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David Lebovitz

Professional Dessert Expert

Best Ice Cream Makers & Ice Cream Maker Reviews

Why make your own ice cream? That's a question you won't ever have to ask once you've taken your first spoonful of ice cream you've churned up at home. Truly, there's nothing better than that first taste of creamy-rich Vanilla Ice Cream, licked from the dasher, or a bowlful of refreshing, tangy Raspberry Frozen Yogurt made right in your own kitchen.

With a huge range of machines to choose from, making homemade ice cream is so easy and affordable. While the top-end machines can push the $1000 mark, many low-priced machines cost less than $75 and do a great job, too.

To help you decide which machine is best for you, there are three things to consider:

1. How much can you afford to spend?

For less than about $50, there are several options that do a terrific job. These models usually require that you pre-freeze a canister well in advance. But the upside is the low-price makes them affordable. The main difference between higher-priced machines is the convenience factor. Ones with a built-in compressor cost more, but require no advanced planning.

2. How frequently do you plan to make ice cream?

If you want to make a lot of ice cream, a machine with a built-in compressor is a good investment. Not only can you make ice cream or sorbet at the press of a button, you can make one batch simultaneously right after another. Also many of these types of machines have more powerful motors, so they may churn a bit more air into your ice cream and have a lighter texture, which some folks prefer.

Although these types of machine have come way down in price, there are some pricier options available, too, for the very dedicated ice cream lover.

3. Where do you plan to freeze your ice cream?

Most machines rely on electricity of some sort; some need to be plugged in, while others have canisters that need to be pre-frozen. However a few models, like the Rival machines and the Play and Freeze, both use ice and rock salt. The Donvier, which needs to be pre-frozen, is hand-cranked.

But if you want to make ice cream at a picnic or tailgate party, one of these kinds of machines can't help but add to the delicious fun in the great outdoors.

The best ice cream makers allow you to experiment with the best ice cream flavors or maybe a bowl of frozen yogurt. We recommend the best electric ice cream makers for your money.

Best Ice Cream Makers by David Lebovitz

The Best You Can Get

  • Musso Lussino 4080 Ice Cream Maker

    Musso Lussino 4080 Ice Cream Maker

    David says: If you're going after the best ice cream possible, stick with the Italians, who know ice cream better than anyone else. This solid machine is made in Italy and will freeze up to 1 1/2 quarts, with lots of churning power. Because the bowl isn't removable, clean up is a bit more challenging, but this is a popular machine with hard-core ice cream lovers.

    • One-year warranty
  • KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment

    KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment

    David says: Owners of KitchenAid mixers will be happy to know that KitchenAid's ice cream attachment snaps right on to their home machine, and they'll be churning away up to two quarts of ice cream in no time. This attachment will fit all models of KitchenAid's standing electric mixers, and you'll have the knowledge of knowing that one of the America's most trusted appliance makers spent years coming up with this ingenious ice cream attachment.

    • One-year warranty
  • Cuisinart ICE-50 Ice Cream Maker

    Cuisinart ICE-50 Ice Cream Maker

    David says: This machine is a great value because it's self-cooled, there's no pre-freezing of any parts, so you can whip up 1 1/2 quarts of ice cream up whenever you're ready. The motor is less quiet than the Musso Lussino, but I consider that a small price to pay for this good-value machine.

    • Three-year warranty
  • Cuisinart ICE-20 Ice Cream Maker

    Cuisinart ICE-20 Ice Cream Maker

    David says: A terrific little ice cream maker at a terrific price. Pre-freeze the canister 24 hours prior to churning and after about thirty minutes of spinning, you'll be spooning up homemade ice cream. Folks with lots of freezer space often store the canister in there so it's always ready to go. Makes up to 1 1/2 quarts.

    • Three-year warranty
  • Rival White Mountain Hand-Crank Ice Cream Freezer Ice Cream Maker

    Rival White Mountain Hand-Crank Ice Cream Freezer Ice Cream Maker

    David says: Good old-fashioned fun can be had with this all-American classic. Simply pack your ice cream mixture between layers of ice and rock salt and start churning. An added bonus is that no electricity is necessary, making this the perfect machine for a picnic or family outing. A model with an electric motor is also available, and this machine is available in 4- and 6-quart models.

    • Five-year warranty

You will be happy with any of these

  • Cuisinart ICE-45 Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

    Cuisinart ICE-45 Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

    David says: Churns up 1 1/2 quarts of soft-serve ice cream in 20 minutes. Three separate chambers for mix-ins and a cone holder make this an ideal machine for parties. Kids will love helping themselves, but even adults can't resist the fun combining mix-ins and other treats.

    • Three-year warranty
  • Donvier 1 Qt Ice Cream Maker

    Donvier 1 Qt Ice Cream Maker

    David says: One of the simplest ice cream makers there is, the cylinder for the Donvier is frozen for at least seven hours, the ice cream or sorbet mixture is poured inside, then the handle is turned at regular intervals until the ice cream is firm. If not serving immediately, simply snap on the lid and let stand until ready to scoop. Other than the pre-freezing, no electricity is required. And very little effort, too!

    • Ten-year warranty
  • Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker

    Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker

    David says: This unusual ice cream maker provides the perfect away to burn off all that ice cream! Simply pour the mixture into the chamber, add some ice and rock salt, then toss it back and forth until frozen. (But resist the urge to give it a kick, which can break it.) Comes in “original” (1 pint) and the “mega” (1 quart).

    • One-year warranty
  • Rival 8550-X Electric Ice Cream Maker

    Rival 8550-X Electric Ice Cream Maker

    David says: This economical alternative to Rival's White Mountain machine freezes up to five quarts of ice cream at a time, enough to satisfy lots of hungry family and friends. While this machine may look old-fashioned, it sports newfangled features like automatic shut-off and an electrical motor. Simply pour the ice cream mixture in, pack with ice and salt, and let the machine do the rest of the work.

    • One-year warranty
  • Lello 4070 Gelato Maker Junior

    Lello 4070 Gelato Maker Junior

    David says: Another Italian machine, this comes with the credentials for churning up both all-American ice cream, as well as Italian-style gelato - which has less-fat and less air than its American counterpart. With a built-in compressor, there's no need to pre-freeze the canister or pack with ice and rock salt; just press the button and let the machine do the work. A good value machine. The Lello 4090 Gelato Pro is its more powerful and larger (2 quart) big brother.

    • One-year warranty

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Comments

BlackCat
BlackCat

I love ice cream!!! The love of my life and I was so happy when I learned how to do magic by making ice cream! Yummy! I have the Cuisinart ICE-20. I try and get creative when making my own ice cream- macadamia nuts, choc. chips, fruits. It's simple, delicious and decadent!!

Choose the best ice cream makers, and you'll have hours of fun with your family. Or buy new ice cream makers for hours of family partying with guests at your pool parties this summer. We do ice cream maker reviews to help you find the most for your money, with the best price from Rival, Cuisinart and KitchenAid.