Which One Is Right For You?

Welcome to our best ice cream maker reviews page. Who’s mouth doesn’t water at the thought of homemade ice cream?

Imagine being able to have ice cream any time you want, without having to go to the grocery store or make a trip to an ice cream parlor. Or how about being able to make ice cream in any flavor you want, using whatever ingredients you’re in the mood for.

If you’ve been looking to buy an ice cream maker, but can’t choose between the many options available to you, maybe these ice cream maker reviews will help.

Here are five of the best ice cream makers on the market.

Best Ice Cream Maker Reviews

1. Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker (A High-End Option)

Cuisinart is a well-known and respected name in the world of kitchen appliances. So it’s no surprise that they have created one of the best, and most popular, high-end frozen dessert makers on the market today. In fact, many consider it the best ice cream maker in its price range.

Yes, this model is a little pricey. But when you read reviews from customers who own this product, most agree that it’s worth every penny.

As you can see by the name, the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker doesn’t just make ice cream. The machine has two mixing paddles. With one paddle, you can make delicious homemade ice cream. With the other, you can make rich and authentic-tasting gelato.

You can use the machine to make other frozen desserts too. So if you want something a little lighter than ice cream or gelato, you can make a tasty fruit sorbet.

If you are looking for a great, high-end frozen-dessert maker, you’ll definitely want to check out the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker.

Read our full review here.

2. Whynter ICM-200LS Ice Cream Maker

This another really good ice cream maker that features a stainless steel housing and a cool motor protection function that shuts down the motor if the mixture freezes solid. This unit is also better if you have a larger family as it makes more ice cream with a bigger bucket than most other models. 2 Quarts to be exact.

The reviews for the Whynter 200is also stellar. Users gave it a 4.5 star rating out of a possible 5. Most people really like that this maker is durable. Most people have been using this machine a few times a week for years and it just keeps on going.

One guy said that this is his 4th ice cream maker and by far the best that he has ever owned. People also commented on the fact that it takes only around 25 minutes to make a batch with this machine where it takes a bit longer with other models.

The Whynter price is a bit on the higher side but as the old saying goes “you get what you pay for” applies here.

Have a look at the price and reviews for this machine on Amazon here.

3. Cuisinart CIM-60PC Pure Indulgence Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Ice Cream Maker (Great Value for the Price)

If you’re looking for a more moderately priced ice cream maker, Cuisinart has you covered there too. The Cuisinart CIM-60PC Pure Indulgence Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Ice Cream Maker is one of their less expensive frozen dessert makers.

Not only does this model have a great price tag, it’s a great option for those with limited living space. In fact, this frozen dessert maker is less than a foot tall, meaning it can fit on most counter-tops with ease. This is a good thing for those who intend to make plenty of frozen desserts, and would like to keep their ice cream maker sitting conveniently out in the open.

If you’ve been looking for a great, moderately-priced frozen dessert maker, one that’s light weight and easy to store, the Cuisinart CIM-60PC Pure Indulgence Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Ice Cream Maker is ideal.

4. Breville BCI600XL Ice Cream Maker

Here at Kitchen Chatters we love just about everything that Breville makes and this Ice cream maker is no different. It is the most expensive maker on our list and here are some reasons for you to consider it.

You can make Ice cream, Frozen Yoghurt, Gelato and Sorbet with this machine and there is a setting for each one on the LCD display panel to make the process a breeze.  It makes 1.5 quarts at a time.

The Breville also features a keep cool setting which will keep your ice cream nice and cool for up to 3 hours. This option is great in case you have to go somewhere while your batch is still being made. No need to worry that your ice cream would have melted by the time you come home.

The materials are BPA free and it comes with a child lock and a beeper to let you know when your ice cream is ready. As is the case with most of Breville’s products, the reviews for this maker is stellar. People like everything about it and we are sure you would too.

You can check the price on Amazon here.

