddle |
| Freezer Bowl | Double-Insulated Freezer Bowl |
| Additional Features | 3 Built-in Condiment Dispensers, LCD Screen, Countdown Timer |
The ICE-70 makes a huge 2 quarts of ice cream per batch and has an easy-to-read LCD screen on its control panel. There are options that control how fast the mixing paddle moves for ice cream, gelato, or sorbet. The time is set automatically for each choice, but it can also be changed by hand. When the time is up, the machine turns itself off by itself. The unique gelato setting stood out to us because it churned more slowly, which is a sign of real gelato. Overall, it is one of the best ice cream makers, that you can buy.
In tests, the Cuisinart did much better than other freezer bowls by a large margin. Once the bowl was frozen, it was very easy to set up, and it made ice cream that was as smooth as silk. The lid has a cup that can be taken out and used to measure up to 1/2 cup of add-ins. When the cup is taken out, there is a hole that makes it easy to pour the add-ins into the ice cream. We liked that we could mix things in without taking the lid off, and the fact that it stood up and was small made it easy to store. It’s not too heavy, so you can move it around the house.
Pros
- Can make up to 2 quarts of ice cream in one go.
- Has a powerful motor that can handle harder ice cream mixes.
- Has a countdown timer and automatic shut-off feature.
- Comes with a recipe book.
- Has a sleek and modern design.
Cons
- May be more expensive than other models.
- Can be noisy during operation.
- Takes up more counter space due to its larger size.
Cuisinart 1.5-Quart
| Ice Cream Maker Model | Cuisinart 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1.5 Quarts |
| Churning Time | 20-25 Minutes |
| Mixing Paddle | Removable Mixing Paddle |
| Freezer Bowl | Double-Insulated Freezer Bowl |
| Additional Features | Ingredient Spout, Easy-Lock Lid |
The ICE-21 may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the brand’s higher-end models, but it is fully automatic and claims to make good homemade ice cream in 20 minutes. The catch, though, is that you need a bowl that has already been frozen. Thus, it is one of the best ice cream makers, that you can buy.
The process is easy and is meant to be clean. As a “cold-scrape” type, the double-insulated freezer bowl fits easily into the base, and so does the mixing paddle. The plastic cover keeps everything in place. As the bowl turns, the paddle scrapes frozen batter off the sides of the bowl and adds it back to the mix. After about 20 minutes, the ice cream was fully mixed and looked like soft serve. At that point, you do need to put everything quickly in the freezer to keep it from turning into crystals.
Pros
- More affordable than larger models.
- Still has a decent capacity of 1.5 quarts.
- Comes with a recipe book.
- Has a sleek and compact design.
Cons
- May not be able to handle harder ice cream mixes as well.
- Noisy during operation.
- Some users have reported that the mixing paddle can become dislodged.
Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric With Easy Carry Handle
| Ice Cream Maker Model | Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric With Easy Carry Handle |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4 Quarts |
| Churning Time | 30-40 Minutes |
| Mixing Paddle | Plastic Mixing Paddle |
| Freezer Bowl | Aluminum Canister with Plastic Lid and Easy-Grip Handle |
| Additional Features | Clear-View Lid, See-Through Lid, Electric Motor, Easy-Carry Handle |
This fun machine is great if you like the idea of an old-fashioned ice cream maker and want to make a lot of ice cream at once. This one freezes the ice cream with ice and salt, just like old-fashioned ones, but the cranking device is electric, so you don’t have to work as hard to get your treats.
We found that to make great ice cream, you need to layer the salt and ice just right and make sure the inside of the jar is flush with the bottom. There are no exact instructions about how much ice and salt to use, so have at least one 8-pound bag of ice and 3 cups of salt ready. Once everything is put together, you turn on the machine and set the timer for 30 minutes. Overall, it is one of the best ice cream makers, that you can buy.
When you’re done, you’ll have up to 4 quarts of smooth, fluffy ice cream that you can eat right away or put in the freezer right away. It also works well with mix-ins, but you have to stop the machine and take off the motor and lid to add them. This is not as easy as with models that have holes in the jar.
