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.
Image | 1 ![]() Cuisinart | 2 ![]() Nostalgia | 3 ![]() Hamilton Beach | 4 ![]() Whynter | 5 ![]() Cuisinart | 6 ![]() Yonanas | 7 ![]() hand2mind | 8 ![]() Chef'n | 9 ![]() Musso | 10 ![]() KitchenAid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Pure Indulgence | Electric Ice Cream Maker | 4-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker | 2.1 Quart Upright Ice Cream Maker | Mix Serve 1.5-Quart Soft Service Ice Cream Maker | Classic Original Healthy Dessert Fruit Soft Serve Maker | Play and Freeze | Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker | Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, | Ice Cream Maker Attachment |
Features | Make a Variety of Treats With a Fully-Automatic Frozen Dessert Machine | The Benefits of Traditionally-Made Ice Cream With a Motor for Easy Use | A Highly-Versatile Frozen Dessert Maker | A Reliable, Heavy-Duty Compressor Ice Cream Maker | Enjoy a Complete Ice Cream Stand at Home | A Vegan "Ice Cream" Maker for Creative Desserts | Turn Ice Cream Making into a Fun Activity | Make Ice Cream With a Playful Twist | Get Top-Notch Ice Cream With an Industrial-Grade Compressor Maker | The Must-Have Ice Cream Maker for KitchenAid Users |
Price | $99.95 | $47.99 | $36.99 | $340.00 | $99.95 | $45.22 | $22.99 | $55.40 | $588.84 | $79.00 |
Capacity | 2 qts | 4 qts | 4 qts | 2.1 qts | 1.5 qts | Depends on fruit | 0.5 qts | - | 1.5 qts | 2 qts |
Dimensions | 8.25 x 8.00 x 11.25 inches | 12 x 12 x 16 inches | 15.30 x 12.50 x 11.10 inches | 10.75 x 12.50 x 14.25 inches | 9.86 x 7.75 x 17.25 inches | 7.5 x 6.25 x 13.75 inches | - | 11 x 11 x 2 inches | 17.72 x 11.81 x 11.81 inches | 10.9 x 10.3 x 10.3 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | Yes, for ingredients | - | Yes | - | Yes |
Can make | Ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt | Ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt | Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, custard, sherbet | Ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt | Soft-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt | Desserts like fruit soft serve, sorbets, cakes | Ice cream | Ice cream, rolled ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, margarita, slushy, gelato | Ice cream, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurt, frozen drinks | Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet |
Churning time | 25 mins | 20-30 mins | 30-40 mins | 60 mins | 10-12 mins | Instant | 30 mins | Varies | 30 mins | 20-30 mins |
Link |
Here we have Amazon's best of the best ice cream makers, from traditional ones that require ice and salt to those with a compressor and require only a push of a button to get your frozen dessert.
*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.
$99.95
Capacity | 2 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 8.25 x 8.00 x 11.25 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes |
Can make | Ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt |
Churning time | 25 mins |
WICM4L
$47.99
Capacity | 4 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 12 x 12 x 16 inches |
Pre-freezing required | - |
Can make | Ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt |
Churning time | 20-30 mins |
68330N
$36.99
Capacity | 4 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 15.30 x 12.50 x 11.10 inches |
Pre-freezing required | - |
Can make | Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, custard, sherbet |
Churning time | 30-40 mins |
$340.00
Capacity | 2.1 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 10.75 x 12.50 x 14.25 inches |
Pre-freezing required | - |
Can make | Ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt |
Churning time | 60 mins |
$99.95
Capacity | 1.5 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 9.86 x 7.75 x 17.25 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes |
Can make | Soft-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt |
Churning time | 10-12 mins |
$45.22
Capacity | Depends on fruit |
---|---|
Dimensions | 7.5 x 6.25 x 13.75 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes, for ingredients |
Can make | Desserts like fruit soft serve, sorbets, cakes |
Churning time | Instant |
$22.99
Capacity | 0.5 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | - |
Pre-freezing required | - |
Can make | Ice cream |
Churning time | 30 mins |
$55.40
Capacity | - |
---|---|
Dimensions | 11 x 11 x 2 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes |
Can make | Ice cream, rolled ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, margarita, slushy, gelato |
Churning time | Varies |
$588.84
Capacity | 1.5 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17.72 x 11.81 x 11.81 inches |
Pre-freezing required | - |
Can make | Ice cream, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurt, frozen drinks |
Churning time | 30 mins |
$79.00
Capacity | 2 qts |
---|---|
Dimensions | 10.9 x 10.3 x 10.3 inches |
Pre-freezing required | Yes |
Can make | Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet |
Churning time | 20-30 mins |
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!
Want to stay cool with some yummy treats? Make delicious cold goodies at home, from shaved ice to cold brew coffee!
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications