No doubt, ice cream is a go-to treat in the summer, but it's not exclusively reserved for warm weather—especially when you have your own ice cream maker at home. Having one enables you to craft personalized flavors with additions like fresh fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips.
Plus, making ice cream from scratch is often more cost-effective than indulging in premium store brands. These home ice cream makers aren't confined to just ice cream; they can also produce sorbet, yogurt, gelato, and even frozen cocktails. Let's explore the top 15 ice cream makers best suited for home use.
The Cuisinart ICE-21 may lack the fancy features of pricier models, but it's a fully automatic gem that churns out top-notch homemade ice cream in just 20 minutes. Renowned for its ability to produce deliciously dense, smooth, and creamy ice creams at an affordable price point, it's a tough contender to beat.
The machine is simple, consisting of only four parts: the canister bowl, the electric base, the dasher (the technical term for the churning paddle), and a clear plastic cover. The straightforward interface features a single switch to control the motor, making it user-friendly.
The Whynter 201-SB stands out as an excellent compressor machine, ideal if you have both the budget and space. Its user-friendly interface features buttons to easily switch between modes such as churn only, freeze only, and the "ice cream" setting.
Additionally, there are buttons to start and stop the machine and adjust the time. As a compressor machine, it eliminates the need for pre-freezing a canister. Once your chilled base is ready, you can start churning immediately, yielding perfectly creamy and silky-smooth ice cream in approximately 30 minutes.
The Breville Smart Scoop distinguishes itself with a built-in compressor for self-freezing convenience, but its standout feature is its fully automated churning process. With 12 hardness settings, ranging from softer, spun sorbets to firm, scoopable ice cream, this model automatically halts churning when the ice cream reaches your chosen texture.
Once your ice cream is ready, the unit signals you with optional classic ice cream truck jingles. Notably, the churned ice cream can be maintained at the selected texture for up to three hours, making it ideal for dinner parties and appealing to soft-serve ice cream enthusiasts.
Taking a unique approach from conventional ice cream makers, the Ninja Creami operates by starting with a jar of pre-frozen base. It uses a specialized "Creamerizer Paddle," akin to a blender blade, to achieve a smooth and velvety texture.
Whether crafting sorbet or ice cream, the Creami Deluxe consistently delivers a firm product without any ice crystals or un-spun base accumulating in the container corners. The end result is a ready-to-eat treat straight from the machine.
Although the actual whipping process with the Creami takes just over five minutes, it's important to note that preparation involves freezing the base overnight beforehand.
This compact ice cream maker provides a quick and convenient solution for preparing small batches of ice cream or frozen yogurt. Assembling the cooling bowl, cooling cup, and plastic paddle is a breeze, with the motor seamlessly mounting on top.
With a commitment to delivering 1.6 cups of ice cream in 30 minutes or less, this maker produces a soft, spoonable treat with a smooth texture. Due to the smaller quantity, the ice cream sets up nicely after an hour in the freezer. For optimal results, the manufacturer recommends pre-chilling the ice cream base in the freezer for 30-45 minutes before initiating the churning process.
6. Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
With the Cuisinart fully automatic ice cream maker featuring a commercial compressor, you can enjoy consistently rich gelato and ice cream, batch after batch. The commercial-quality compressor freezer ensures it's always ready to go.
Notably, it comes equipped with two paddles—one for gelato and one for creamy ice cream. An added bonus is the 10-minute Keep Cool feature, ensuring your ice cream or gelato stays cool even after the timer has gone off.
Despite its powerful performance, this unit is one of the smaller compressor models, making it relatively easy to store in smaller kitchens.
7. Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Qt. Ice Cream Maker
Simplicity meets efficiency with this ice cream maker—it doesn't need to be complicated to get the job done. Easy to use and efficient, this machine may lack some customization options in the ice cream-making process.
Its controls are straightforward, featuring an on/off dial, which may be limiting for those seeking more nuanced temperature controls or additional refinements. Despite the absence of special features, it delivers an impressive end result.
We recommend it for those who prefer a basic ice cream setup. The compact and lightweight design is particularly beneficial for apartment kitchens and homes where space is at a premium.
While investing $700 in an ice cream maker may seem steep, the Lello Musso Lussino justifies its price with unparalleled performance. In just half an hour, this machine produces the highest quality ice cream, sorbet, gelato, and frozen drinks with a superbly silken texture.
