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Ice Cream Maker Review: Top Picks and Buying Guide
Published: February 19, 2024
Discover the best ice cream makers with our expert reviews and buying guide. Find the perfect ice cream maker for your home and create delicious frozen treats.
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If you love ice cream and want to make your own at home, then you'll want to read our Ice Cream Maker Review: Top Picks and Buying Guide. In this review, we'll cover the best ice cream makers on the market and provide a comprehensive buying guide to help you make the right choice. Making delicious ice cream at home has never been easier, and with the help of our review, you'll be able to find the perfect ice cream maker for your needs.
Overall Score: 8/10
The CUISINART Ice Cream Maker is a brushed stainless steel, fully automatic, heavy-duty motor that makes frozen desserts or drinks in as little as 20 minutes. It comes with a large ingredient spout for easily adding favorite mix-ins and a retractable cord storage that keeps countertops clutter-free. The double insulated freezer bowl holds up to 2 quarts of frozen dessert. This product has a limited 3-year warranty and is BPA free.
Key Features
- Superior functionality
- Must-have features
- Includes replacement lid and recipe book
Specifications
- Color: Brushed Chrome
- Dimension: 8.25L x 8.00W x 11.25H
- Size: 2-Qt.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Makes delicious ice cream
Cons
- Freezer bowl requires lengthy freezing time
The CUISINART Ice Cream Maker is a great asset for those who love making homemade frozen desserts. It is easy to use, comes with must-have features, and has a sleek design. While the freezing time is lengthy, the quality of the desserts it produces makes it well worth the wait. Overall, it’s a fantastic addition to any kitchen.
Overall Score: 8/10
Enjoy the modern convenience of homemade ice cream with the Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker. This fun kitchen appliance allows you to make ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato in just 20 minutes. It comes with a convenient handle for easy portability and pairs perfectly with all Nostalgia ice cream kits. The vintage wooden style adds a touch of nostalgia, making it a great addition to your kitchen. Embrace the present and look forward to the future with unique, novel, and fun products for the family!
Key Features
- Homemade ice cream: Make ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato
- Nostalgia ice cream kits: Pair perfectly with Nostalgia ice cream kits
- Quick and easy: Make homemade ice cream in 20 minutes
- Convenient handle: Take it to parties easily
- Nostalgia: From designs inspired by early 20th century America
Specifications
- Color: Light Wood 4 Quart
- Dimension: 12.00Lx12.00Wx16.00H
Pros
- Easy to use and clean up
- Great size and works amazing
- Fun for the whole family
Cons
- Unit not made to be very sturdy
- Flimsy plastic handle grip
- Some complaints about inferior design
The Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker offers a fun and convenient way to enjoy homemade ice cream. With its quick and easy operation, as well as the convenient handle, this product provides endless possibilities for creating delicious frozen treats. Despite some concerns about the sturdiness of the unit and the plastic grip, its ease of use and overall performance make it a great addition to any kitchen.
Overall Score: 8/10
Indulge in the joy of making your own ice cream with the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Recipe Book. With 100 delicious homemade ice cream creations, including vanilla, milkshake, gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and more, this recipe book is a must-have for anyone with a sweet tooth. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced ice cream maker, this book offers a wide range of recipes to satisfy your cravings. The easy-to-follow instructions and handy tips make it a delightful addition to your culinary collection.
Key Features
- 100 delicious homemade ice cream recipes
- Wide variety including vanilla, gelato, sorbet, and more
- Easy-to-follow instructions and handy tips
Specifications
- N/A
Pros
- Wide variety of ice cream creations
- Suitable for beginners and experienced ice cream makers
- Easy-to-follow instructions for delicious homemade treats
Cons
- Lack of detailed specifications
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Recipe Book is a delightful addition to any ice cream lover’s collection. With a wide variety of delicious homemade ice cream creations, easy-to-follow instructions, and handy tips, it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced ice cream maker, this recipe book is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings.
Overall Score: 9/10
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is an easy-to-use and efficient machine for making homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt. With a superior function and double-insulated freezer bowl, it makes up to 1-½-quarts of your favorite frozen treats in just 20 minutes or less. The easy lock transparent lid with a large spout ensures mess-free addition of ingredients. It comes with a limited 3-year warranty and is BPA free. The machine is compact and easy to store, making it a great addition to any kitchen. It is highly recommended by users for its quality, ease of use, and great texture of the frozen treats produced.
Key Features
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: Patent-pending mixing paddle
- COOL FEATURE: Double-insulated freezer bowl
- CAPACITY: Makes up to 1-½-quarts of frozen treats
- EASY TO USE: Easy lock transparent lid with large spout
- WARRANTY: Limited 3-year warranty, BPA free
Specifications
- Color: New White
- Dimension: 9.50Lx9.00Wx11.25H
- Size: 1.5 Quart
Pros
- Easy to operate and clean
- Produces excellent texture of ice cream and sorbet
- Comes with a recipe book
- Compact and easy to store
- Comes with a limited 3-year warranty
Cons
- Bulky for storage
- Freezer bowl takes 12-24 hours to freeze
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is a highly recommended machine for anyone who enjoys making their own frozen treats. It is easy to use, produces great texture, and is compact for convenient storage. With a limited 3-year warranty and a variety of recipes, it’s a great addition to any kitchen.
