As summer approaches, so does the yearning for something cold, sweet, and indulgent: ice cream. While we can head to the grocery store for a pint, nothing beats homemade ice cream! Not only does taste better, but you get full control over the ingredients. You can make it as healthy as you want or satisfy your craving for something decadent.
To help with your search for an ice cream maker, we've hunted down the best ones on Amazon. We love Cuisinart's Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker! You can make frozen yogurt and sorbet in addition to regular ice cream. You'll be able to make a yummy dessert to suit anyone's sweet tooth. Read on for our top 10 favorites and buying guide so you can find the perfect ice cream maker for your home.
Quick List - Top Ice Cream Makers
Nostalgia
The Benefits of Traditionally-Made Ice Cream With a Motor for Easy Use
Whynter
A Reliable, Heavy-Duty Compressor Ice Cream Maker
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef who loves everything food-related and the tools, both big and small, to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it, or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life!
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Maybe you want to make homemade ice cream because you want your favorite flavor; or maybe you have some dietary restrictions that you're trying to work around. No matter your situation, we've created a buying guide to assist you in differentiating among the different types of ice cream makers for the home!
First, let's differentiate among the main types of ice cream makers. You can look for full pour and go convenience type, an electric that is user-friendly, or the salt and ice traditional method when it comes to making ice cream.
These are perhaps the more popular ice cream machines, as they're straightforward to use. You have a device with a motor that churns the cream and other ingredients in the correct manner and speed to make frozen treats.
You usually will still need to freeze some compartments, such as the bowl, and chill your ingredients. Other than those steps, an electric ice cream maker is very convenient! The only downside with this method is the inability to make batch after batch of ice cream unless you have multiple bowls to pre-freeze.
This old-fashioned way of making ice cream involves lots of salt and ice to cause a chemical reaction that freezes the cream, fruit, and other ingredients. It may seem tedious and messy, but this method is proven to be reliable and economical.
It also gives you the most control when it comes to the texture or consistency of your frozen delicacies.
These salt and ice machines often look like a tub made of wood, much like what our parents and grandparents used to reward us with sweet desserts when we were young. Today, they often come with an electric motor, so you don't have to do the cranking and turning.
But you can still find traditional ice cream makers that require you to turn the lever, making you work a bit for your treat. Speed is another factor that affects the hardness of your ice cream, so there are times when it pays to have control!
If you want to go for the fully automatic ice cream maker that requires no salt, ice, or pre-freezing, a product with a compressor will be your best option. They do cost way more than your regular machine, but they can produce artisan-grade desserts with a push of a button (or two).
You can make more than one batch consecutively without having to wait for a frozen bowl. One thing to note with compressor-type makers is their size, as they are bulkier and often require a permanent spot on the counter. For its optimal efficiency and convenience, many people think they're worth the counter space!
Now, let's talk about all the other nifty features that ice cream makers of today can deliver. Top-of-the-line compressor ice cream makers often come with different speeds to give you varying types of frozen desserts, consistencies, and textures.
You can also store your finished product in the machine because they usually come with an extended cooling mode, so you won't need to hurry to transfer the ice cream to a container.
Most ice cream makers can also make other desserts aside from ice cream, such as sorbets, sherbets, frozen yogurt, gelato, custard, and even frozen drinks. They're also very versatile! You can add various mixins and toppings like fruits, nuts, and chocolate without any issues.
While your typical ice cream maker may sound like a Harley in your kitchen, you can also make the whole process fun by going for a different type of machine.
Perhaps you could try an ice cream maker ball, where you have to roll it around to get the thing churning? It's a great way to teach some science to the kids, too! Or what about a machine that doubles as a sundae dish, so there's no rush to transfer the dessert to a container?
You can also get one with a flat teppanyaki-like surface where you pour in your ice cream batter and manually churn it with spatulas. Lastly, an ice cream machine with compartments for toppings, a stand for cones, and a lever to release your soft serve adds fun. It's like having a legitimate ice cream stand at home!
For those who wish to snack healthier, perhaps a machine that turns your frozen fruits into soft-serve ice cream would be ideal? From bananas, apples, and avocados, this machine expertly transforms any fruit you desire into a drool-worthy dessert. These makers work like a juicer, but you get a smooth, slushy "fruit cream" at the end.
