Who wouldn’t adore a bowl of smooth, homemade ice cream? Whether you have a taste for traditional vanilla, decadent chocolate, or exotic flavors such as matcha or mango, keeping the best ice cream maker in your kitchen allows you to indulge in fresh, preservative-free desserts whenever you want. From soft-serve to gelato, a good machine guarantees you achieve the ideal texture and consistency, so your dessert time is simply delightful.
But why not ice cream? If you love homemade cooking, think about combining your ice cream maker with a yogurt maker for probiotic treats or a mini waffle maker to make the ultimate ice cream sandwich. Hostess at heart? A well-plated charcuterie board with a variety of cheeses and desserts will wow your guests, and the proper cheese knife or butter knife makes serving a breeze. For the kitchen experimenter, a vegetable spiralizer brings creativity to your meals, and a bread maker allows you to bake fresh loaves to accompany your frozen treats. And, naturally, a convenient can opener is a must for opening fruit preserves or condensed milk to add to your ice cream recipes.
In this guide, we will assist you in selecting the most suitable ice cream maker according to your requirements, whether you are a beginner and need a basic machine or an expert seeking a high-performance model. Let us enter the world of homemade ice cream and make your kitchen a dessert heaven!
How to Select the Best Ice Cream Maker for Home
Selecting the best ice cream maker is a matter of personal choice, budget, and frequency of use. There are some that allow fast, hassle-free use for the beginner, while others include advanced features to create gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. Check capacity, churning time, and clean-up ease before buying. No matter if you’re making traditional flavors or trying out new ingredients, the proper ice cream maker will take your dessert game to the next level and bring sweet treats galore to your doorstep.
Winner at a Glance
The winner of our test is the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker (Under $70) for its affordability, efficiency, and ease of use. With a powerful motor and double-insulated freezer bowl, it delivers smooth, creamy ice cream in just 20 minutes. Perfect for beginners and ice cream lovers alike, this best ice cream maker offers top-tier performance at a budget-friendly price.
Best Electric Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
When it comes to making homemade frozen treats, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker stands out as the best ice cream maker among all the products featured in this guide. It has double insulated freezer bowl that hold 1-½ quarts that is 6 one-cup serving. Contains a heavy duty motor which is strong enough to handle your frozen desserts as well as frozen yogurt, sherbet, sorbet and frozen drinks. Simple and one press operation, just press ON button and rest of the work the machine will do. Frozen desserts or drinks will be done in less than 20 minutes. The time will depend on the recipe and volume of the dessert you are making.
Its compact design makes it a great fit for any kitchen, and the easy-to-clean components add to its convenience. Compared to other options, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker provides the perfect balance of speed, quality, and affordability, making it the top contender for anyone looking to enjoy homemade frozen desserts without the preservatives found in store-bought options.
CUISINART Ice Cream Maker Machine
Another excellent option from the same brand is the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, a premium choice for those who want a more advanced, fully automatic ice cream-making experience. It’s brushed stainless steel fully automatic heavy-duty motor makes frozen desserts or drinks in as little as 20 minutes.
Comes with replacement lid, a double insulated freezer bowl that holds up to 2 quarts of frozen dessert, paddle, instructions and a recipe book. Whether you’re crafting classic flavors or experimenting with unique ingredients, this Cuisinart model guarantees smooth, creamy ice cream without the hassle of pre-chilling.
Ninja Deluxe Ice Cream Maker
For those looking for a premium, high-quality ice cream maker, the Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker is an exceptional choice. Designed with advanced technology, this machine allows you to create rich, creamy ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and even smoothie bowls with ease. The best feature which we saw in our test is that this Ninja CREAMi Deluxe turns almost anything into ice cream, sorbet, gelato, and much more. Makes family-sized treats for everyone to enjoy.
Its sleek, modern design and intuitive controls make it a standout appliance for those who want a versatile and efficient way to make frozen desserts at home. While it is on the higher end of the price spectrum, its performance and durability make it worth the investment. If you’re willing to spend a little extra for professional-grade results and ultimate convenience, this best ice cream maker is a top contender.
Elite Gourmet Ice Cream Maker
For those seeking a budget-friendly yet efficient best ice cream maker, the Elite Gourmet American Collection Ice Cream Maker is a fantastic choice. Ice cream maker comes with a convenient freezable bowl that allows you to quickly make ice cream directly in the unit. The 1.5 Quart capacity provides just the perfect amount of servings for family and friends.
