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Most of us just buy our ice cream. But what if you could make it yourself, right at home?
We tried over 20 at-home ice cream makers, churned many batches, and aggregated thousands of online reviews – to truly find the best ice cream maker. Here are our top picks.
Our Top Pick
Whynter ICM-15LS
Our staff overwhelmingly loved the Whynter ICM-15LS. While slightly pricier than some of our budget options, the ease of use, and consistency – made this our winning pick. It’s very quiet, easy to scoop all your ice cream from, and super simple to clean.
Other Great Picks
Breville BCI600XL
The Breville BCI600XL is a wonderful machine. We’d recommend this to anyone who wants a slightly pricier upgrade from our main pick. With over 200 near-perfect online reviews – we’re certainly not the only ones who think so. With great presets, and even creamier ice cream – it’s certainly a luxurious upgrade.
Cuisinart ICE-21
This machine from Cuisinart requires no ice, and is a great budget pick. With a near-perfect score after a whopping 5,000 (!) online reviews – this is a crowd favorite. If you want to spend less than $100 – this is our pick for best ice cream maker.
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino
The Ferrari of ice cream makers, this machine from Lello makes the best-tasting, smoothest ice cream we’ve ever tried. While it certainly carries a higher price tag – if you are serious about your ice cream, this is the machine for you.
White Mountain Ice Cream Maker With Appalachian Series Wooden Bucket
A really great mid-priced ice cream maker, the motor on this model will blow you away. We also really liked how well it was constructed, and the fact that it can freeze the ice cream in about 30 minutes. A great purchase for anyone not quite ready to get a full-blow deluxe model, but who still cares about quality.
Nostalgia ICMP400
With a perfect score after 1,000 online reviews – the Nostalgia ICMP400 is a dream. While it is definitely a budget pick – it is flawless. If you’d rather spend far less money, and are okay with foregoing some of the more advanced features – you’ll want to take a look at the Nostalgia ICMP400.
Hamilton Beach 68880
This model from Hamilton Beach is another great budget option, but we don’t like it quite as much as some of the other picks on our list. Ice cream is ready in as little as 20 minutes, but make sure you follow the directions precisely, as some reviewers have noted problems with the unit, when they veer even a little off the path.
Zoku Instant
Certainly the most colorful and creative budget option, the Zoku Instant also has great reviews. We liked the yellow color personally, but there are also 5 other colors to choose from. The soft serve and gelato created with this machine were also delicious, to boot.
Cuisinart Automatic FroYo/Sorbet/Ice Cream Maker
This may have the best set of reviews, of all the products we covered for this article. A near-perfect score, after over 3,500 online reviews – it’s hard not to like this model from Cuisinart. The stainless steel construction is very smooth, and at this price – it’s hard to find a better ice cream maker.
Cuisinart ICE-100
This more deluxe model from Cuisinart also has great reviews, and is another great choice, for best ice cream maker. While lacking some of the deluxe features found on higher-priced models – this gets the job done perfectly, and is fast and easy to clean.
What Is An Ice Cream Maker?
An ice cream maker is just what it sounds like – a machine made to craft everyone’s favorite dessert. Rather than going to the grocery store or a restaurant – you can have ice cream right at home.
There are electric and manual ice cream makers, both with unique advantages and disadvantages. If you want to do less work, you can grab an electric ice cream maker – but it will cost more. If you want to spend far less – opt for a manual ice cream maker – but be prepared to do a lot more work, just to make a single batch.
How We Tested
One of our more delicious assignments, we made numerous batches of ice cream, and tested over 20 different models. We made many different flavors, as well as many different batch sizes. In short – we were far more in-depth with our testing, than anyone would be in their own home.
How To Use An Ice Cream Maker
While there are electric and manual ice cream makers, they both operate in largely the same way. A paddle (also called a dasher), goes inside a canister holding the ice cream mix.
The canister itself is held within a container, which holds the freezing agent. This is usually salt and ice, a refrigerating unit, or a coolant inside the walls themselves.
If you are using a manual ice cream maker, you have to personally keep the dasher turning. Electric machines will do the turning for you.
Compressor Style Ice Cream Maker
Want the easiest way to make your own ice cream? Get a compressor style ice cream maker. You can simply flip one switch, and make unlimited batches of ice cream.
If you want professional-quality ice cream at home – you need to go with a compressor ice cream maker. No muss, no fuss – and batch after batch of great tasting ice cream.
Ice Cream Maker Capacity
You will also want to consider the overall capacity of the ice cream maker you intend to buy, before you make a purchase. If you are just making ice cream for yourself, small-capacity may be enough. But if you are going to be regularly making ice cream for your family – you’ll want to be sure to get a larger-capacity machine.
Why Should I Get An Ice Cream Maker?
Not only is an ice cream maker a great appliance for parties – it saves you lots of money over the long run. You can also make your own custom flavors – a feature worth a ton of cash, in our opinion.
While you may not technically need an ice cream maker – it makes a great addition to any kitchen. And after every batch we made – we were never disappointed, only overjoyed.
What Is Ice Cream Overrun?
The somewhat-confusing term ‘overrun‘ simply refers to the amount of air whipped into the ice cream. This term can also be thought of as the value that determines if your finished ice cream will be light and fluffy – or very dense.