This can also be an excellent option if you want to make dairy-free desserts, or even if you just find regular ice cream too heavy or sweet!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cuisinart Pure Indulgence | ![]() | Make a Variety of Treats With a Fully-Automatic Frozen Dessert Machine | |
2 | Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker|WICM4L | ![]() | The Benefits of Traditionally-Made Ice Cream With a Motor for Easy Use | |
3 | Hamilton Beach Brands 4 Quart Ice Cream Maker|68330N | ![]() | A Highly-Versatile Frozen Dessert Maker | |
4 | Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker|ICM-201SB | ![]() | A Reliable, Heavy-Duty Compressor Ice Cream Maker | |
5 | Cuisinart Mix Serve 1.5-Quart Soft Service Ice Cream Maker | ![]() | Enjoy a Complete Ice Cream Stand at Home | |
6 | Yonanas Classic Original Healthy Dessert Fruit Soft Serve Maker | ![]() | A Vegan "Ice Cream" Maker for Creative Desserts | |
7 | hand2mind Play and Freeze | ![]() | Turn Ice Cream Making into a Fun Activity | |
8 | Chef'n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker | ![]() | Make Ice Cream With a Playful Twist | |
9 | Musso Mini | ![]() | Get Top-Notch Ice Cream With an Industrial-Grade Compressor Maker | |
10 | KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment | ![]() | The Must-Have Ice Cream Maker for KitchenAid Users |
In just 25 minutes, you can get up to two quarts worth of your favorite desserts, whether it's ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. After freezing the bowl, you just add your ingredients and the machine will do all the mixing and churning. A powerful motor creates a consistent, creamy texture.
Plus, rubber feet keep the machine stable during use and there's a storage space for the cord. That means your kitchen counter will still look neat! Cleanup is also a breeze with this Cuisinart device because all the main compartments are removable.
Some users found the machine quite noisy, and a few had issues with parts breaking. Getting a slightly creamy consistency is normal, but you can put the bowl back in the freezer for a firmer texture if you'd like. Users advise leaving the bowl in your freezer at zero degrees overnight for the best results.
Reviewers liked that it makes delicious ice cream, and they enjoyed adding in their favorite ingredients. They found it reliable and easy to use, too!
This machine uses the traditional method involving ice and salt to get an instant freezing effect. However, it has an electric motor, so you don't have to do all the churning! The machine is lined with wood on the outside too, which acts as an excellent insulator.
It works great with Nostalgia brand ice cream kits or any recipe you desire. Just remember to add lots of ice and salt at the top. Experiment with varying levels of salt and ice to get your preferred texture, just like how our grandparents used to do it.
A few reviewers noted that their product came with mold on the wooden panel due to storage. Luckily, it was very easy to clean and did not affect the ice cream quality.
Many loved that it was easy to wash with no hard to reach corners. Reviewers liked that they could also make batch after batch of ice cream for big groups since there's no pre-freezing needed.
It may look like a simple machine, but this ice cream maker can make four quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard, sherbet, sorbet, custard, or gelato. All you need are your ingredients, ice, and rock salt. It also comes with over 20 recipes to try!
A few reviewers mentioned that the cord was too short to position the machine properly on the sink, but that's nothing an extension cord couldn't fix! Other users found it noisy and said it needed a lot of ice.
Overall, many were highly satisfied with the machine because it made more batches of ice cream compared to those that are quadruple the price. You also don't need to freeze anything in advance. Many that have purchased this machine stopped buying ice cream from grocery stores!
If you are looking for a machine that gives you a professional-quality texture when you open the lid, then this ice cream maker is for you. You don't need to pre-freeze anything or add any ice or salt! It has a high-efficiency CFC-free compressor which will do all the work for you.
The Extended Cooling mode helps keep your finished product frozen for longer (up to two hours), while the built-in audible timer lets you know when the machine is done doing its thing.
A few users noted that there were moments when the blade would stop churning. After a reset, the product worked as expected. They also advise letting it run for another 60-min cycle if the consistency is too soft.
The fact that they didn't have to pre-freeze anything or continuously check the machine was a major plus for many reviewers. You get top-notch quality with each batch. Reviewers also appreciated that it's quieter than other models.
Pour ingredients into the top, watch the freezing process, grab a cone from the stand, and use the machine just like they would at your favorite dessert shop! It even comes with three compartments to mix in your favorite toppings. The machine is guaranteed to be hit among the kids.