Quick and easy to use simply freeze the bowl overnight, then add the ingredient mixture into the machine, push a button and you’ll have a tasty dessert in a short time. The motor turns the paddle that whips air into the ingredients producing a smooth, rich soft serve ice cream. If you’re looking for an affordable yet high-performing ice cream maker that delivers delicious homemade desserts without the hassle, this model is an excellent investment.
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Maker
Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker
For those who love a mix of vintage aesthetics and modern convenience, the Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker is the perfect best ice cream maker for your kitchen. Featuring an old-fashioned wooden bucket design, this machine brings a nostalgic charm while offering the efficiency of a fully automatic electric motor. Make ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato, or choose your favorite flavor and make a unique and delicious creation.
The powerful electric motor does all the churning and work for you, making ice cream in just 20 minutes. If you’re looking for a fun, retro-inspired ice cream maker that doesn’t compromise on efficiency, this model is a fantastic addition to your kitchen.
Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker
Rounding out our list of the best ice cream makers, the Hamilton Beach Electric Ice Cream Maker offers the same functionality as the previous model but with a sleek, modern design. While it doesn’t have the vintage wooden bucket look of the Nostalgia Ice Cream Maker, it delivers the same effortless ice cream-making experience with its powerful electric motor.
Easily prepare homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, sherbet and custard with your own fresh ingredients in 1.5 quart homemade ice cream maker. Ice cream churns for 20-40 minutes and stops when ready. The large 4 quart capacity is the perfect size for families and special occasions. If you’re looking for a reliable, stylish, and easy-to-use ice cream maker, this is a great final addition to our list.
Tips to get perfect Ice Cream each time using ice cream maker
1. Refrigerate Your Ingredients for the Ideal Texture: One of the most important parts of achieving silky and smooth ice cream is chilling your ingredients prior to churning. The mixture base (if custard or just plain cream and milk) should be put in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, if not overnight. This causes the ice cream to freeze quicker within the machine and avoids large crystals from developing and resulting in you having a smoother texture.
2. Pre-Freez the Ice Cream Maker Bowl (If Necessary): If your ice cream maker uses a freezer bowl, it must be frozen solid before use—usually 12-24 hours. A frozen bowl guarantees that the ice cream base begins freezing right away upon contact, which will help avoid a slushy or irregular texture. To determine if the bowl is frozen, shake it up—if you can hear liquid sloshing within, it’s not ready yet.
3. Use Full-Fat Dairy to Make Creamy Ice Cream: The creaminess of your ice cream relies largely on the fat content of your ingredients. To achieve the creamiest results, use whole milk and heavy cream rather than low-fat versions. Full-fat milk avoids the development of ice crystals, which results in a silky, rich texture. If you’re trying something non-dairy, use coconut milk or cashew milk because they contain higher fat levels than almond or oat milk.
4. Add Mix-Ins at the Right Moment: If you’re incorporating mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, crumbled cookie pieces, or fruit bits, don’t stir them in too soon. Add them in the final 5 minutes of churning so they spread out evenly without disrupting the freezing action. If mix-ins are large or especially hard (such as chocolate chunks or nuts), cut them into smaller pieces so they can mix in more evenly with the ice cream.
5. Allow it to Set in the Freezer After Churning: Recently churned ice cream will be the consistency of soft-serve, and while this is tasty, it might not be the texture you’re used to. To have scoopable ice cream, place it in an airtight container and freeze for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours before serving. Putting a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap in direct contact with the surface of the ice cream stops the formation of ice crystals and allows it to remain fresher for a longer period of time.
Note: Amazon prices can fluctuate with ongoing deals and stock changes.
[…] you love equipping your kitchen with convenient appliances, you might also be interested in an ice cream maker to whip up delicious frozen treats or a coffee maker for brewing rich, aromatic coffee to pair with […]
[…] While having your fondue night, accompany your dinner with other necessary appliances such as an ice cream maker in order to offer homemade frozen desserts or a coffee machine in order to whip up a fresh cup of […]
[…] crepes at home. Whether you’re preparing sweet crepes filled with fruits and ice cream or savory ones loaded with cheese and vegetables, a high-quality crepe maker ensures perfect […]
[…] the benefits of using one, and how it compares to other essential kitchen appliances like an ice cream maker, coffee maker, egg cooker, waffle maker, bread toaster, and yogurt maker. Whether you’re […]