Overall Score: 8/10
The Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker is a fun kitchen appliance that allows you to enjoy a homemade ice cream experience with modern convenience. Whether you want to make ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato, this machine can help you create your favorite flavor in just 20 minutes. It comes with a convenient carrying handle and pairs perfectly with Nostalgia ice cream kits, offering a unique and delicious experience for the whole family.
Key Features
- Homemade ice cream
- Nostalgia ice cream kits
- Quick and easy
- Convenient handle
- Nostalgia
Specifications
- Color: Blue
- Dimension: 13.00Lx12.25Wx16.25H
- Size: 4-Quart
Pros
- Quick and easy ice cream making
- Convenient carrying handle included
- Pairs perfectly with Nostalgia ice cream kits
Cons
- No signal when ice cream is done
- Large and bulky size
The Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, offering a fun and effective way to make delicious homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as the lack of a completion signal and its bulky size, the overall ease of use and quality results make it a worthwhile purchase.
Overall Score: 8/10
Create delicious and customizable ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and frozen drinks at home with the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker. With multiple functions, large capacity, and the ability to customize ingredients, it's perfect for the whole family.
Key Features
- Make scoopable and drinkable treats with 11 different programs
- Larger pints hold 50% more ice cream than the original Ninja CREAMi
- Turn one base into two finished flavors for flexibility
- Total ingredient control for low sugar, keto, dairy-free, and vegan options
- Create treats in three simple steps and easy to clean
- Advanced Creamify technology for finely shaved ice particles
- Customize flavor and texture with mix-ins
- Re-spin function for preferred texture
- Motor base with professional paddle and 2 pints included
Specifications
- Color: Silver
- Dimension: 12.01L x 8.42W x 16.69H
- Size: 11 Functions + (2) 24 oz. Pints
Pros
- Easy to use and clean design
- Creates a variety of frozen treats
- Total ingredient control for customization
- Additional pints can be purchased for more options
- Good capacity for larger batches
Cons
- Some durability concerns with parts
- Produces a moderate amount of noise
The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker offers an innovative and customizable way to create delicious frozen treats at home. With a variety of functions, large capacity, and easy cleanup, it’s suitable for any family. While there may be minor concerns about durability and noise, the overall quality and efficiency of the product make it an excellent addition to any kitchen.
Overall Score: 7/10
The DASH My Mug Ice Cream Maker allows you to make delicious single-serving ice cream on your countertop without the need for pre-made ice cream mix. This portable and compact ice cream maker doubles as a freezable mug, making it a convenient and mess-free option for customized ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt with a built-in ingredient chute to add toppings as it churns. The SmartStore design allows for easy storage of all accessories in the mug, while the detachable motor and cover make for fast and easy cleanup. Overall, it's a perfect treat, offering a fun and easy way to make personal date night snacks in minutes.
Key Features
- DELICIOUS: Make tasty single-serving ice cream on your countertop.
- PORTABLE: Doubles as a freezable mug for easy and mess-free ice cream enjoyment.
- A PERFECT TREAT: Customize with a built-in ingredient chute for personalized snacks.
- COMPACT: Smart Store design fits all accessories in the mug for easy storage.
Specifications
- Color: Aqua
- Dimension: 13.50Lx7.48Wx5.39H
- Size: 2 Bowls
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Convenient for single-serving ice cream
- Allows for customized flavors and mix-ins
- Portable and compact for countertop use
Cons
- Requires ample freezer space for bowl storage
- Some users experienced issues with freezing consistency
- Flimsy paddle
The DASH My Mug Ice Cream Maker is a convenient and fun way to make single-serving customized frozen treats. While some users experienced issues with freezing consistency, overall it offers an enjoyable and easy to use solution for creating personalized ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. The compact design and easy cleanup make it a great addition to any kitchen.
Overall Score: 7/10
The Elite Gourmet Americana Collection Elite EIM520M 1 Quart Automatic Easy Homemade Electric Ice Cream Maker is a simple and convenient way to make delicious frozen treats at home. The unit comes with a freezable bowl, simple control panel, and a capacity that's just right for family and friends. It also includes recipes for homemade frozen yogurt, gelato, ice cream, and sorbet. Enjoy quick and easy desserts in a short time with this ice cream maker.
Key Features
- Simple freezing bowl
- Easy operation
- Perfect serving size
- Quick & easy to use
- Includes recipes
Specifications
- Color: Spearmint
- Size: 1 Quart
Pros
- Convenient for small servings
- Simple to use and clean
- Includes homemade recipes
Cons
- Plastic construction
- Additive window usability
- Requires prefreezing for 24-48 hours
The Elite Gourmet Americana Collection Elite EIM520M Ice Cream Maker is a convenient option for anyone who loves homemade frozen treats. Although it has some drawbacks such as a plastic construction and prefreezing requirements, its ease of use and quick operation make it a game-changer for making delicious desserts at home.
