The Best Ice Cream Makers for 2023

Whether you prefer an ice cream float, a sundae, or even a baked Alaska, purchasing an ice cream maker is worthwhile if you want to add a homemade touch to your entertainment or simply want to control the kinds of ingredients you use. They're also great for experimenting with flavors or catering to family members who have dietary or allergy restrictions. Read more about other machine types such as best ice makers, best ice coffee makers, best ice tea makers…

1. Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Compressor

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Breville

• Color: Silver

• Capacity: 1.5 Quarts

• Material: Stainless Steel

• Model Name: BCI600XL

Product's highlights

If you're ready to try seriously in making ice cream, the Breville ice cream maker has a slew of advantages that make the steep price tag worthwhile. The 1.1-quart ice cream maker has a compressor, similar to a window air conditioner, and it freezes the ice cream as it churns. This eliminates the need to freeze and refreeze a bowl between batches. It also has 12 precisely calibrated softness settings, so you won't have to face rock-hard sherbet and gelato or soft-serve while what you really want is a scoop of vanilla that can stand up to a root beer float.

Pros

• In a matter of minutes

• 12 different hardness levels

• "Keep cool" function

Cons

• Large and weighty

2. Whynter ICM-200LS Automatic Ice Cream Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Whynter

• Color: Stainless Steel

• Capacity: 2.1 Quarts

• Special Feature: Motor Proctection Function. Reliable built in audible timer

• Material: Stainless Steel

Product's highlights

This compressor-style ice cream maker is for people who want to splurge on a countertop machine but aren't ready to spend as much as the Breville on our list. There's no need to pre-freeze the bowl because of the compressor, and it can produce up to 2 quarts, so you will be ready for a small ice-cream party at any time. The vegan ice cream we made with this machine really stood out in our tests. Some ice cream machines struggle to handle fat substitutes as well as cream, but this Whynter model produced delicious vegan cookie dough ice cream with surprisingly the perfect creamy texture.

Of course, it also makes regular daily ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt and sorbet.

Pros

• Simple to use

• Extended cooling mode

• Scooper is included.

Cons

• Loud

3. NINJA CREAMi Ice Cream Maker

Important Specifications 

• Product Dimensions: 6.52 x 12.07 x 15.95 inches

• Item Weight: 13 pounds

• Manufacturer: SharkNinja

Product's highlights

Ninja's CREAMi comes with pint containers that you prepare and freeze before making ice cream, gelato, milkshakes, and more in under five minutes. It's smaller than most ice cream makers and has five settings.

The best part of this ice cream maker is that you make it and freeze it rather than making it, refrigerating it, and allowing it to freeze while it churns. The frozen pint is then inserted into the machine, where a blade whips it to the desired consistency. It also uses pint-sized containers rather than larger quart-sized containers, allowing you to experiment with more flavors and resulting in less waste. It requires 24 hours of freezing after making the base, so plan ahead of time.

Pros

• Churning ice cream takes less than five minutes.

• It is simple to add mix-ins for customization.

• In lab testing, the ice cream texture was excellent.

• There are five churn settings to choose from.

Cons

• The ice cream base must be frozen for 24 hours.

4. Cuisinart ICE-70 Electronic Ice Cream Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Cuisinart

• Color: Ice Cream Maker with Countdown Timer

• Capacity: 2 Quarts

• Special Feature: Manual

• Material: Brushed Chrome

• Included Components: 1 x Ice Cream Maker 1 x User Manual

Product's highlights

Cuisinart was 1 of the first companies to spread electric ice cream makers for home use, and the company's product offerings continue to improve. This one produces a whopping 2 quarts of ice cream per batch and also has a simple control panel with an easy-to-read LCD screen.

There are ice cream, gelato, and sorbet settings that control the mixing paddle' speed. The time is set for each option automatically , but it can also be adjusted manually. When the timer runs out, the machine shuts down automatically. Because of its slower churn, which is one of the hallmarks of genuine gelato, the unique gelato setting stood out for our home product tester.

Pros

• Integrated timer

• Modes: automatic and manual

• Allowing for the addition of ingredients

Cons

• A large freezer bowl

5. CUISINART Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Cuisinart

• Color: Brushed Chrome

• Capacity: 1.23 Cubic Feet

• Special Feature: Programmable

• Material: Stainless Steel, Plastic

• Included Components: Ice Cream Maker

Product's highlights

In as little as 25 minutes, the classic Cuisinart Pure Indulgence produces up to 2 quarts of perfectly thick, velvety-smooth ice cream and sorbet. And no manual labor is required — 1 integrated motor spins the mixing paddle inside the double-insulated freezer bowl to create your frozen treat autonomously. You can even put fruit or candy down the extra-large ingredient spout and then the machine will combine it all.

It received the highest performance scores in testing, producing very thick and also delicious vanilla ice cream and smooth, flavorful sorbet. And the cord compartment in the base makes for neat storage. Just have to make sure you have enough freezer space and time because the large bowl needs to be pre-frozen before use.

Pros

• Large capacity of 2 quarts

• Simple to use and clean

• Large spout for adding ingredients

Cons

• Loud

• A large bowl must be pre-frozen.

1. Can ice cream makers produce gelato and frozen yogurt?

Yes! Ice cream machines can produce ice cream, gelato, and frozen yogurt. However, an ice cream maker with settings to control churning speed and freezing time will produce the best results. These features are only available on electric models, and not all electric ice cream makers have them. Check out the dessert settings to ensure the ice cream maker has the versatility you're looking for.

2. How does homemade ice cream stack up against store-bought?

There's no way around it: homemade ice cream tastes better and is more fresh than store-bought. Homemade contains none of the artificial or strange ingredients found in some grocery store varieties. Also, making your own ice cream puts you in control of creating flavors that don't exist in grocery store freezers.

3. Is it expensive to make ice cream?

It is determined by the quality of the ingredients purchased. Cream, milk, eggs, and sugar are the basic ingredients required to make your own ice cream, whatever the ice cream maker you use. The dairy section can be expensive, especially if you purchase organic or grass-fed cream and milk. Eggs are relatively inexpensive, but the price rises if they are sourced from pastured hens. The cost of flavorings and mix-ins varies. Salt-and-ice style ice cream makers, while not expensive, will require you to have 1 box of salt and 1 bag of ice on hand. 

Even though I'm no stranger to the pleasures of a late-night pint, few culinary techniques are as enthralling as transforming raw ingredients into ice cream and sorbet. To experience ice cream alchemy at home, all you need is a good ice cream machine, which will allow you to churn up your favorite flavors and swirl in your favorite mix-ins.