Brands like Häagen-Dazs have a 25% overrun, which means they have a very thick ice cream. On the other end of the spectrum, Breyers has an ice cream that has nearly a 100% overrun amount. This makes for a very airy (and light) finished dessert.
The Science Behind Ice Cream
Ice cream consists of five different components – ice crystals, fat, air, sweeteners, and and other solids. Ice cream is also 30% to 50% air – which stops your chosen dessert from being too sweet.
Noise Level Of Ice Cream Makers
While many ice cream makers emit some noise as they work, we did not find any of the noise levels to be out of the ordinary. The Breville model was the quietest machine we tested, so if noise is an overly important issue for you, that may be the ice cream maker to go with.
Texture And Consistency Of Homemade Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream may taste slightly different than commercial brands you are used to – but that’s mostly because your ice cream will be far fresher. And if you want to keep your ice cream extra soft in the freezer – add in some extra sugar.
Churning Time Of Ice Cream Makers
The average churning time for ice cream makers is 25 to 40 minutes. Be careful not to over-churn your ice cream, as that will result in a less-than-desirable outcome.
Ease Of Use For Ice Cream Makers
If you want ease of use in an ice cream maker – there is no doubt at all what you want to go with. A compressor model wins out every time, as these machines make creating your own ice cream practically as easy as ordering an Uber.
Ice Cream Recipes
Finding ice cream recipes is easy – there are millions online, with every diet variation imaginable. You can go dairy-free, vegan, low-carb – whatever your heart desires. We are personally partial to old school mint chocolate chip – but that’s just our opinion.
Clean-Up For An Ice Cream Maker
We did not test any ice cream makers that were particularly hard to clean – all were ready for another batch within 5 to 10 minutes. However, make sure you read the user reviews, if you venture off of our list, and decide to go with a different ice cream maker.
You definitely do not want an ice cream maker that is difficult to clean, when there are so many models out there that make clean-up a cinch.
How Long Does It Take To Make My Own Ice Cream?
While some machines may take longer – most modern ice cream makers can have ice cream ready in less than an hour. The average is about 25 to 45 minutes – so it won’t be long until you are spoon-deep in your favorite indulgence.
Add-In Spout For Ice Cream Makers
If you want to easily be able to add toppings (like candy or nuts) to your ice cream – you can get an ice cream maker that has a built-in spout. This add-in spout is specifically designed to add your favorite toppings to your homemade ice cream, so each mixture will come out just perfect.
How To Make Your Own Ice Cream
Making your own ice cream is very easy. Simply choose your favorite ice cream recipe, and let the mixture chill in your refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
Then simply follow the instructions that came with your specific model of ice cream maker – and make batch after batch of the world’s most popular (and tasty) dessert.
Tips For Using An Ice Cream Maker
In order to make the best tasting ice cream at home, keep the mixture as cold as possible, at all times. And our real pro tip? Buy a machine with automatic shutoff, so you don’t have to calculate your own churn time.
Ice Cream Maker Freezing Style
If your ice cream maker needs a bowl or insert to make ice cream, you are looking at long wait times between batches. On the other hand, a compressor ice cream maker will allow you to quickly make batch after batch, with no wait time.
Ice Cream Maker Power Source
Churning ice cream can take more than 15 minutes – so if you opt for an electric ice cream maker, churning will definitely be easier. Hand-churning is also very tiring, and gets more difficult as the ice cream gets harder.
While manual ice cream makers can be brought to many functions (since they don’t require electricity) – they are significantly more difficult to use. We do not recommend manual ice cream makers, unless you don’t mind working extra hard – to get the exact same results as electric ice cream makers.
Ice Cream Maker Batch Size
Batch size is one factor to consider when buying an ice cream maker. This measurement will determine how much ice cream you can make at one time. Obviously the bigger the batch size – the more ice cream you can make at once.
Ice Cream Maker Price
Ice cream makers range in price from just $30 – to over $400. It’s important to determine your needs first, before deciding on a budget for an ice cream maker.
We also recommend spending slightly more than the absolute minimum, as an ice cream maker is a product you will want to last for many years. With this in mind, it makes more sense to opt for a slightly higher-end model.
How Do I Choose The Best Ice Cream Maker For Me?
There are a number of different factors to consider, when it comes to choosing the best ice cream maker. First – how often you want to make ice cream? If it’s not going to be that often, you probably don’t need a higher-end model.
Secondly – who will be using the ice cream maker? Is it just you, or is it for your family too? Lastly, how long do you want the machine to last? Most of us don’t buy for short term use, so make sure you get a slightly more expensive model, that has been proven to last.
The Best Ice Cream Maker
There you have it – our picks for the best ice cream maker. Most people don’t think to try making their own ice cream – but they really should.
You can make sugar-free ice cream, create your own flavors, and also cut the cost of ice cream in half. Not to mention – you don’t have to leave your own kitchen.
So if you are looking to make some tasty dessert at home, make some new recipes, and enjoy a tasty night in – make sure you grab one of the items from our list. And if you liked this article, be sure and check out our other great picks, in the home and kitchen categories.