Its fully automatic operation simplifies the process—just pour ingredients into the bowl and press two buttons. The timer allows precise control for various frozen confections. However, it's a worthwhile investment primarily for serious connoisseurs with a budget to spare, seeking the absolute best of the best in the world of ice cream makers.
The Yonanas machine may seem a bit gimmicky since its primary function is to transform frozen bananas (and other fruits) into a soft-serve, vegan dessert—yet, that's precisely what it excels at. It's not designed to freeze standard ice cream or sorbet bases, and it only accepts peeled and pitted fruits.
However, the resulting "soft serve" is genuinely delightful and delicious. Operating like a food processor, you load the fruit into the top, push it down with a plunger, and the pulverized frozen pulp comes out directly into the serving bowl.
With a combination of fruits like bananas and strawberries, you can enjoy a creamy and scoopable treat.
In the days predating the invention of the freezer, crafting homemade ice cream required nothing more than a bucket of ice and salt, a hand crank, and a good amount of muscle power. This machine pays homage to that nostalgic method, complete with a wooden bucket, but with the convenient addition of an electric crank.
The Nostalgia model not only brings a sense of fun with its historical nod but also boasts a generous capacity, allowing for the creation of up to a gallon of ice cream per batch.
11. Hamilton Beach 68330N Automatic Ice Cream Maker
For those yearning to relive the nostalgic era of manual ice cream churning, this salt-and-ice-chilled unit serves as a time machine. With the contemporary addition of a motorized churn, you can enjoy all the traditional fun of making ice cream without breaking a sweat.
Despite its affordability, this model holds a substantial gallon of ice cream base in its canister. The process involves surrounding the canister with layers of salt and ice, creating the classic freezing environment for your homemade ice cream.
12. KitchenAid Stand Mixer Ice Cream Maker Attachment
The versatile KitchenAid stand mixer excels not only at mixing batters and kneading doughs but also proves indispensable with its various attachments, expanding its functionality from stuffing sausages to pressing fresh pasta. Compatible with both tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers, this attachment transforms the KitchenAid into an electric ice cream maker.
It includes a 2-quart bowl that requires 24 hours of freezing, along with a specialized paddle attachment. Pour your base mixture, set the mixer to stir, and within 30 to 40 minutes, indulge in thick and creamy homemade ice cream straight from the bowl.
Enjoy making your favorite frozen treats with the convenient Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker. Taking it out of the freezer, you can easily prepare your ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, or frozen drinks. Simply pour your mixture onto the pan's surface, and it will start freezing instantly.
While it freezes, scoop and turn until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency. For rolled ice cream, allow it to freeze and then scrape in one smooth motion to create rolls. This ice cream maker is not only fun but also easy to use, making it perfect for beginners and enjoyable for the entire family.
It comes with two ice cream spades for added convenience.
14. Elite Gourmet Old Fashioned 4 Quart Vintage Appalachian Electric Ice Cream Maker
The Elite Gourmet Old Fashioned Ice Cream Maker brings the joy of homemade frozen delights to your gatherings with a generous 4-quart capacity. Whether it's ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, or sorbet, this machine is perfect for party time, barbecues, picnics, and more.
The straightforward three-step process involves mixing your preferred ingredients, assembling the unit with ice and rock salt, and plugging in and turning on the machine. Beyond the convenience, it enables you to avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives found in store-bought options.
Creating delectable homemade ice cream and yogurt tailored to your taste is a breeze with the Whynter ICM-220SSY. Extremely user-friendly, this appliance enables you to effortlessly whip up delicious ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and all-natural yogurt.
The powerful built-in compressor freezer eliminates the need for pre-freezing the stainless steel mixing bowl, ensuring continuous use. Its sleek stainless steel exterior and intuitive LCD control panel with a soft touch effortlessly complement any kitchen counter, adding a touch of sophistication.
Author
Editor
Ashish Poudel
Ashish Poudel is someone who genuinely loves all things kitchen. Whether it’s sharing simple cooking tips, reviewing must-have gadgets, or helping you find the best tools for your space, he’s all about making life in the kitchen easier and more fun. Through his writing, Ashish brings a friendly, down-to-earth approach that feels like advice from a good friend who knows his way around the stove.
