The 10 Best Ice Cream Makers
Updated by · How we research
Freezer-bowl, compressor and freeze-and-spin ice cream makers compared on planning, batch size and noise. The Cuisinart ICE-21 is our pick for most kitchens. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
The choice with an ice cream maker comes down to how far ahead you plan. Freezer-bowl machines are cheap but need a bowl frozen for most of a day. Compressor models chill themselves and run on a whim, at several times the price. Freeze-and-spin machines need the base frozen a day ahead, then finish in minutes, which suits single pints and dairy-free treats.
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Cuisinart ICE-21 takes over the top spot. In a published side-by-side test of eight machines it was the most foolproof, and nothing here is simpler or cheaper to run if you can freeze a bowl the night before. The Whynter ICM-201SB stays as the pick for anyone who doesn't want to plan ahead, and the Breville Smart Scoop, Cuisinart ICE-100 and Nostalgia bucket stay too.
Six old picks are gone. The Musso Lello now costs far more than any other home machine. The Cuisinart Cool Creations and Zoku Compact have vanished from sale, the Whynter ICM-15LS has no current listing, and the KitchenAid attachment moves to special honors for the same reason. The Yonanas Classic whips frozen bananas, which is fine, but it isn't an ice cream maker. New picks add the Ninja Creami machines, which freeze the base first and spin it smooth, plus a bigger Cuisinart bowl and a compact Whynter.
The evidence for this category was Yahoo's test of eight machines making vanilla ice cream and strawberry sorbet, Foodal's long buying guide, Breville's own spec page, makers' specs and warranties, and a federal recall search that found no recalls of any ice cream maker on this list.
Earlier notes
February 10, 2021, by Sheila O'Neill:
We replaced the Whynter ICM-200LS with the Whynter ICM-201SB, which has the same 2-quart capacity but a smaller footprint due to its upright design, so it takes up less space on a counter. We removed the Hamilton Beach 68330N due to durability concerns and the Oster 4-Quart due to availability issues.
New to the list, the Yonanas Classic isn't designed for traditional ice cream, but can be used to make a healthier, fruit-based alternative. The Zoku Compact is also a good choice for health-conscious dessert lovers, as it makes you work for your ice cream by stirring it by hand, rather than utilizing a motor. It also produces a small amount, which can be helpful for portion control.
Homemade ice cream is great because you get to customize the flavor and consistency, and it's helpful for those with dietary restrictions who want to avoid common ingredients in commercial desserts. However, you have to be careful and make sure you're aware of the risks involved with certain ingredients. Eggs in particular should be treated with caution. According to the FDA, homemade ice cream causes several salmonella outbreaks every year. In order to avoid this, the administration recommends "substituting a pasteurized egg product, egg substitute, or pasteurized shell eggs for the raw eggs in your favorite recipe." You can also heat your eggs to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and then let them cool before using them. Of course, there are a number of ice cream, fro-yo, and sorbet recipes out there that are completely egg-free to begin with, so if you want to play it safe you can always choose one of them.
December 12, 2019, by Karen Bennett:
If you’ve already got a KitchenAid stand mixer, why bother buying an entire motorized ice cream maker when you can just use a convenient attachment designed for the mixer? That’s exactly what you can do with the KitchenAid KICA0WH, which comes with the 2-quart attachment bowl, a rotating “dasher” paddle that inserts into your mixer, and the drive assembly. It will make use of your mixer’s powerful technology, which actually spins the paddle faster than would the highest setting on many standalone, motorized models. The result is the fluffiest ice cream around. And, the compact bowl is easy to wash and store in any cabinet. It’s an affordable alternative to the others and takes up less space, to boot. One caveat is you do have to pre-freeze the bowl before using it.
The Breville Smart Scoop steals the top spot in this update, as a high-tech model equipped with a clear LCD and surrounding illuminated buttons that give you plenty of control over the speed, 12 hardness settings, and the type of dessert you’re making (ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, or sorbet). It can be set to keep your frozen flavors at the perfect temperature for up to three hours once it’s done making them. It’s definitely quite an investment, but one that will last for many years of family enjoyment.
Another top choice is the Musso Lello, which is known for producing batches of smooth, icy cold goodness. It too is quite an investment, featuring a powerful motor and a stainless steel build, but will also give you years’ worth of use which makes it great for households with frequent ice cream eaters. For a much more budget-friendly model, check out the low-maintenance Hamilton Beach 68330N, which just requires you to add your ingredients, lock it shut, and press a button.
Special Honors
KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment Owners of a KitchenAid tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixer can add a freezer bowl and dasher that turns the mixer into a churn, so there is no extra motor base to store. It works like a freezer-bowl machine, with a bowl that needs a long freeze first. Yahoo's reviewers found it fairly quiet and quick. It fits only KitchenAid mixers, so check your model on the maker's site. kitchenaid.com
Freezer Bowl, Compressor Or Freeze-And-Spin
You freeze the bowl, then the machine turns it while a paddle stirs the base, and soft ice cream is ready in about 20 to 25 minutes.