Reviewers noted that cleanup was a bit tricky with this machine because of all the compartments. Also, the device can only keep the ice cream at the right texture for two hours. However, many followed the recipes included with superb results.
Reviewers advise not letting the machine stir the ingredients too long (only up to 15 mins) as it will be too thick to come out. You can also freeze leftovers without a problem. Reviewers love how fast and fun it was to use. It also makes excellent Dole Whip without having to go to Disneyland!
With no ice, no sugar, and all fruit, you can get utterly healthy and delicious desserts! Your frozen ingredients will get churned into a smooth soft-serve, ice cream-like consistency. Simple feed your frozen fruit into the chute and you'll have a dessert ready to eat seconds later!
There's no added fat, sugar, or preservatives—what a way to get everyone into healthy snacking! If you're looking for harder consistency, simply freeze the mixture to make Italian ice.
Some reviewers noted that the machine could be loud and difficult to clean. They advise handwashing the product. Many admit to snacking on any leftover bits stuck to the bowl! Users like that the product does make guilt-free desserts as intended.
Many reviewers mentioned how the machine was a game-changer for their families. Following the instructions to a T and thawing frozen ingredients for about five minutes gives you the perfect dessert. Users fell in love with fruit because their frozen treats were cold and absolutely delicious!
You can make churning ice cream into a game! Simply add the ingredients into the ball with rock salt and ice then roll it around. It's a perfect way to teach kids the concept of freezing and movement before indulging in some tasty ice cream.
Do not toss the product, reviewers advised, as this could break the ball. The process works through rolling and can be heavy when filled with ingredients as well. Reviewers who have used this product for years say that when used carefully, the product really works!
Many were surprised that the ice cream maker was frequently used and capable of handling all sorts of additions and toppings to the recipes. It also definitely turned the concept of ice cream making from a chore to a fun activity!
How about an ice cream maker with a twist? This one lets you in on the creation process, just like those addicting and satisfying rolled ice cream videos on social media! All you need to do is pre-freeze the fast-freeze surface pan, mix all of your ingredients in a bowl, pour it in, and get rolling, twisting, and churning using the spatula.
The only issue a few users had with the product was that it couldn't make bigger portions. The pan can make up to six batches of 1-2 servings but needs to be placed back in the freezer before the next use. You also need a very cold freezer at zero degrees or lower for the best results.
On a positive note, this was the ice cream maker that's the easiest to clean on our list! It makes ice cream and other treats in the shortest time too. Reviewers liked that they could use different ingredients, substitutions, toppings, and mixins without any issues. Plus, they love that it's super fun to use, especially with kids.
If you're picky with the consistency or texture of your ice cream, then this ice cream machine is for you. This is the Mercedes-Benz of ice cream makers! Not only does the machine look gorgeous, but the quality of your desserts will be top-notch.
All you need to do is pour your ingredients into the bowl and press two buttons, and you'll get your luxurious ice cream, real Italian gelato, and more.
Reviewers noted that the machine is quite bulky. It may also mess up the aesthetics of your kitchen; however, it lives up to its name and price tag. Cleaning might also be challenging for some users who prefer dishwasher-safe parts.
Reviewers love that they didn't have to worry about overworking the machine because it can make multiple batches a day. As for the quality, those who've tried the ice cream by Lussino never went back to any brand. Users say that you'll get a creamy, thick texture with zero ice crystals.
If you already own a KitchenAid Mixer, then this ice cream maker attachment allows you to create delicious desserts without having to purchase a separate machine. Put your pre-chilled ingredients into the frozen bowl, mix, and you'll get ice cream, frozen yogurt, and more.
The freeze bowl needs extra patience and a bit of experimenting to get the best results. Reviewers share that it can't go into the freezer wet and must stay for more than 12 hours. It can also get a bit messy as there is no cover for the bowl.
Many users loved that they had a nifty add on to their stand mixer. Reviewers say if you follow the directions for usage, care, and maintenance, the attachment is guaranteed to last.
Want to stay cool with some yummy treats? Make delicious cold goodies at home, from shaved ice to cold brew coffee!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Cuisinart|Pure Indulgence
No. 2: Nostalgia|Electric Ice Cream Maker|WICM4L
No. 3: Hamilton Beach Brands|4 Quart Ice Cream Maker|68330N
No. 4: Whynter|Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker|ICM-201SB
No. 5: Cuisinart|Mix Serve 1.5-Quart Soft Service Ice Cream Maker
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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