Pros
- Has a large capacity of 4 quarts.
- Comes with a carrying handle for easy transport.
- Has a nostalgic, vintage design.
Cons
- Takes up a lot of counter or storage space due to its larger size.
- May not be as durable as other models.
- Some users have reported issues with the motor after extended use.
Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Compressor
| Ice Cream Maker Model | Breville Smart Scoop Compressor |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1.5 Quarts or 2.0 Quarts |
| Churning Time | 30-60 Minutes |
| Mixing Paddle | Removable Mixing Paddle |
| Freezer Bowl | Built-In Freezer Bowl |
| Additional Features | 12 Hardness Settings, Self-Refrigerating Compressor, LCD Screen, Keep-Cool Setting |
If you’re ready to make ice cream seriously, this Breville ice cream maker has a lot of great features that make up for its high price. The 1.1-quart ice cream maker has a motor that freezes the ice cream as it churns, just like a window air conditioner. This means that you don’t have to worry about freezing and refreezing a bowl between runs. It also has 12 sets for different levels of softness, so you won’t end up with rock-hard sherbet, gelato, or soft serve when what you really want is a scoop of vanilla that can hold its own in a root beer float. Still, it is one of the best ice cream makers, that you can buy.
A setting called “pre-cool” gets the machine ready to start spinning right away, and thermometers inside the machine make sure the temperature stays just right. We especially liked the “softer to harder” setting, which lets you choose between softer ice cream and harder sorbet instead of just one setting that works for everyone. One bad thing about gelato is that there is no setting for a slower mix.
Pros
- Can make up to 1.5 quarts of ice cream.
- Has 12 hardness settings for customizable texture.
- Comes with a recipe book.
- Has a sleek and modern design.
Cons
- More expensive than other models.
- Takes up more counter space than some other models.
Whynter ICM-200LS Automatic
| Ice Cream Maker Model | Whynter ICM-200LS Automatic Ice Cream Maker |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2.1 Quarts |
| Churning Time | 30-60 Minutes |
| Mixing Paddle | Removable Mixing Paddle |
| Freezer Bowl | Built-In Freezer Bowl |
| Additional Features | LCD Screen, Timer, Motor Protection Function, High-Efficiency CFC-Free Compressor |
This compressor-style ice cream maker is for people who want to spend a lot on a tabletop machine, but it’s cheaper than the Breville on our list. Because it has a compressor, the bowl doesn’t have to be frozen first, and it can make up to 2 quarts at once. When we made vegan ice cream, this machine really stood out. Some ice cream makers don’t work as well with fat alternatives as they do with cream, but this Whynter model made delicious vegan cookie dough ice cream with the perfect creamy texture.
It also makes cold yogurt and sorbet, as well as regular dairy ice cream. We found it easy to use and set up, and the mix-ins were spread out well. With the Extended Cooling feature, your work also won’t melt right away. We also liked the ice cream scoop that came with the machine, which made it easy to get the finished product out of the machine and into a cone. Overall, it is one of the best ice cream makers, that you can buy.
Pros
- Has a large capacity of 2.1 quarts.
- Comes with a built-in freezer compressor, so there is no need to pre-freeze a bowl.
- Has a removable mixing bowl for easy cleaning.
- Has a sleek and modern design.
Cons
- More expensive than some other models.
- Takes up a lot of counter or storage space due to its larger size.
FAQs
An ice cream maker is a device used to make homemade ice cream by mixing and churning the ingredients to freeze them into a soft and creamy consistency.
There are three types of ice cream makers: manual, electric, and self-freezing. Manual ice cream makers require hand cranking to churn the mixture, while electric ice cream makers use a motor to churn the mixture. Self-freezing ice cream makers have a built-in compressor that freezes the mixture as it churns.
An ice cream maker works by churning the mixture of cream, sugar, and flavorings while cooling it to freeze the mixture into a soft and creamy consistency. The churning action helps to incorporate air into the mixture, creating a light and fluffy texture.