Overall Score: 3/10
Create your personalized Ice Cream with this fun kids game & cooking game! Unfortunately, the user experience is affected by intrusive ads, but kids seem to enjoy the bright colors and educational aspects of the game.
Key Features
- Make your own personalized Ice Cream
- Fun game for kids
Specifications
- N/A
Pros
- Educational for kids
- Bright and appealing colors
Cons
- Intrusive ads affect user experience
Despite the intrusive ads, this Ice Cream Maker game is a hit with kids due to its fun and educational nature. However, the user experience could be greatly improved if the issue with ads is resolved.
Overall Score: 7/10
Enjoy delicious, homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt with the Narcissus Ice Cream Maker Machine. This compact yet powerful machine is perfect for small families, offering easy one-button operation and a range of 30 included recipes. The 150ml capacity ensures solid ice cream within minutes, with the added flexibility to choose your favorite ingredients. The freezer bowl can be frozen in a standard fridge, and the machine is BPA-free for peace of mind.
Key Features
- Tips: Mixing paddle included in package
- DIY Your Favourite Taste: Customize your own flavors
- Solid Ice Cream: Ready in just 15-20 minutes
- Simple One Button Operation: Easy to use
- Suitable for 1-2 People: Perfect size for small families
- 30 Recipes: Includes recipe booklet for variety
- Friendly Service: 12 months free replacement
Specifications
- Color: Blue
- Dimension: 6.00Lx6.10Wx10.40H
- Size: Machine
Pros
- Customize your own ice cream flavors
- Ready to eat in just 15 minutes
- Ideal for small families or individuals
- Recipe booklet included for inspiration
- BPA-free and easy to use
- 12 months of free replacement
Cons
- Small serving size (150ml)
- Hassle to freeze the bowl for 15 hours
The Narcissus Ice Cream Maker Machine offers a fun and convenient way to make custom ice cream, sorbet, and yogurt at home. While it has a small serving size, it is perfect for individuals or small families. Easy one-button operation, quick freezing time, and a variety of included recipes make it a delightful addition to any kitchen.
Things to consider when buying an ice cream maker:
- Type of ice cream maker
- Electric ice cream maker
- Manual ice cream maker
- Compressor ice cream maker
- Capacity
- Consider how much ice cream you want to make at once
- Look for a machine that can make the right amount for you
- Freezing method
- Some ice cream makers require pre-freezing the bowl
- Compressor ice cream makers have a built-in freezer
- Time
- Consider how long it takes to make a batch of ice cream
- Some machines can make ice cream faster than others
- Ease of use
- Look for a machine with simple controls
- Consider how easy it is to add ingredients and clean the machine
- Additional features
- Some ice cream makers have built-in timers or automatic shut-off
- Consider if these extra features are important to you
- Cost
- Compare prices of different ice cream makers
- Consider the overall value for the features you want
- Reviews
- Read reviews from other buyers to see their experiences with the ice cream maker
- Consider any common complaints or praises about the machine
- Maintenance
- Consider the ease of cleaning and maintaining the ice cream maker
- Look for a machine with removable parts for easy cleaning
- Warranty
- Check the warranty offered with the ice cream maker
- Consider the manufacturer's reputation for customer service
Tips for using an ice cream maker:
- Read the instruction manual carefully before using the machine
- Allow the freezer bowl to freeze completely before using
- Add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts towards the end of churning
- Store the freezer bowl in the coldest part of your freezer to ensure it's ready to use
- Freeze homemade ice cream in an airtight container to keep it fresh
- Experiment with different recipes and flavors to find your favorite
- Clean the machine thoroughly after each use to maintain its performance
- Don't overfill the ice cream maker, as it needs space to churn properly
- Keep an eye on the consistency of your ice cream while churning to prevent over-churning
Common problems with ice cream makers:
- Ice cream doesn't freeze properly
- Freezer bowl may not be cold enough
- Mixture may be too warm when starting to churn
- Ice cream is too hard or too soft
- Mixture may be over-churned or under-churned
- Freezer bowl may not have been frozen long enough
- Ice cream has ice crystals
- Mixture may have taken too long to freeze
- Freezer bowl may not have been cold enough
- Machine is making loud noises
- Check for any loose or broken parts
- Make sure the machine is on a stable surface
Final thoughts:
- Choosing the right ice cream maker is a personal decision based on your needs and preferences
- Consider your budget, space, and how often you plan to use the machine
- Take the time to research and compare different models before making a decision
- Enjoy the process of making your own ice cream and have fun experimenting with flavors and recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions about Ice Cream Maker Review: Top Picks and Buying Guide
An ice cream maker works by combining and freezing a mixture of cream, sugar, and flavorings while churning it to incorporate air and create a smooth consistency.
To make ice cream, you will need cream, sugar, and your choice of flavorings such as vanilla extract, cocoa powder, or fruit puree.
Yes, you can make dairy-free ice cream by using alternative milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk in place of dairy cream.
The time it takes to make ice cream with an ice cream maker varies, but it usually takes about 20-30 minutes of churning and freezing.
Yes, you can add mix-ins like chocolate chips, crushed cookies, or nuts to the ice cream during the last few minutes of churning to mix them in evenly.