5. Nostalgia Electrics ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker (Best Bargain Option)

If you’re looking for a lower-priced ice cream maker, consider Nostalgia Electrics ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker

This machine will appeal to anyone who like things that are old fashioned and vintage. In fact, this model might look a little like the ice cream maker your grandfather used when he was a kid. The set up comes with a bucket, complete with a handle that you can use to carry the ice cream maker around. There’s also an aluminum canister that you fill with your ingredients and set inside the bucket.

But while this ice cream maker has an old fashioned feel to it, you won’t have to churn the ice cream by hand. The electric motor will do the churning for you. Just flip a switch and, before too long, your ice cream will be ready.

How To Use an Ice Cream Maker

Have a look at this video to see how easy it is to use an ice cream maker. Most people much prefer their own home made ice cream over store bought any day of the week and it is easy to see why.

What To Look for When Buying an Ice Cream Maker

Okay, so you’re sold. Being able to make ice cream at home, whenever you want, using whatever ingredients you choose, sounds great. But after taking a quick look online, or thumbing through a department store catalog, you feel a little overwhelmed.

There are just so many ice cream and frozen dessert makers out there! How do you know which one is right for you and your family?

Here are a few things to think about when looking for the best ice cream maker for your needs and budget.

Choose an Ice Cream Maker that Will Do the Churning for You.

If you’re shopping for a lower priced ice cream maker, stick to those that have an electric motor. The cheapest ice cream makers usually require you to churn the ice cream yourself. By hand. This can actually be a fun little novelty at first. The kids might even get a kick out of doing it once or twice.

But, before long, making ice cream will seem like too much of a hassle, and your hand-churn ice cream maker will rarely, if ever, see the light of day.

It’s better to pay a little extra for an ice cream maker that will do the churning for you. Fortunately, there are plenty of good models with electric motors that will churn your ice cream as most of the ice cream maker reviews above.

And some of them cost just a few dollars more than cheaper, hand-churn models.

One thing to keep in mind is that most bargain ice cream makers only do the one thing, which is make ice cream. That’s fine if ice cream is all you want to make. But if you’d like to try making other frozen desserts, you might want to consider a moderately priced, or even a high end, frozen dessert maker.

Choose a Model with a Freezer Canister.

With some ice cream makers, after the machine is finished mixing up your frozen treat, you have to put the mixture in the freezer to harden. So you have to wait a little while before you can enjoy your ice cream. But many mid-range ice cream makers come with a freezer canister.

Basically, you set the canister. in the freezer several hours before you make the ice cream. Because the canister. will already be cold when you start the mixing process, your ice cream will be ready to eat when the machine stops,

There is a downside. You have to put the canister. in the freezer for as much as 24 hours before you can make your ice cream. So if you get a sudden hankering for some homemade strawberry chocolate chip, you can’t really make a batch on the spur of the moment. No, you’ll have to put the canister. in the freezer and wait twenty-four hours.

But there’s a pretty easy solution to this dilemma. You can just keep the canister. in the freezer all of the time. That way, it will always be ready when the mood to make a frozen dessert strikes you.

Ice Cream Makers with Built-In Compressors Offer the Most Convenience.

Many higher end ice cream makers such as the Breville mentioned in our ice cream maker reviews above have an inbuilt compressor, which is basically a small refrigerator built into the machine. Thanks to the compressor, you don’t have to worry about putting a canister in the freezer 24 hours before you can make some ice cream.

The only thing you have to worry about is having the ingredients you need to make the ice cream flavor you want.

You also don’t have to wait between batches, the way you do with machines that do use canisters. So if you want to make two, or three, or even four batches of ice cream in one day, you can with one of these models.

Ice cream makers with built in compressors can be a little pricier. But if you want to be able to make as many batches of ice cream as you want whenever you want, one of these models is probably the perfect choice for you.

With all of the options available, choosing the best ice cream maker that suits your needs can be tough. But, hopefully, these ice cream maker reviews, and the tips on what to look for when buying an ice cream machine, will help make your choice a whole lot easier.