Most home machines fall into three families, and the right one depends on how you plan. A freezer-bowl machine uses a double-walled bowl filled with coolant. You freeze the bowl, then the machine turns it while a paddle stirs the base, and soft ice cream is ready in about 20 to 25 minutes. Cuisinart says its bowls need 16 to 24 hours in the freezer, and Foodal notes that a bigger bowl claims real freezer space. You get one batch per freeze.
A compressor machine has a built-in refrigeration unit, like a tiny freezer. You pour in the base and switch it on, and you can run batch after batch. The trade-offs are weight, counter space, time and price: these machines weigh 20 to 31 pounds, and a batch takes 45 to 60 minutes. In Yahoo's test of eight machines, the Whynter compressor model ran relatively quietly.
Freeze-and-spin machines like the Ninja Creami work the other way around. You freeze the base itself in a pint tub for 24 hours, then a blade shaves and whips it in a couple of minutes. They are the fastest at serving time and the most flexible for sorbet, protein shakes and smoothie bowls, but they are loud and make one tub at a time. Old-fashioned ice-and-salt buckets are the fourth option: cheap, big and messy.
How To Get A Creamy Texture
Small ice crystals and some trapped air are what make ice cream feel smooth, and both come from churning the base while it freezes. A cold start helps: chill the base in the fridge for a few hours, and make sure a freezer bowl is frozen solid before you begin. If the bowl sloshes when you shake it, it isn't ready.
Fat matters too. Low-fat bases freeze icier, and premium store-bought ice cream carries about 12 percent milkfat or more, according to Ice Cream Science. Dairy-free bases work in any of these machines; coconut milk and cashew bases come out creamier than thin oat or almond milk.
Every machine here makes ice cream with a soft-serve texture. For scoops that hold their shape, pack it into a container and freeze it for a few hours, as Foodal advises. If you make a custard base with eggs, cook it to a safe temperature or use pasteurized eggs; the FDA explains why raw eggs carry a salmonella risk.
Noise, Cleanup And Counter Space
Freeze-and-spin machines are the loudest. Yahoo's reviewers called the Ninja models very loud, though each run lasts only a few minutes. Compressor machines hum for close to an hour, and freezer-bowl machines make a steady motor whir for about 20 minutes.
Cleanup differs more than you might expect. Ninja says its pints, lids and paddles go on the top rack of the dishwasher. Cuisinart freezer bowls must be washed by hand and dried fully before they go back in the freezer. Compressor machines with a lift-out bowl, like the Whynter and Breville models, are far easier to wash than older designs with a fixed bowl, a point Foodal raises about the Musso Lello.
Measure before you buy. A compressor machine is about the size of a bread maker and heavy enough that most owners leave it out on the counter. Like a refrigerator, it should stand upright for a while after it has been moved or laid on its side; check the manual for the wait. Freezer-bowl machines store easily, but the bowl itself needs a permanent spot in the freezer if you want ice cream on short notice.
How we researched this
We compared 21 ice cream makers across freezer-bowl, compressor, freeze-and-spin and ice-and-salt designs, read the makers' specs, warranties and Breville's product page, drew on two published roundups, one of which made the same recipes in eight machines, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ice cream maker worth buying?
It is if you will use it more than a few times a year. A freezer-bowl machine is the low-risk way to start, since it costs little and has one switch. A compressor machine pays off for people who make ice cream often or on short notice.
How long does an ice cream maker take?
A freezer-bowl machine churns in about 20 to 25 minutes, but the bowl must freeze for 16 to 24 hours first. A compressor machine takes 45 to 60 minutes with no prep. A Ninja Creami spins a pint in a few minutes after the base has frozen for 24 hours.
Which ice cream maker is best for vegan ice cream?
Any of them can churn a dairy-free base. The Ninja Creami machines have sorbet and lighter-style programs and Ninja designs them for protein and low-sugar bases too. Rich bases made with coconut milk or cashews give the creamiest results in any machine.
Which ice cream maker is easiest to clean?
The Ninja Creami pints, lids and paddles are top-rack dishwasher safe. Cuisinart freezer bowls must be washed by hand and dried before refreezing. Compressor machines with a lift-out bowl, like the Whynter models, are easier to clean than ones with a fixed bowl.
Why is my homemade ice cream icy?
Usually the base was too warm, the freezer bowl wasn't frozen solid, or the base was low in fat. Chill the base for a few hours, freeze the bowl fully and use cream or a rich dairy-free milk. Homemade ice cream can also turn icy after several days in the freezer.
